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Powell River musicians pay homage to forefather of heavy metal

Ozzy Osbourne tribute comes to life
Bourne to be Ozz
Bourne to be Ozz includes [from left] John Tait, Jeff Koopman, Tony Shigeoka and Brad Lemna. The band, along with special guest Walter Martella, pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath on Saturday night. Jennifer Dodd photo

Paying tribute to larger-than-life heavy metal hero Ozzy Osbourne and his trailblazing hard rock band Black Sabbath is no easy task, but a group of local musicians, fronted by vocalist Jeff Koopman, say they are up for the challenge.

Koopman and bandmates John Tait, Tony Shigeoka and Brad Lemna, along with special guest Walter Martella on keyboards, have spent months preparing for their Bourne to be Ozz show on Saturday, September 9, at Evergreen Theatre.

All of the musicians have decades of live show experience behind them and grew up on hard rock and heavy metal.

“We all knew it was going to be a project, but we didn’t realize how much work, top to bottom, it would be,” says Koopman. “It really is musical theatre. These guys are all really talented and they need to be in order to properly pay tribute to Ozzy and Black Sabbath.”

Koopman says the idea to pay tribute to Osbourne, whose band Black Sabbath is heralded as one of the world’s first heavy metal bands, came about when some of his musician friends asked him if he would like to start a band again.

“I suggested we challenge ourselves and do something we have all never done before. I proposed doing a tribute to Ozzy, and it just flourished from there,” says Koopman. “I love Ozzy! Vocally, it is quite demanding and it is challenging music for all of the guys to play.”

With complete costumes and makeup, Koopman says Bourne to be Ozz will be the next best thing to seeing the Ozzman himself in concert.

“We’re going to put on the best show we can,” says Koopman. “We’re dressed up with the wigs, hair and makeup and we’re doing a condensed version of a full Ozzy show with the same number of songs.”

Tickets for Bourne to be Ozz are available for $20 in advance from Rockit Music, River City Coffee, Townsite Brewing and Roxy Records, or $25 at the door.

Bourne to be Ozz
When: 7pm, Saturday, September 9
Where: Evergreen Theatre
Price: $20 advance/$25 at the door
Info: facebook.com/bournetobeozz