Remember When Black Sabbath Paid A Visit To Bensalem?



by Alex Lloyd Gross

Black Sabbath, the legendary heavy metal band reunited for a final show this weekend in Birmingham England. The band played a few songs, Ozzy played a few songs from his solo career and many other artists, such as Metallica and Halestorm showed up to pay tribute to the masters. The original band reunited once before, in 1998 and they stepped foot in Bensalem.

Alex Lloyd Gross File photo Delaware Valley News.com Black Sabbath gets ready tomeet their fans.

It was a weekday afternoon in October and The Wall, which was a record store at the Neshaminy Mall hosted the band for a two hour signing. One autograph per person. You had to pre pay for a copy of the new release called Reunion. The band would sign record flats, which were full color photos of the album cover. If you did not do this you did not get anything.

Alex Lloyd Gross File Photo Fans get emotional after meeting Black Sabbath.

Folks started lining up hours early. The store was closed for regular business and there was a very long line. When the witching hour was about to happen, the band walked in the back office and interviewed with reporters, including the late WYSP.

When the band took the table, people were in awe. Some took their children, others brought records or tapes, hoping to get them signed. Some people broke out in tears of joy, others wanted to shout and scream.

When you walked up to the table, you met Bill Ward, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and then Ozzy. They were all affable and people asked questions. It was important for each fan to know just how much the band meant to them and this was their opportunity to tell them.

Alex Lloyd Gross File Photo Delaware Valley News.com Ozzy and Tony meet fans.

Black Sabbath did not play any instruments, they wanted to meet as many fans as they could in the short time they were allotted to be there. They would then go on to play a show in February 1999 at the Spectrum. In 2002 They again played at Ozzfest, in Camden NJ.