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Staffordshire woman says Ozzy Osbourne 'made my student's life'
Staffordshire woman says Ozzy Osbourne 'made my student's life'

BBC News

time15 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • BBC News

Staffordshire woman says Ozzy Osbourne 'made my student's life'

A woman has revealed how Ozzy Osbourne once visited her house to cheer up a student with cerebral palsy who was desperate to meet the legendary trainer Sue Williams, from Eccleshall in Staffordshire, managed to arrange the meeting in 1983 while the Black Sabbath frontman, who died on Tuesday aged 76, was living in the came after she noticed one of her students, Don, was "really, really sad" and, while talking to him, she learned one of his ambitions was to meet Williams told BBC Radio Stoke she knew the previous owner of Osbourne's house so tried the number she still had for the address and got through to his roadie. On the day of the visit, Mrs Williams said she and Don were sitting in her lounge when they saw two people walking up the drive – one was Osbourne, wearing a purple jumpsuit and at the time he had short blonde hair."He was absolutely brilliant," she said. "He brought Don gifts, he took the t-shirt off his back and gave it to him and he took photographs with him."He was just an absolute delight." She said Osbourne stayed for two to three hours, during which he urged Don never to take drugs and asked if there was any scotch when he was offered tea or coffee."That was the end of that bottle of scotch," she Williams said they had a "wonderful" afternoon with him and described Osbourne as a "perfect, perfect gentleman"."Don was beside himself with happiness, he couldn't believe it," she added."I met him in town about 15 years ago and he said straight away 'remember that day with Ozzy?' It absolutely made his life." 'Kind and compassionate' After the visit, Mrs Williams said they would often see Osbourne at The Old Brown Jug pub in Bishops said he always came across as an "ordinary" person and they would regularly buy each other rounds."He was totally normal and so kind and compassionate," she added. "An absolutely lovely man." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

Shropshire's Alex Harris leaves roadie life to open music shop
Shropshire's Alex Harris leaves roadie life to open music shop

BBC News

time04-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • BBC News

Shropshire's Alex Harris leaves roadie life to open music shop

Alex Harris could never have imagined a chance encounter with Slade guitarist Dave Hill would lead to 20 years as a roadie for some of rock's biggest despite working for the likes of Slade, The Waterboys and The Futureheads, he still had a dream to fulfil - to open a music now, back home in Shropshire, he has taken the step to unveil Big Al's Music Emporium, in Wem, stocking everything from Fender Stratocaster guitars to clarinet reeds and violin bows. "I've always had a dream of opening a shop," the 50-year-old said. Music has always been part of Mr Harris's life - his parents were semi-professional musicians who met in a Birmingham youth orchestra."My dad played trumpet, my mum played violin, so as a child I was always around music," he said."But I went down the rock and roll route." 'Roadie was unwell' After a stint in the Army playing the trumpet, Mr Harris returned home to it was while working in a Shifnal music shop for acclaimed guitar designer Jamie Davey, Mr Harris got the opportunity of a lifetime."Dave Hill, from Slade, was in the shop one day looking at guitars," he said. One of the band's roadies was unwell, and, needing someone to cover, Slade's lead guitarist asked whether he wanted to step in for him."I was like, 'Uh, yeah!'." After that first tour with Slade in December 1999, Mr Harris' career took off as a roadie and guitar technician. "From making contacts on the road, I ended up touring with [...] people like Midge Ure, The Waterboys, Howard Jones, The Futureheads," he eventually life on the road started to become too much, especially after getting married and becoming a father."I know too many guys who don't see their kids because they're always on tour around the world, and I didn't want that, I wanted to be a proper dad," he coming off the road having worked in the "high-pressure" events industry, the 50-year-old said that initially he was "feeling lost." 'Wide range of budgets' Opening his own shop was "always a dream" and his new venture seems to be serving the need he was left with having come off the Harris is keen to appeal to a wide range of budgets - not just top-drawer, pricey instruments, but pre-loved ones too. "I know that my local community in Shropshire can't necessarily afford thousands of pounds to spend on a guitar," he said. Despite the booming success of online shopping, the 50-year-old said he is not daunted by the prospect of competing with internet retailers."Your instrument needs to speak to you and feel right in your hands," he said. "If you buy an instrument off the internet, you do not know what you're getting.""You need to go to a place that's got several instruments you can try, and find what feels right for you." There are some first-day nerves, but Mr Harris feels confident he will be welcomed to Wem's high street with open arms. "The support and feedback I've had locally has been absolutely immense," he said."I'm crossing my fingers - as long as I can put fuel in my wife's car, take my daughter to school and put food on the table, that'll do!" Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

EXCLUSIVE Oasis reunion is plunged into fresh chaos as furious crew blast 'uncaring' Gallagher brothers over shocking move - and insiders tell KATIE HIND tour is 'all about the money'
EXCLUSIVE Oasis reunion is plunged into fresh chaos as furious crew blast 'uncaring' Gallagher brothers over shocking move - and insiders tell KATIE HIND tour is 'all about the money'

Daily Mail​

time29-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Daily Mail​

EXCLUSIVE Oasis reunion is plunged into fresh chaos as furious crew blast 'uncaring' Gallagher brothers over shocking move - and insiders tell KATIE HIND tour is 'all about the money'

Before Noel Gallagher found fame in Oasis, he was a roadie for '80s band Inspiral Carpets. It was a job he loved, and it gave him helpful, first-hand insight into the background cogs and wheels of the music industry – and, more specifically, the mechanics of touring. But nearly 40 years later all that insight appears to have been forgotten.

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