The Ozzy Mossy Fest
Skybar
Leigh
27th August 2017
Getting an event together the size of this one didn’t come without its headaches but together as a team, it all came together brilliantly as we had to change venues but we learned pretty early on that we made the right choice. Despite the stairs and some people unable to attend the place was chocker block all day.
Arriving at 9.50am and having a laugh with the town drunk – we called him the ‘local vicar’ we were all in high spirits for what was about to take place. The staff were wonderful and thanks to Jan we got an amazing door person called Chrissie, who without her the event could not have taken place.
Once inside we started to set up the tables and there were bags and boxes everywhere. I looked around and thought “Oh f**k!” how are we going to get set up on time?” but I need not have worried as it went really well.
Pagan and Jan Photo courtesy of Rosemary Lowe
Jared (Cameraman)
Pagan photo courtesy of Jan Hull
The donations from people that Jan and Liz had gone to see as well as other donations from people was phenomenal – so phenomenal we had to donate some prizes “For Sale” instead of putting them in the Tombola as the tickets ran out. I started at 10 and maybe should have started at 5 instead but thought we would be OK, however, we got through all the noughts and used some 5’s in the end to mark the prizes.
Jan’s idea of having a separate stall for the for sale items was a good one as it gave me more room to set the stall out and Jan looked after the T shirts and for sale items.
The bands started arriving and bit by bit it all started coming together. The flowers we had for Deb were put behind the bar, as we wanted to make a fuss of her after all the shit she had gone through looking after dear Ozzy over in Greece. It was lovely seeing her enjoying herself with her ‘family’ at long last!
Oggy’s brother Darren and Jocelyn plus Sharon turned up and it was nice to see them again along with Kev and Jane – Both Sharon, Kev and Jane are moving house so it must have been tough to stop what they were doing and come over to support the cause but they did but had to leave after a couple of the band’s had played due to Kev being on call and Sharon had to get back to her packing.
Jan and Rosie
Katy and Jane
Just before the Scopyons came on stage Oggy did a fantastic speech thanking everyone for their help, loyalty, and determination to make this one of the best events ever.
Oggy's speech Photo by Rosemary Lowe
Scopyons Photo courtesy of Rosemary Lowe
The venue started to fill and fill it did. The Scopyons started playing and once again the glorious tracks flooded the air and everyone was singing along and few did get up and used the black and white chess board come dance floor in appreciation to a wonderful tribute band. They had to leave early as they had another gig lined up in Chester but Baz came back after their set – now that is loyalty for you!
The lull in between bands gave us a chance to push the Tombola and a few people came over and chanced their luck against the 1000 tickets in the bucket which was nearly filled to the brim. Some won some didn’t but most who didn’t win anything wasn't too disappointed as they knew their money was going to an amazing cause.
In the meantime more people turned up and a few were examining the T-Shirt stall I sold 4 straight away and put the money in the collection box and when Jinx and Andy turned up I offered the box to Jinx to take round and believe me it was starting to get so full the cord broke! So well done Jinxy and thank you!
One funny thing happened to me after I took a loo break I thought Neil Humphrey was standing in front of me so I pinched his bum and then this face I did not recognize looked round at me and I nearly died. Good job his girlfriend Michelle was a good sport otherwise I would be supporting a black eye, still Chelle has been on stage with Roadhog before and knew it was a joke but I could have been the first casualty of the night – so won’t be doing anything like that again! Apologies once more!
Mistaken identity
The Trollbangers were brilliant – Chris ‘Grizzler’ Adams wearing his kilt and mingling with the crowd produced a superb set!
Troyen first seen at the Snooty Fox (supporting Tytan) were amazing, their tracks really come down on your ears in such a heavy fashion you couldn’t help but enjoy them.
Soon Lindsay and Andy turned up with the girls and Katy asked could she sit with me at the stall – I wasn’t going to refuse as she is my little step-Grand Daughter and we have a great rapport. In fact, I get on with all her sisters, Bex, Amy and little Ruby and her Mum Lindsay. It was lovely meeting Andy and his son too – great family, full of fun and laughs which helped turn the day into something even more special.
Katy and Jane
Ruby
Katy and Pagan
Lindsay, Amy, Ruby, and Andy
Bex and Andy's son
Lindsay and Andy
Roadhog was on next and lots of people had turned out especially to support them which I thought was lovely, and some had never seen Oggy sing before and were blown away by his vocals especially on Mistreated.
My best mates A and H turned up too – lovely seeing them – they don’t know Deb and Ozzy, in fact, it isn’t really their thing but they donated a generous amount and loved watching Roadhog, but sadly had to leave as H had to go to work next day.
I didn’t leave the stall for most of the day but thanks to Katy and Amy I managed a loo break and had a quick look on the car boot stall and decided to buy a Motorcycle Helmet despite it being in white (a colour I don’t normally do) but thought well I can get some stickers and it is brand new so no biggy! So if I am still here next April I can go on the Harley Egg Run with Bandana Ste – I will get to ride on a Harley again – oh yeah!
Ruby was a little star in her own right at the Tombola – she kept appearing with a cheeky grin on her face and holding yet another pound coin in the air and digging deep in the bucket – as with anything sometimes you win sometimes you lose, but she did win a lot of prizes.
A bit further down the line, I decided to throw in a tenner to the Tombola and let Amy and Katy pick 20 tickets out – 10 each for them and Amy won about five prizes and Katy won about three or four. One guy came over and he must have spent a fortune on the Tombola he was not going to be beaten and determined to win he did eventually, but mainly women’s things so if there is a next time for a charity do we will have to try and get more Male orientated prizes.
For me, it was a quick change from my Scopyons T-shirt to my Black Zeppelin one ready for the next band which was, of course, Black Zeppelin.
Black Zeppelin was on next and it was great hearing both bygone Sabbath and Zep two of my favorite bands as well as the Scorpions. The music filled the massive room and the audience sung along to some of the most iconic tracks ever made and just as beautifully played by the real bands themselves.
Katy was clearly enjoying herself as she was headbanging and realized the dangers of it getting a bit of whiplash – no sign of any ribbons or bands but all out headbanging so I think I have converted her now to the little rock chick she is: well done, Katy!
Little rock chick Katy!
The atmosphere of the whole day was just superb – the music, the people, the laughs everything went really well although there were some minor hiccups mainly due to a couple of idiots they were dealt with fast and chucked out so fast I never knew anything had happened, but that is people for you – the bad ones like to cause trouble and the good ones get rid of it!
Before the band got on stage Oggy asked me to redeem the flowers from behind the bar and the basket of fruit and bring them to the stage. He then asked Deb to come up and receive them. It was quite overwhelming for her but she thanked everyone and then went back to her seat but we wanted her to know she wasn’t alone in her plight and we were right behind her. The care she showed to Ozzy and reporting back to everyone on how he was doing kept us all going and fighting for the cause, so it was lovely to be able to give a little something back.
Oggy and I presenting Deb with the flowers and fruit
Photo courtesy of Rosemary Lowe
Unfortunately, Lindsay had to take the girls home as Bex was really tired although Amy, and Katy wanted to stay until the end – but without their help (and Ruby’s) it wouldn’t have been half as good as it was. We had such a laugh! I was chuffed that Katy won the prizes for picking out the correct cat’s name (Petita) and Michael Smith won the prizes for picking the correct dogs name (Rover) which I announced after Black Zeppelin had left the stage. I never thought our Katy would get up on stage being so shy but she did and I was so proud of her – proper little star she was! (And still is) It felt so weird without the girls helping out and I couldn’t leave the stall so I took a few pics of Motorheadache being the band that was on next and believe me when I say Rob Campbell IS LEMMY
Motorheadache set the crowd alive – they were like the real thing – in fact, nobody could tell it wasn’t Lemmy warts and all. It made me sad and happy all at the same time – but Lemmy will live on in our hearts forever and with Rob’s help we can see Lemmy once again on stage singing some classic Motorhead sung superbly.
Black Rose was the last band to grace the stage at the Skybar and unlike some venues when the headlining band comes on stage the room empties this room stayed full and everyone enjoyed the set, staying right until the very end.
I didn’t want to close the Tombola stall down so left it going a bit longer and then announced 4 tickets for a pound which grabbed the interest of a few people left and more prizes were won. The tin would hardly shut for all the pound coins in it, but I kept going until I could hardly keep my eyes open and then decided to pack away.
It was a gig I will never ever forget. All arranged in just 8 weeks by my generous, kind hearted other half.
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Special thanks to SKYBAR and its staff, David Williams for the sound and idea, Jan for her help setting the stalls up with me, Michael Smith and his Mum, Liz Blackburn, Jared and Stuart for filming and taking photographs, Julie Whittam, Pat Miller, Tina Taylor, Jinxy and Andy for going around with the collection box, Phil and Moz, Nick Hodgson, Ian Glover, Ian Med, Hana Doyle, Steve Barfoot and Pam, Lee J Ward Kelly, Lindsay, Andy, his son, Bex, Amy, Katy and Ruby for their input, A and H, Baz and Rosie Lowe for getting some grub in for us, Chrissie the door person, the bands, Scopyons, Trollbangers, Troyen, Roadhog, Black Zeppelin, Motorheadache and Black Rose and to everyone who came to the event to make it so special. Thank you, we couldn’t have done it without you all.
We all raised between us £2,100 for Ozzy and Deb
