Ian Astbury knows a few things about music. He has been making some as the frontman of the Cult for 40 years. His band began as goth-like creators but eventually became a fine-tuned hard rock machine. But he has always appreciated the heavier elements of rock.
This includes being obsessed with Black Sabbath's album, Vol. 4. That record contains a number of great songs, including "Changes," but it is "Snowblind" that Astbury has a particular interest in. The track, which has nothing to do with frozen precipitation, has a breakdown that Astbury feels echoes a different genre.
Speaking on the podcast Lipps Service, Astbury said that "Snowblind" would make for the perfect Black Sabbath tune that could double as a hip-hop track. The reasons are that everything in the song is perfectly placed and perfectly paced. The band was in full control of what they were making.
The Cult's Ian Astbury names the one Black Sabbath album he was obsessed with
Astbury said, "I mean, the break in that, the break beat, the cadence of it, where everything's placed – it's perfect. It's like a perfect hip hop track."
As far as the album the song is on, Astbury had a strange fixation with seemingly always needing to purchase it when he saw it. At one point, the Cult singer had around 30 different iterations of the record. He had it on CD, vinyl, and cassette. He just needed it near him.
As for Ozzy Osbourne, Astbury rightfully admired him. The vocalist said, "I mean, I've spent some intimate time with John (Ozzy). Beautiful guy. Gorgeous. Bit of a wild man, but back in the day."
Astbury also mirrored the rest of us in his shock at Ozzy's death so soon after the Back to the Beginning farewell gig. The concert happened on July 5, and Ozzy died on July 22. As many have conveyed, Astbury wondered if perhaps Ozzy knew the end of his career also might mean he was closer to his own end. A legendary way to go out, though still a very sad one.
As for the Cult, they are preparing for their own shows. They will play some songs from when the band was still known as Death Cult, too. If you want to see Astbury, Billy Duffy, and the rest of the band (and you should), the dates are as follows:
- Oct. 9 - Niagara Falls, ON - OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino
- Oct. 11 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
- Oct. 14 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre
- Oct. 15 - Washington, DC - Warner Theatre
- Oct. 17 - Charlotte, NC - Ovens Auditorium
- Oct. 18 - Atlanta, GA - Cobb Energy Center
- Oct. 20 - Ft. Worth, TX - Will Rogers Auditorium
- Oct. 21 - San Antonio, TX - Majestic Theatre
- Oct. 24 - Las Vegas, NV - The Pearl
- Oct. 25 - San Diego, CA - The Sound
- Oct. 27 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield
- Oct. 30 - Los Angeles, CA - Shrine Auditorium