Showman still has that X factor; OZZY'S HOMECOMING REVIEW OZZY OSBOURNE NIA, Birmingham.

Byline: ANDY COLEMAN

WHAT a way to end Birmingham's Ozzy Day! The man himself received a rapturous reception when he appeared on stage - then proceeded to rock 'n' roll his way through 90 minutes of heavy metal classics.

To viewers of The Osbournes he may appear little more than a clown but put him in front of an audience and he becomes a rock hero.

Granted, he's not the world's greatest singer or most elegant showman but he has that X Factor which makes him irresistible.

Kicking off with the 1983 hit Bark At The Moon the show had a frantic pace, helped by the guitar riffs of longtime band member Zakk Wylde.

His own group Black Label Society had earlier been one of the support acts and there are few guitarists who strike a better heavy metal pose.

Backed by solid beats from bassist Blasko, keyboardist Adam Wakeman and drummer Mike Bordin, Ozzy revelled in the attention from his home town crowd.

"I must come here more often," he said before drenching the first few rows of the audience with buckets of water. Then, during Suicide Solution, he got cheeky and mooned.

"There's no place like home man," he hollered.

Welcome back Ozzy. We've missed you.

VERDICT *****

CAPTION(S):

WATER SHOW... Ozzy last night.