It was 2013, and Mac Sabbath’s manager Mike Orr was devouring a cheeseburger in a Chatsworth, California, franchise of a certain multinational fast food conglomerate which shall remain nameless. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a crazed looking clown walking toward him. His first thought was that he looked like Skeletor had be been a member of Uriah Heap.
Taking a seat in his booth, he informed Orr that his name was Ronald Osborne, and he had a concept he might appreciate, something he termed “drive-thru metal.” Some of the delinquent kids who worked for the franchise had been allowing him and a cast of characters named Slayer Mac Cheeze, Grimalice, and the Cat Burglar, to perform secret rock shows in the bunker-like basements of the local restaurants. But the time had come, he said, to bring drive-thru metal up from the “underground,” and he asked if Orr would consider becoming the manager of the band.
The rest they say is history. The legend that is Mac Sabbath was born – blending their love for all things dark metal with all things fast food. There is no such thing as a Happy Meal when you attend a Mac Sabbath show – it might be a brooding, screaming, bleeding meal – if anything at all. The band has managed to mix absurdity of counter culture with the fluidity of pop-culture as they send up one of the most recognizable brands on the planet – and the characters affiliated with their product. No matter where it falls on the scale of ridiculousness, there is no way to watch Mac Sabbath and wipe the smile off your face.
Mac Sabbath will be performing at Zanzabar on September 5th at 9:00 PM, and tckets are still available for $15.
Photo provided by Mac Sabbath.
