A son of Saskatchewan, Larry Gillstrom has long held a spot in the history book of heavy metal.

His band Kick Axe began to take shape in Regina during the mid-’70s and after a stint playing softer covers while trying to break into the music scene, they’d go on to adopt a harder sound. Eventually, they shared the stage with the likes of Metallica, Judas Priest and Scorpions.

But one of the acts that laid the groundwork for groups like Kick Axe was, perhaps, the reason there’s a history book at all.

The mighty Black Sabbath.

By the time guitarist Gillstrom took his act on the road, he’d long been steeped in the doom-ridden genius of string musicians Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler, the thunderous swing of drummer Bill Ward, and, of course, the haunting beauty of Ozzy Osbourne’s vocals.

“I

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