I'll never forget the first time I saw Villa play... I still dream of those days

Black Sabbath legend on his first love: Aston Villa

- PAUL COLE Special Correspodent

THE roar of the crowd; the fans baying for more; thousands chanting the names of their heroes... it's something that never fails to lift the heart of Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler.

But we're not talking about the faithful lapping up the heavy metal riffs, rumbling bass and thundering drums on concert stages across the globe that have become the soundtrack to his life.

This is that small matter famously more important than life and death. This is football. And in Geezer's case, the lifelong love of Aston Villa FC that sparked the decision for Sabbath to say their farewell at Villa Park on Saturday July 5.

Terence Michael Joseph Butler was born on July 17, 1949, in Birmingham working class district Aston, and grew up in a house on Victoria Road, just a few streets from the Villa's iconic home ground.

"I used to hear the crowd roar whenever Villa were at home," he recalls. "It was a mighty roar, a lion's roar. Before I could afford the one shilling entrance fee for the Holte End, I would play football with my dog in the backyard and pretend the crowd was cheering me.

"I played football with my brothers, too, and at school before I ever managed to actually go to a Villa game. Just having one of the world's most famous football clubs just down the road from our house played a big part in my upbringing."

His parents weren't into football, although his dad religiously did the football pools every week. Brother Jimmy, however, was a supporter who went to every home game and some away games. Geezer's other brother, Paddy, would also go occasionally.