EDMONTON
As Black Sabbath played to a full house at Rexall Place in Edmonton last month, three generations of a Fort Simpson family were only a dozen rows from the stage.

Megan Okrainec, front left, Krista Okrainec, Seth Okrainec-Cli holding a phone, Merle Snider, Nicholas Tale and family friend Lance Cazon watched Black Sabbath perform at Rexall Place in Edmonton thanks to a Christmas present from Brad Okrainec. - photos courtesy of Brad Okrainec

"I've been a Black Sabbath fan for over 30 years," said Brad Okrainec.

Brad passed on his enjoyment of hard rock and heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and AC/DC to his children, including Krista and Megan Okrainec. It was the music played in the house and in vehicles while they were growing up.

When Brad found out the British band was coming to Edmonton April 22 he knew he had to get tickets.

This might be the last time they tour Canada, he said.

Brad bought more than one ticket. For Christmas he gave his partner Merle Snider, daughters Megan and Krista, grandson Seth Okrainec-Cli, as well as Riley Burrill and Nicholas Tale all seats in rows 12 and 13 on the floor of the stadium.

Family friend Lance Cazon also joined the group for the concert.

"It was a very big surprise," said Krista.

"It was the best Christmas present a person could ever get."

The show was amazing, she said.

This was Krista's first concert so she wasn't sure what to expect.

Her favourite part was how Ozzy Osbourne got the crowd singing key sections from various songs.

She said it was great to go with her family and have such a good time with them.

This was the first time Brad had seen Black Sabbath on stage, although he went to a Osbourne concert in the late 1980s when the singer went solo.

"The sound coming from those guys was incredible," he said.

Osbourne may be 65, but his voice and performance are still impressive, said Brad, adding that he feels the

rocker still commands a presence as a front man.

"He had total control and command of the audience," said Brad.

The family debated about taking seven-year-old Seth to the concert, but everything went smoothly, according to Brad.

"At first he was overwhelmed because he's never seen so many people in his life," said Brad.

After a few songs, however, Seth was taking photos and videos and clapping along.

The Okrainecs saw other families at the concert with children, as well as quite a few older fans.

"Loud," is how Seth described his first concert experience.

He enjoyed the smoke machines and lasers as well as the balloons and confetti that fell from the ceiling at the end of the show.

His favourite part was having his picture taken with Mikey and Rod McBryan of Buffalo Airways fame, who were also at the concert.

And what about the band?

"They looked old with long hair," said Okrainec-Cli.

And Osbourne?

"He looked funny. His nails were painted black."