# Nice research, Tonight Show **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 17, 2005, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084 "2005-09-17T03:47:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ten9ten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/82dd89/32.png) [@ten9ten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ten9ten)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/1 "2005-09-17T03:47:33Z")
I’m flipping channels, and I stop to hear Jay Leno say “Ozzy Osbourne is celebrating 17 months of being sober.” All of the sudden, Ozzy walks out, waving to the crowd, the audience goes wild, as the band plays… _Smoke On The Water_ **WTF?** ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/2 "2005-09-17T04:04:18Z")
An [obscure reference](http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Smoke-on-the-Water): > [@](#): > > During Ian Gillan’s stint with Black Sabbath in 1983, [Deep Purple] performed “Smoke on the Water” as a regular repertoire number on encores during their only tour together. Ozzy Osbourne was, of course, a well-known member of Black Sabbath. So, I’d say they did their research in spades. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/3 "2005-09-17T04:06:06Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > [Deep Purple] No, stupid. :smack: Ignore my attempt at editorializing. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/4 "2005-09-17T04:21:15Z")
I don’t think I get the reference. Sabbath did the song when they toured without Ozzy, so the TS band played it to introduce Ozzy? It may be clever, and it’s definitely obscure, but I’m not sure what they were going for. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/5 "2005-09-17T05:12:45Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > An [obscure reference](http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Smoke-on-the-Water): > > Ozzy Osbourne was, of course, a well-known member of Black Sabbath. So, I’d say they did their research in spades. Ozzy was long gone from Sabbath before Ian Gillan ever toured with them. Gillan, in fact, was filling Ozzy’s old spot as lead singer (Gillan was the third lead singer in Black Sabbath’s history after Ozzy and Ronnie James Dio). Gillan was formerly the singer for Deep Purple so they performed “Smoke On the Water” with him in concert, but Ozzy was never connected that particular band lineup and playlist. My guess is that they played it because it’s a standard (almost generic) “heavy metal” riff and the band probably didn’t know any Black Sabbath or Ozzy songs. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/6 "2005-09-17T05:16:16Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > My guess is that they played it because it’s a standard (almost generic) “heavy metal” riff and the band probably didn’t know any Black Sabbath or Ozzy songs. And as well-known as the riff from “Paranoid” is, it’s kind of embarassing that they did. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/7 "2005-09-17T05:18:55Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > And as well-known as the riff from “Paranoid” is, it’s kind of embarassing that they did. I didn’t see the show so I’m confused. Are you saying that they played the riff from “Paranoid” and NOT “Smoke On the Water?” Or are you saying they played _both_ riffs? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/8 "2005-09-17T05:20:58Z")
I didn’t see the show either, but from the description in the OP, I’m guessing they only played Smoke. My comment was to the effect that they could’ve played Paranoid, had an equally recognizable riff, and actually played from the right band. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/9 "2005-09-17T05:36:24Z")
Oh…ok. I think I might have gotten thrown by a typo. Did you mean to say “It’s embarrassing that they _didn’t_” instead of “did?” ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/10 "2005-09-17T16:47:56Z")
Basically, that’s what I was trying to convey. I guess I wasn’t thinking that clearly last night. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/11 "2005-09-17T18:46:28Z")
I thought the point of the OP is that they were announcing his sobriety, and then playing a song that teenagers everywhere believe to be about doing bong rips. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Harvest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@King\_Harvest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Harvest)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/12 "2005-09-17T20:07:13Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I thought the point of the OP is that they were announcing his sobriety, and then playing a song that teenagers everywhere believe to be about doing bong rips. If ironic humour was the effect the band was going for, those morons should have played “Sweet Leaf.” Way to bungle a joke, guys. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/13 "2005-09-17T20:38:23Z")
They’re a professional band. I would imagine someone in the group could figure out how to play “Ironman.” A nine-year-old could figure that one out. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/14 "2005-09-17T20:45:34Z")
> [@King Harvest](#): > > If ironic humour was the effect the band was going for, those morons should have played “Sweet Leaf.” Way to bungle a joke, guys. It’s got a better main riff, too. ---
**Author:** ![Millit\_the\_Frail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Millit\_the\_Frail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millit_the_Frail)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/15 "2005-09-17T23:46:27Z")
> [@Hung Mung](#): > > They’re a professional band. I would imagine someone in the group could figure out how to play “Ironman.” A nine-year-old could figure that one out. Seriously. I programmed that song into my _phone_ without any sheet music or special theory knowledge. (And it’s a Motorola, with really stupid tone controls.) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/16 "2005-09-18T00:01:22Z")
> [@Hung Mung](#): > > They’re a professional band. I would imagine someone in the group could figure out how to play “Ironman.” A nine-year-old could figure that one out. How many nine-year olds watch _The Tonight Show_? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/17 "2005-09-18T10:00:27Z")
The problem is that Kevin Eubanks is one of the dumbest people in show business. There, I said it. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/18 "2005-11-01T08:22:55Z")
Ozzy’s back on again for the Halloween show … and they played “Smoke On The Water” again. ---
**Author:** ![Blank\_Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dc4da7/32.png) [@Blank\_Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blank_Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-research-tonight-show/322084/19 "2005-11-01T09:52:42Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It’s got a better main riff, too. I was gonna say…you’ve got a band full of highly skilled guys who launch into mini-jams for commercials and are tight enough to play tons of stuff on cue…and they don’t have a basic repitoire of classic licks?