In the town where Black Sabbath played their first-ever gig, an all-action stage show dedicated to their music has become an institution of its own.

Zonked Out on Acdo is Workington's biggest Halloween performance by far, with dedicated followers heading to Cumbria from all over the country.

Local metalhead Dez Rumney has been fronting this band now for 28 years, and their annual appearance at the end of October has become the focal point of his year.

He says: "It takes over my life for about four months, and it's all I can think about. It involves a lot of people, building it and getting it to the stage, so it's a lot of hard work.

"I've been planning it in my head all year, and we've been working on it since the summer."

The six-piece band play through tracks from Sabbath's extensive back catalogue at the Carnegie Theatre, but far from being a covers band, their popularity is all down to the dramatic, death-laden and incredibly extravagant performance.


The War Pig Previous years have included a "War Pig" and Iron Man, God and Death, multiple hangings, and various other ritualistic stunts, while Dez claims that this year's show - taking place on Saturday October 29 - will feature their biggest prop to date.

"Without giving away too much, there are lots of new surprises in store," he says.

"One of the things we are working in is the biggest thing we've ever done - it could be a real Spinal Tap moment because we've built this thing so big.

"We don't like to use the same prop twice, so it means we're building things every year. The old stuff usually ends up in my house once the show is over - I've had Death and God staring at me every morning for the last few years."

Dez is obviously a huge Black Sabbath fan - he even has a son named Ozzy - and the initial idea was more of a tongue-in-cheek tribute to his idols.

Word spread about Zonked - originally named Zonked Out on Acid, but got its more family-friendly moniker thanks to a brand of washing powder - and despite concerns from health and safety officers and a level-headed theatre boss, the shows have become bigger and more bonkers year after year.

Dez continues: "We used to do it at Easter and call it the Easter Uprising, but people kept saying how it would make a great Halloween party and an excuse for everyone to dress up.

"It's never really been a normal tribute to Black Sabbath, but I love the music and their songs are in keeping with the theme. We make it into a proper show, so for the song Iron Man, there is an Iron Man, for Children of the Grave there are zombies - there are 18 songs this time, and I think we have walk-on props for 16 of them.

"There's one where we've really pushed the boat out and I think when people see it they'll be stunned. It's all about having fun, but also want to shock people too.

"It used to be in Monroes, but there wasn't enough space for me to hang myself or to rise out of a coffin, so we asked if we could move it into the theatre."


Dez Rumney as Ozzy Osbourne Tickets have sold well in the run-up to this year's gig, with parties from Wolverhampton, London and Newcastle all ready to make the trip to Cumbria.

The last-minute preparations are under way, and the band - completed by guitarists Andrew Lillico and Mike Doggart, bassist Lindsay Hudson, drummer Angus Smeaton, and Steve Hadfield on keyboards - are putting the finishing touches to the set-list and their costumes.

As soon as it's all over, there is little doubt that Dez will be turning his attentions to next year's spectacular.

"People see it and then tell their friends about it, and they tell other people, so there's a lot of people from outside Workington who are coming.

"We've thought about not doing it, but then we've bumped into people on the street and they ask us when we are doing another one - you realise that people love it.

"Our line-up has changed over time, but it's been consistent now for about eight years. I'm sure the others enjoy it as much as I do."

Zonked Out on Acdo comes to the Carnegie Theatre, in Workington, on Saturday October 29. Tickets are available from the venue's box office.