I never really thought to compare the two until I saw the above photo of Mr. Gibbard on the Onion’s AV Club website, but when I did I thought of a couple similarities.
Aside from being doppelgangers:
They were both the lead singer of a band with a macabre sounding name. Ozzy Osbourne with Black Sabbath (1968-1979), Ben Gibbard with Death Cab For Cutie (1997-Present).
and
They both have relatively high, easily recognizable voices.
One theory I have is that they are, in fact, the same person. Some more supporting evidence:
I’ve never seen them in the same place at the same time…
Ozzy Osbourne has never put out a good record in the same year a good Ben Gibbard-related record came out. Maybe after “Diary of a Madman,” Ozzy got tired of metal and started listening to college-rock like R.E.M., The Smiths, Pixies, etc, and kept along that similar track, just making throwaway hard rock records so the public wouldn’t find out about his plans to start an indie rock band around 1996-1997.
I also believe that the decrepit, mumbling, old man Ozzy portrayed himself as on “The Osbournes” was a facade. Ozzy Osbourne does not age.
If my theory is correct, I hope someone will inform Zooey Deschanel, before she makes a big mistake.
Anyway… here are some great songs by both parties:
Death Cab For Cutie’s “Bixby Canyon Bridge” off of last summer’s stellar “Narrow Stairs.”
Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs,” a favorite of mine since the age of 12.
Too funny. Maybe you are on to something.