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Ozzfest

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Ozzfest
GenreHeavy metal, alternative metal, industrial metal, nu metal, thrash metal, death metal, black metal, gothic metal, Hardcore.
DatesJuly 12 to August 30
Location(s)United States
Years active1996 to Present
Websitehttp://www.ozzfest.com/

Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States (and in some years, Europe) featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne[1] and his wife Sharon Osbourne,[2] both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne.[3] The Ozzfest tour has featured bands of a variety of genres within heavy metal and hard rock, including alternative metal, thrash metal, industrial metal, metalcore, hardcore punk, nu metal, death metal, gothic metal and black metal. Ozzy Osbourne himself, as well as his band Black Sabbath, has played the tour several times over the years.[1]

History

Ozzfest concert poster on an empty storefront door in downtown Prague, Czech Republic (Summer 2002).

Early years: 1996-1999

The festival was created in 1996, when organizers of musical festival Lollapalooza refused to let Ozzy Osbourne join the tour.[4] The tour was well-received, which prompted the festival becoming a yearly occurrence.[1]

The first Ozzfest was not a national tour, but rather a two-day festival held in Phoenix, Arizona and Devore, California on October 25th and 26th, 1996 respectively.[5] Officer Reuben F. Rios of the California Highway Patrol was killed while directing traffic as it left the second Ozzfest show in 1996 when an intoxicated concert attendee accelerated for a lane change and struck the officer. Officer Rios died several hours later despite life-saving efforts of his fellow officers. The driver of the car was charged with felony DUI and second-degree murder.[6]

In 1998, Ozzfest ventured outside the United States for the first time for the United Kingdom, which featured a different lineup. The festival would eventually return to the UK in 2001[5] and 2002.[7]

2000s

In the early 2000s, bands including Mudvayne, Slipknot, Incubus, Tool, Megadeth, Linkin Park,[8] System of A Down, and Disturbed played the yearly music festival.[8][9] Two compilation albums of the Ozzfest tour were released, one covering select 2001[8] performances and another for 2002.[10]

On-stage footage of the Ozzfest 2004 tour was shown on MTV, as Ozzy and Sharon hosted a show on the network titled Battle for Ozzfest where they chose eight out of hundreds of bands to compete for a spot on the following year's Ozzfest. Ozzy selected one member from each chosen band to "tag along" on the tour. Each contestant had to complete numerous challenges in order to improve his/her band's chances of winning the contest. Occasionally, meetings would be held and certain contestants would be eliminated for various reasons. The person who prevailed as the winner and guaranteed his band's spot on the Ozzfest tour was Marc Serrano from metalcore act A Dozen Furies.[11]

At Iron Maiden's last Ozzfest performance, on August 20, 2005 at the Hyundai Pavilion at Glen Helen in San Bernardino, California, several negative events took place. During the first song, several members of the crowd bombarded the British metal band Iron Maiden with eggs, bottle caps and ice. During three of Iron Maiden's songs, the P.A. system was switched off, cutting power to vocalist Bruce Dickinson's microphone and the band's instruments . In audio captured during the concert, it is reported that Dickinson can be heard accusing the festival's organizers of deliberately cutting off the band's power. On Iron Maiden’s departure, Sharon Osbourne commanded the stage to make a few statements, telling the audience that she "absolutely loved Iron Maiden" but thought that the band had "disrespected Ozzfest since they began their stint with the tour." Her words were met with booing, so she walked off the stage.[12] Rod Smallwood, manager for Iron Maiden, issued a statement shortly after the debacle condemning the attack on the band.[13]

2007: FreeFest

On February 7, 2007, it was announced that tickets to Ozzfest 2007 were going to be free of charge, dubbing the 2007 Ozzfest as "free fest."[14] Tickets were available through sponsor websites, the Ozzfest web site and to those buying an advance copy of Ozzy Osbourne's new release, Black Rain.

Much controversy was generated when Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age was asked by Blender, a U.S. music magazine, what he considered to be his worst summer job.[15]

Homme stated:

"I won't be playing Ozzfest again - they treat the bands like shit... This year you get to play for free under the guise of, 'We're doing it for the fans!' But it's really for the people who fan Sharon and Ozzy with palm fronds at their house."

Sharon Osbourne responded by saying:

"I hope he gets syphilis and dies. I hope his dick falls off so his mother can eat it."

[16]

Sponsorship money provided the revenue for the tour, but organizers did not pay any of the bands appearing. Organizer Ozzy Osbourne returned to the headlining slot on the tour after a one-year absence. Ozzfest was able to convince well-established acts such as Lamb of God, Static X, and Hatebreed to appear at the tour.

There were problems with distribution of the free tickets. Fans were given codes to receive tickets through the official Ozzfest website, but due to the heavy load on Live Nation's secure servers, there were issues with ticket redemption. At the Detroit show fans were turned away near the end unless they had non-free tickets. Another problem was that many "eBay scalpers" charged fans to pay for the free tickets, often turning out to be unusable duplicates of other tickets.[17] Then, on July 26, Ozzfest gave away free tickets without requiring its "redemption code" previously required.[18]

At the August 16, 2007 show in Holmdel, New Jersey at the PNC Bank Arts Center, controversy was generated as 83 attendees were arrested at the show, most of them underage and arrested prior to 8:00. In addition, two men died, one after ingesting significant amounts of alcohol and energy drinks. As of August 18th drinking in the parking lot has since been banned at the PNC Bank Arts Center.[19]

2008: Reduction to a one day event

Questions over whether the event would be held in 2008 began when in April that year Ozzy Osbourne announced that he would be headlining the Canadian Monsters of Rock festival.[20] The 2008 version of the festival took place for only one date at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas on August 9, 2008. The line-up featured Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, and other acts such as Jonathan Davis (frontman of Korn), Sevendust, DevilDriver, Serj Tankian (frontman of System of a Down), Cavalera Conspiracy, Shadows Fall, Apocalyptica and In This Moment.[21][22] Along with the two main stages there was a third one titled the Texas Stage; according to Sharon Osbourne, that stage featured such Texas-based bands as The Sword, Drowning Pool, and Rigor Mortis.[23][24]

2009: Back on the road

It has been confirmed by Sharon Osbourne that Ozzfest will once again become a multi-date tour in the summer of 2009. Nothing else has been confirmed. The radio interview with Sharon's statement can be heard at this link: [1]

Sharon has expressed interest in having the veteran hard rock band AC/DC play on the tour next year, but nothing has been officially announced.

Ozzfest lineups by year

Main article: Ozzfest lineups by year

References

  1. ^ a b c Weber, Barry; Prato, Greg. "Ozzy Osbourne Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-08-20.
  2. ^ Moss, Corey (2007-02-06). "Osbournes Hype 'Groundbreaking' Ozzfest: 'Why Not Go To A Show For Free?'". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-01-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ OZZY OSBOURNE OZZFEST TICKETS FREE THIS YEAR by Leanarda S. — freebies, free things, free | Gather
  4. ^ Fisher, Mark. Ozzfest’s ‘Freefest’ rolls into area Aug. 24. Times West Virginian: August 15, 2007.
  5. ^ a b SMNnews.com | Ozzfest - Date Lineup History from 1996
  6. ^ Badges of Honor - 1990 through 1999
  7. ^ Ozzfest 2002 U.K
  8. ^ a b c Love, Bret (2001). "Ozzfest 2001: The Second Millennium - Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-01-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ Cunningham, John (September 1998). "Concert Review: Ozzfest '98". Juris Publici. University of Richmond School of Law. Retrieved 2008-01-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  10. ^ Goodman, Abbey (2002-09-03). "In Stores Now And Coming Soon: New Music From Ozzfest, Aaron Carter, In Flames, Jazzyfatnastees & More". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
  11. ^ Battle for Ozzfest | Show Cast, Episode Guides, Trailers, Aftershow & Previews | MTV
  12. ^ Harris, Chris. Iron Maiden Pelted With Eggs At Final Ozzfest Performance MTV: August 22, 2005. Last accessed October 7, 2006.
  13. ^ Iron Maiden Manager's Official Statement Regarding Ozzfest Feud KNAC: August 23, 2005.
  14. ^ The Ozzfest Community at Ozzfest.com, Heavy Metal & Hard Rock
  15. ^ HOMME AND OSBOURNE FALL OUT OVER OZZFEST. ContactMusic.com: April 16, 2007.
  16. ^ Gibson, Doug "deathbringer". Sharon Osbourne Blasts Queens of the Stone Age Frontman Josh Homme Over Comments About Ozzfest 2007. Metal Underground: April 17, 2007.
  17. ^ The Ozzfest Community at Ozzfest.com, Heavy Metal & Hard Rock
  18. ^ The Ozzfest Community at Ozzfest.com, Heavy Metal & Hard Rock
  19. ^ Thompson, Brian. Booze Banned After 2 Die, 83 Arrested At N.J. Concert. WNBC: August 17, 2007.
  20. ^ Harris, Chris (2008-04-15). "Ozzy Osbourne Announces Monsters Of Rock Headlining Gig -- So What Does This Mean For Ozzfest?". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-04-20.
  21. ^ "Bands". Ozzfest. 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
  22. ^ Harris, Chris (2008-05-13). "Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne Sign On For One-Day Ozzfest". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-05-16. {{cite news}}: line feed character in |work= at position 5 (help)
  23. ^ "Ozzfest...Metallica Arrives Saturday, August 9th in Dallas, Texas". Ozzfest. 2008-05-20. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
  24. ^ Freedman, Pete (2008-05-22). "Ozzfest 2008 is One Show Only...In Frisco". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2008-06-17.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ozzfest.

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