Ozzfest
394779
225097606
2008-07-11T21:31:35Z
72.241.149.131
/* 2008: Reduction to a one day event */
{{infobox music festival |
| music_festival_name = Ozzfest
| image = <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Ofpostr.JPG|250px|]] -->
| location = [[United States]]
| years_active= [[1996]] to Present
| founded_by= [[Sharon Osbourne]]
| dates = [[July 12]] to [[August 30]]
| genre = [[Heavy metal]], [[alternative metal]], [[industrial metal]], [[nu metal]], [[thrash metal]], [[death metal]], [[black metal]], [[gothic metal]], [[Metalcore|Hardcore]].
| website = http://www.ozzfest.com/
}}
'''Ozzfest''' is an annual festival tour of the [[United States]] (and in some years, [[Europe]]) featuring performances by many [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] and [[hard rock]] musical groups. It was founded by [[Ozzy Osbourne]]<ref name="ozzy bio">{{cite web | last = Weber | first = Barry | last2 = Prato|first2= Greg| title = Ozzy Osbourne Biography | publisher = [[Allmusic]]| url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wifuxqr5ld6e~T1 | accessdate = 2007-08-20 }}</ref> and his wife [[Sharon Osbourne]],<ref name="hype groundbreaking">{{cite web
| last = Moss
| first = Corey
| authorlink = Harris, Chris
| coauthors =
| title = Osbournes Hype 'Groundbreaking' Ozzfest: 'Why Not Go To A Show For Free?'
| work =
| publisher = [[MTV News]]
| date = 2007-02-06
| url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1551725/20070206/osbourne_ozzy.jhtml
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2008-01-25}}</ref> both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son [[Jack Osbourne]].<ref>[http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976939250 OZZY OSBOURNE OZZFEST TICKETS FREE THIS YEAR by Leanarda S. — freebies, free things, free | Gather<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The Ozzfest tour has featured bands of a variety of genres within [[heavy metal music|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.<ref name="ozzy bio"/>
==History==
[[Image:PragueOzzfest.jpg|thumb|304px|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.<ref>Fisher, Mark. [http://www.timeswv.com/ticket/local_story_227194641.html Ozzfest’s ‘Freefest’ rolls into area Aug. 24]. ''[[Times West Virginian]]'': August 15, 2007.</ref> The tour was well-received, which prompted the festival becoming a yearly occurrence.<ref name="ozzy bio"/>
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.<ref name="datehistory">[http://www.smnnews.com/ozzfest-date-lineup-history-from-1996/ SMNnews.com | Ozzfest - Date Lineup History from 1996<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.chp.ca.gov/memorial/memorial90.html#1996 Badges of Honor - 1990 through 1999<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
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<ref name="datehistory">[http://www.smnnews.com/ozzfest-date-lineup-history-from-1996/ SMNnews.com | Ozzfest - Date Lineup History from 1996<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and 2002.<ref>[http://www.contactmusic.com/new/home.nsf/webpages/ozzfestx21x05x02 Ozzfest 2002 U.K<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
=== 2000s===
In the early 2000s, bands including [[Mudvayne]], [[Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]], [[Incubus (band)|Incubus]], [[Tool (band)|Tool]], [[Megadeth]], [[Linkin Park]],<ref name="ozzfest 2001"/> [[System of A Down]], and [[Disturbed (band)|Disturbed]] played the yearly music festival.<ref name="ozzfest 2001">{{cite web
| last = Love
| first = Bret
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = Ozzfest 2001: The Second Millennium - Review
| work =
| publisher = [[Allmusic]]
| date = 2001
| url = http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3xfoxqr0ldfe
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2008-01-25}}</ref><ref name="cunningham">{{cite web
| last = Cunningham
| first = John
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = Concert Review: Ozzfest '98
| work = Juris Publici
| publisher = [[University of Richmond School of Law]]
| date = September 1998
| url = http://law.richmond.edu/jurispub/1998/09/Cunningham.htm
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2008-01-25 }}</ref> Two compilation albums of the Ozzfest tour were released, one covering select 2001<ref name="ozzfest 2001"/> performances and another for 2002.<ref>{{cite news|last=Goodman|first=Abbey|title=In Stores Now And Coming Soon: New Music From Ozzfest, Aaron Carter, In Flames, Jazzyfatnastees & More|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457285/20020903/carter_aaron.jhtml|work=MTV News|date=2002-09-03|accessdate=2008-04-22}}</ref>
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]].<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/battle_for_ozzfest/series.jhtml#bio Battle for Ozzfest | Show Cast, Episode Guides, Trailers, Aftershow & Previews | MTV<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
At [[Iron Maiden]]'s last Ozzfest performance, on [[August 20]], [[2005]] at the [[Hyundai Pavilion]] at Glen Helen in [[San Bernardino, California|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.<ref>Harris, Chris. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1508028/20050822/iron_maiden.jhtml?headlines=true Iron Maiden Pelted With Eggs At Final Ozzfest Performance] [[MTV]]: August 22, 2005. Last accessed [[October 7]], [[2006]].</ref> [[Rod Smallwood]], manager for Iron Maiden, issued a statement shortly after the debacle condemning the attack on the band.<ref>''[http://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=3824 Iron Maiden Manager's Official Statement Regarding Ozzfest Feud]'' [[KNAC]]: August 23, 2005.</ref>
===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."<ref>[http://ozzfest.com/blog/entry/3 The Ozzfest Community at Ozzfest.com, Heavy Metal & Hard Rock<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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 (Ozzy Osbourne album)|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.<ref>[http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/homme%20and%20osbourne%20fall%20out%20over%20ozzfest_1028300 HOMME AND OSBOURNE FALL OUT OVER OZZFEST]. ContactMusic.com: April 16, 2007.</ref>
Homme stated: <blockquote>
"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."
</blockquote> [[Sharon Osbourne]] responded by saying: <blockquote>
"I hope he gets [[syphilis]] and dies. I hope his [[penis|dick]] falls off so his mother can eat it."</blockquote><ref> Gibson, Doug "deathbringer". [http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=25555 Sharon Osbourne Blasts Queens of the Stone Age Frontman Josh Homme Over Comments About Ozzfest 2007]. Metal Underground: April 17, 2007.</ref>
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 server]]s, 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.<ref>[http://ozzfest.com/blog/entry/25 The Ozzfest Community at Ozzfest.com, Heavy Metal & Hard Rock<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Then, on July 26, Ozzfest gave away free tickets without requiring its "redemption code" previously required.<ref>[http://ozzfest.com/blog/entry/49 The Ozzfest Community at Ozzfest.com, Heavy Metal & Hard Rock<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
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.<ref>[[Brian Thompson (reporter)|Thompson, Brian]]. [http://www.wnbc.com/news/13914641/detail.html?rss=ny&psp=news Booze Banned After 2 Die, 83 Arrested At N.J. Concert]. [[WNBC]]: August 17, 2007.</ref>
===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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harris|first=Chris|title=Ozzy Osbourne Announces Monsters Of Rock Headlining Gig -- So What Does This Mean For Ozzfest?|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1585580/20080415/osbourne_ozzy.jhtml|work=MTV News|date=2008-04-15|accessdate=2008-04-20}}</ref> The 2008 version of the festival will take place for only two dates, the first at [[Pizza Hut Park]] in [[Dallas, Texas]] on [[August 9]], [[2008]]. The line-up will feature feature Ozzy Osbourne and other acts such as [[Metallica]], [[Jonathan Davis]] (frontman of [[Korn]]), [[Sevendust]], [[DevilDriver]], [[Serj Tankian]] (frontman of [[System of a Down]]), [[Cavalera Conspiracy]], [[Shadows Fall]], [[Apocalyptica]] and [[In This Moment]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Bands|url=http://www.ozzfest.com/static_content/view/bands.html|publisher=Ozzfest|date=2008|accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref><ref name="metallica">{{cite news|last=Harris|first=Chris|title=Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne Sign On For One-Day Ozzfest|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1587371/20080513/metallica.jhtml|work=MTV News|date=2008-05-13|accessdate=2008-05-16}}</ref> Along with the two main stages will be a third one titled the Texas Stage; according to Sharon Osbourne, that stage will feature such Texas-based bands as [[The Sword (band)|The Sword]], [[Drowning Pool]], and [[Rigor Mortis]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ozzfest...Metallica Arrives Saturday, August 9th in Dallas, Texas|url=http://www.ozzfest.com/blog/entry/69|publisher=Ozzfest|date=2008-05-20|accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Freedman|first=Pete|title=Ozzfest 2008 is One Show Only...In Frisco|url=http://www.dallasobserver.com/2008-05-22/music/ozzfest-2008-is-one-show-only-in-frisco/|work=Dallas Observer|date=2008-05-22|accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref>
===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: [http://www.foundrymusic.com/audio.cfm?id=18353]
== Ozzfest lineups by year ==
{{main|Ozzfest lineups by year}}
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
{{commonscat|Ozzfest}}
*[http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1587371/20080513/metallica.jhtml Ozzfest 2008 info]
*[http://www.ozzfest.com Official website]
*[http://www.frenchfry.com Ozzfest '98 Tour diary, photos and interviews]
*[http://www.unratedmagazine.com/articles/Archive/2006/Ozzfest_060716_1.cfm UnRated Magazine Review 2006 Ozzfest from July 16, 2006]
*[http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ej?title=heeeeeeerrrrres_ozzy_parental_discretion&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 Audio clips from June 2007 of Ozzy talking about free Ozzfest, when he'll retire, his new album and more.]
*[http://www.ticketnews.com/Two-Deaths-Occur-at-Ozzfest180807 Ozzfest News Coverage - 2 New Jersey Deaths at Ozzfest 2007]
*[http://www.newmetallicaalbum.com/2008/04/28/dallas-ozzfest-to-feature-metallica/ Ozzfest 2008 - Metallica on Board]
{{Notable Concerts}}
[[Category:Music festivals in the United States]]
[[Category:Concert tours]]
[[Category:Metal festivals]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1996]]
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