OZZFEST 2004: The Official Press Release
- Feb. 20, 2004
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 20, 2004--"The day OZZfest comes to town is the best day of summer for hardcore fans of hard rock and metal music. They know they're getting value beyond what they paid for." So says OZZfest founder Sharon Osbourne. "The music starts at 9:30 a.m. and doesn't stop until Ozzy leaves the stage at 11:00 p.m. What they get is 20-plus bands, 13 and a half hours of non-stop music on two stages, and enough rock insanity to last them until the next year for about the same amount they'd pay to get into (Six Flags) Magic Mountain. And seeing Ozzy onstage is a better ride than any rollercoaster."
Indeed, it's the attention to its fans that makes OZZfest so popular — it was recently voted the "#2 Tour of 2003" by the readers of Rolling Stone. In fact, fans helped choose the second-stage acts for OZZfest 2004, with more than 65,000 responding in the first weekend to a poll at www.ozzfest.com. Ozzfest.com will be the site to purchase the best Ozzfest tickets first. OZZfest is truly unique in that the fans speak, and the festival listens.
Having come to define summer for many a metalhead, OZZfest is returning for an incredible ninth consecutive year, with 26 dates beginning July 10 in Hartford, Conn. The earsplitting extravaganza has earned a hallowed position in the busiest tour season with a relentless commitment to its core fans and the consistency of quality they demand as their birthright. Fanatical concertgoers revisit the scene each year as a new crop of hard-rock hellions is cultivated. They know they'll see established acts they've grown to worship and discover developing artists they'll bow down to for many full moons yet to come.
As in previous incarnations, OZZfest 2004 will present two stages, with The Iron Man Of Rock And Roll, Ozzy Osbourne, headlining the main stage. This year's lineup also boasts the much-anticipated JUDAS PRIEST reunion, featuring Rob Halford, metal titans SLAYER and SLIPKNOT, Norwegian black-metal maniacs DIMMU BORGIR, and fan favorites SUPERJOINT RITUAL (featuring Phil Anselmo of PANTERA) and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY (fronted by OZZY guitarist Zakk Wylde).
Among the newer bands who scored well on the www.ozzfest.com poll and earned a spot on the second stage were HATEBREED, LAMB OF GOD and LACUNA COIL. This year's second-stage headliners, SLIPKNOT, will also be joined by GOD FORBID, BLEEDING THROUGH, ATREYU, EVERY TIME I DIE and UNEARTH. Further lineup inclusions — and plenty of 'em — will be announced shortly.
"We've been around for nearly a decade because we listen to the fans and stay true to the genre," says Jane Holman, longtime producer of OZZfest (she has been involved since 1997) and Vice President of Clear Channel Entertainment. "We don't make the mistake of trying to be all things to all people."
Longevity is measured in numbers as well as fan response to authenticity, and when it comes to OZZfest, success has bred success. According to Billboard: "Since its inaugural run in 1996, OZZfest has grossed a staggering $146.5 million from 236 shows that have drawn 3.8 million headbangers, primarily to outdoor amphitheaters" (Dec. 20, 2003).
To be sure, the annual blowout has traditionally showcased the most acclaimed hard rock acts in the land while at the same time exposing fans to up-and-coming talent. The second stage is well known for its ability to break bands and catapult careers. SYSTEM OF A DOWN, INCUBUS, SLIPKNOT, CHEVELLE and DISTURBED are just some of the artists who've graduated from second-stage status to bona fide stardom. Others who broke out big after their stint on OZZfest include GODSMACK, LIMP BIZKIT and LINKIN PARK.
Of course, the impact of OZZfest extends beyond music. The traveling show has spawned a community of likeminded souls and become a cultural touchstone in the process. It takes a village to raise a headbanger, and the festival's renowned Village Of The Damned - replete with tattoo artists, piercing booths, state-of-the-art video games, all manner of vendors and much more - will once again be in force.
It's not surprising that OZZfest is able to draw top-notch sponsors. Miller is the official beer of OZZfest backstage — the company will be hosting a tent backstage for artists and a select group of sweepstakes winners. Jagermeister, also a player in 2004, has been very supportive over the years. Hot Topic will host the second stage again and will be the tour's official soft-lines retail partner. FYE, For Your Entertainment, joins OZZfest for a 4th year as official music retailer and will host the Artist Autograph Tent. Trojan Brand Condoms are another key sponsor.
New this year on Ozzfest.com is Ozzfest Radio, powered by KNAC.com, "The Loudest Dot Com On The Planet." Ozzfest Radio will feature round the clock streaming of past and present Ozzfest performers.
This is truly a bonus for those unable to attend OZZfest 2004, but the fact remains: You can't download the festival experience, and OZZfest is screaming, sweat-streaming, air-punching proof positive of that.
-- 20 Trucks ... -- 40 Buses ... -- 525 Crew Members ... -- 20 Bands ... -- 13 1/2 Hours Of Music ...
The demon is back!
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COMMENT | FIRST POST posted by : XelNaga 2/20/2004 6:06:35 PM
Don't you hate FIRST POSTERS?. This will be the best OzzFest Ever.
COMMENT | I have a feeling this year's Ozzfest posted by : adernbrown 2/20/2004 6:07:29 PM
Is gonna kick some major ass. I'm just surprised Sharon's letting some of these lesser-known and real-metal bands on the main stage, like Dimmu. Oh well, all the better.
COMMENT | Sorry bout double post posted by : adernbrown 2/20/2004 6:08:26 PM
I feel this may be Ozzy's last Ozzfest, and he knows it, so he's getting the best bands to do it.
COMMENT | what's this, the 3rd or 4th Oz story today? posted by : The Krusher 2/20/2004 6:09:07 PM
...Ozzfest goes on, we get it.
COMMENT | Yuck posted by : metalsux 2/20/2004 6:09:48 PM
...
COMMENT | I'm there for Judas "fuckin" Priest and DimmuBorgir!!!!!! posted by : ARDY 2/20/2004 6:40:11 PM
Fuck Slayer!!! they're boring anymore!!!!Opeth should be in there instead of slayer!!!Slayer are way overhyped!!!!Especially by wiggers and pantera hick~trailor trash construction workers and godsmack types,in other words people with small minds who think slayer are the best band in the world {hahahahahahaha}!!!!!!!!!FUCK MESHUGGAH!!!!!!
COMMENT | Cool posted by : Chris 2/20/2004 6:46:01 PM
Ozzfest is back, finally.
COMMENT | posted by : The Space Lord 2/20/2004 6:56:42 PM
Whoa, missed the bit about KNAC powering Ozzfest radioon the official website. Then again, seeing as 95% of past Ozzfest bands got airplay on KNAC that's not too surprising.....
"And seeing Ozzy onstage is a better ride than any rollercoaster"
well thats quite untrue. but yeah this will be the first ozzyfestival i go to
COMMENT | Ozzfest sucks, no matter what! posted by : BackInTheVillage 2/20/2004 7:16:32 PM
The fact that Adernbrown nose thinks it'll kick ass is evidence enough.
Thanks Ozzy. As if your existance and family weren't punishment enough, you've cheated me out of seeing Judas Priest this summer. Fuck you.
COMMENT | ARDY- you don't like slayer? posted by : EyeForAnEye 2/20/2004 8:04:46 PM
their last few albums haven't been great, but they still put on an awesome live show. Yeah, Opeth is better, but who IS as good as opeth?
COMMENT | if you think this Ozzfest sucks... posted by : You Don't Know Me 2/20/2004 8:22:28 PM
then get your head out of your ass and stop acting like underground bands are the only thing that matter.
just the fact that this has been the first Main Stage in years to beat out the Second Stage in terms of quality bands (at least in my opinion) should be evidence enough that this year should be great (not to knock Second Stage or anything. great line except the fact that Slipknot and Hatebreed are co-headlining Second Stage)
COMMENT | i just noticed a flub in the press release... posted by : You Don't Know Me 2/20/2004 8:25:36 PM
second stage is well known for its ability to break bands and catapult careers. SYSTEM OF A DOWN, INCUBUS, SLIPKNOT, CHEVELLE and DISTURBED are just some of the artists who've graduated from second-stage status to bona fide stardom. Others who broke out big after their stint on OZZfest include GODSMACK, LIMP BIZKIT and LINKIN PARK.
Linkin Park was already big when they played Main Stage. in fact, by that point, Hybrid Theory was selling millions.
20 Buses for the Non-House Broken Zoo Of the Anaimal of the Shitbourns 10 Trucks of Food for Kelly& Jack 5 Buses of Shitty Groups 5 Trucks of MTV crew 2 Buses for Jack & Kelly 2Buses for Shitron & Ozzy 1 So She Can Fuck any Members of Ozzy 3 Hours of Music 11 1/2 of Suicide from Crapola show
COMMENT | what the fuck posted by : Chinotones 2/20/2004 11:43:24 PM
so they aren't coming to somerset this year? who in the fuck do they think they are? i can't believe this bullshit
COMMENT | NOTE: posted by : yea 2/20/2004 11:53:14 PM
Ozzfest had nothing to do with the successes of those nu-metal bands (Except for maybe Disturbed as they've been on that tour so many times). Who's Sharon kidding?
COMMENT | yea: you make a good point posted by : You Don't Know Me 2/21/2004 9:19:10 AM
let's look at the list:
Slipknot: really got big through word of mouth and the "Wait And Bleed" single. although Ozzfest might of helped out a little.
Incubus: Make Yourself was already platinum when they played Ozzfest.
System Of A Down: "Chop Suey" is what broke them big.
Chevelle: "Seeing Red" became a hit song about a month or two after they played Ozzfest and that's because it got a lot of airplay on radio and MTV.
Disturbed: MAYBE you could say that they got big through Ozzfest but then again both "Voices" and "Stupify" were hit singles as well. "Down With The Sickness" is really what catapulted to the status they're at now.
Godsmack: opened Main Stage in 1999 and almost co-headlined in 2000 (then Pantera got bumped up from Second Stage). first album had a good amount of success mainly due to the singles "Keep Away" and "Voodoo". when Awake (both the single and album) was released, that's when they started getting really big. personally, i don't think they would've gotten to the point they're at now without having "I Stand Alone" on the Scorpion King soundtrack.
Limp Bizkit: got big from Family Values '98 and the "Faith" single.
Linkin Park: by the time they did Ozzfest, Hybrid Theory was already a platinum album.
'nuff said. who's got another one?
COMMENT | research posted by : h_omegamachine 2/22/2004 11:07:53 AM
its good to see that everyone is up to speed on exactly how successful linkin park and disturbed are or were at the time of their appearance on mtv's ozzfest. this ozzfest lineup is actually good. i might return from my ozzfest hiatus ive been on since 1999. it isnt for me to say who is suck ass and who is not, beacuse it can never be stated as a universal fact that certain bands are better than the other. opinions and facts are different things. it is kickass that lamb of god is on ozzfest however. entombed would have been nice, woulda been cool to see some live wolverine blues. i could do without judas priest though. judas priest fans remind me of the line in the movie office space that went "i gotta admit i am a micheal bolton fan. for me it doesnt get any better than when he sings when a man loves a woman." only, plug in judas priest where micheal bolton is, and one of their rock singles where when a man loves a woman is. this is just my opinion, but to me it seems theres always one pathetic band on ozzfest. cant win em all i guess. ill just be happy that cradle of filth or fuckin nile isnt on ozzfest. europes version of wasp (cradle of filth) and the gay attempt at "extreme metal" (nile) would make me very sad.
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