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By Chad Bowar, About.com Guide to Heavy Metal since 2005

Ozzfest 2008

Wednesday May 14, 2008
Instead of being a traveling festival as in years past, Ozzfest returns in 2008 with a one day event in Dallas, Texas on Saturday, August 9th. Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica will headline this year's Ozzfest.

The event will feature three stages, and will take place at Pizza Hut Park in Dallas. In addition to Ozzy Osbourne's only summer concert appearance and Metallica's first time ever on Ozzfest, the main stage performers include Serj Tankien (System Of A Down), Jonathan Davis (Korn), Cavalera Conspiracy, Shadows Fall, Apocalyptica and In This Moment. Also scheduled on the main stage is a special all-star tribute to slain Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott.

Second stage acts include Sevendust, Devildriver, Kingdom of Sorrow, Soilent Green, Witchcraft and Goatwhore.

The Texas (third) stage—“an homage to the “many great metal bands that come from Texas,” says Sharon Osbourne--features The Sword, Drowning Pool and Rigor Mortis.

“Ozzy just finished an 11-month world tour so I think he deserves a summer off,” Sharon says about this year’s one-day Ozzfest. “We’re going to be a stadium destination festival for now--we have gone past doing the sheds every summer. We’ve given everyone else the blueprint and we have to keep evolving Ozzfest. This is just the beginning; AEG Live and I have a lot of new ideas for Ozzfest.”

Tickets for this year’s Ozzfest will go on sale Saturday, May 31.

Comments

May 14, 2008 at 3:15 pm
(1) serena says:

i think that sucks. i think los angeles should have been the destination not dallas

May 15, 2008 at 4:29 pm
(2) Rhodeislandrock says:

The U.S. needs a good, well-known, well-organized Metal festival with big name bands. The Ozzfest brand should be a good way to bring that to the masses. I envy Europe with Download, Wacken, Bloodstock, and the like…the only fests we get are regional like the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival or ProgPower in Atlanta that sells out every year in record time. I think it’s a very good thing, too bad there aren’t better bands headlining. I’d rather see the Canadian version.

Steve
Heavy Metal Addiction

May 19, 2008 at 12:39 am
(3) Steph says:

wtf?! just one day?!?!?! well….they can do the ozzfest without ozzy! so he can have a summer off, but…. what about with the fans?!

May 19, 2008 at 2:19 pm
(4) Jim says:

This is why Ozzfest is a one day festival now. Sharon Osbourne had a falling out with her agent, CAA, and her promoter, Live Nation. Live Nation owns the majority of the amphitheaters in the country, and they won’t let her into them. This new direction for Ozzfest is out of necessity, and not by choice. She pissed off the wrong people and they buried her.

May 21, 2008 at 12:49 am
(5) Vampiress says:

Look who gives a damn where it is if ya cared at all you wouldn’t bitch at least the man is giving it his all like he always does and bringing ozzfest to the fans.

I am a huge fan and was goin last year to florida but I tell you this.. If it was in france I would go if it killed me..

Im planning on attending this year cuz I need to see ozzy before he is gone as well as mom needs to see her idol..

As for the pricks who are pissed because the event is one day and in texas.. You need to stop ya freaking bitchin yea it may be far off but it is just as far from where I am to LA.. But if it was there at least I would try to get there cuz who knows this could be HIS LAST PERFORMANCE and you aren’t looking at it like that, you are looking at it with the “to suit me” scenario..

Leave the man be and if ya can’t get there then thank the times that you actually did and where able to get there..

And I hear about the imfamous question “What about the Fans?” Look people, we are fans, yes I am a retired groupie.. But you don’t hear me whining because the band I used to follow around retired.. They are people to and they do the best that they can to please us but as a fan we all need to show a little respect for the ones who do put themselves out there like this.. Hell ozzy is old enough to be my grandfather and yall is bitching at him and sharon about one day in texaz. Are ya sure ya not just ticked cuz it ain’t coming to you.. That you may actually break off a peice of ya bank account (if ya really wanted to go see him as well as have the fun that is ozzfest) to get there. Or are ya pissed cuz it is actually in the South (YESSSSSSSSSSS FINALLLYY) And hell texas of place (god bless him and his alamo lmao.) so all I need to say in closing is yall need to back up and lay off these folks they do this for three reasons.. Money (of course) Music (if they enjoy it) and the Fans (which are the people who pay theirs salaries..) So lay off..

The Darkest Wishes

Vampiress

May 21, 2008 at 3:18 pm
(6) Chelsea says:

woo hoo!this will be my first year going to Ozzfest and i am SO happy that it’s in Dallas!!!i was astonished to find out it was only one day though…

May 28, 2008 at 6:07 pm
(7) VR says:

@ Vampiress:

Your argument fails. You said you were a retired groupie…given that description, I’m assuming you have MONEY. Probably a good half or more of Ozzfest fans are HIGHSCHOOLERS and COLLEGE KIDS. We don’t HAVE that kind of money to throw around on plane tickets or driving (especially the way gas is).

THAT is what we’re pissed about. The argument IS “what about the fans” because a large portion won’t be able to go. I’m sorry we can’t all be retired groupies like you with the leisure to throw our money away on concerts.

June 4, 2008 at 1:01 pm
(8) Kelly & Keith Dobratz says:

It really sucks that there is only one show this year and in Dallas, TX.

We live in Rockford, IL. That is not very cool. So this year we won’t get to see the show and we go every year since we have been together.

THis really bites!!!

June 8, 2008 at 4:35 pm
(9) Marcia Doby says:

I think everyone needs time off so come to nc in Sept. or Oct. The OZZ FEST is something that I have done with my son for awhile,we don’t have much to do where we live. We have looked forward to the dates being anounced for months now we find out there wont be no festival in nc. My youngest son is 15 and the oldest 23 Ozzy is a legend to us.

June 28, 2008 at 11:00 am
(10) Dee says:

The end of a great run. It became a tradition for me and friends. I only missed one Ozzfest, and that was the one that Ozzy didn’t perform (System of a Down headlined). Every year we were at DTE Music Theater in Clarkston, MI for Ozzfest. I have many, many funny stories about going to these over the years.

All things come to an end. Ya’ it sucks, but that’s life.

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