Ozzfest!!!

[93rollaracer]

Here's the full release from smnnews.com

Ozzfest - Official Press Release -- Dates released! 17 bands confirmed with more on the way! Iron Maiden playing songs from first four albums only!
posted on 03-15-2005 @ 3:27 PM by - Dan

Here's straight from the official Ozzfest and IRON MAIDEN sites, Ozzfest.com and Ironmaiden.com:

"Ozzfest 2005 gets louder for its 10th anniversary with a staggering line-up of legendary artists and cutting-edge rising stars.
Talent includes BLACK SABBATH, IRON MAIDEN, ROB ZOMBIE, SHADOWS FALL, [and] BLACK LABEL SOCIETY.
The all-day extravaganza of music and deranged merriment gets underway July 15 in Boston.
It’s big. It’s bad. And it’s back for more. Got a problem with that?
Ozzfes - the king of festivals - triumphantly returns this summer to celebrate its hard-earned 10th anniversary with the staggering line-up of BLACK SABBATH, IRON MAIDEN, ROB ZOMBIE, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, SHADOWS FALL and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY The summer’s premier concert festival -which has propelled many of today’s rock bands to superstardom while paying close attention to its discerning fans - will roll out July 15 in Boston and visit 26 cities by the time it reaches West Palm Beach on September 4. The Hot Topic Second Stage will be headlined by ROB ZOMBIE and feature a preview of rock’s rising stars, including AS I LAY DYING, MASTODON, THE HAUNTED, IN FLAMES, ARCH ENEMY, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, BURY YOUR DEAD, SOILWORK, TRIVIUM, IT DIES TODAY, A DOZEN FURIES and more.

'I'm most proud of the success of Ozzfest,” says founder Sharon Osbourne. “Everyone said it would never happen and 10 years later we are still in business.” In fact, 125 bands, 238 shows and over 4 million fans later, the all-day extravaganza of music and deranged merriment is roaring louder than ever. History in the making, 2005 marks the first time metal legends BLACK SABBATH and IRON MAIDEN have toured together and also represents IRON MAIDEN's first Ozzfest appearance.

IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson said, “This Summer's Maiden touring is based on the recent “Early Days” DVD and all the songs we do at Ozzfest will be from our first four albums - 'Iron Maiden', 'Killers', 'Number of the Beast' and 'Piece of Mind'. We will be bringing over our full European show, naturally including as special guest Eddie in various appropriate guises!! The stage sets, production and backdrops will recreate aspects of the shows on the tours around those albums - only bigger… much bigger!!! We don’t know if anyone has done anything like this before but we think it’s something the fans will really appreciate both in the choice of songs and in the production values.”

Also debuting on the tour will be Texas-based band A DOZEN FURIES who landed their coveted Hot Topic Second Stage slot after winning Ozzy and Sharonss MTV “Battle For Ozzfest” reality series competition. Debuting last fall and lasting right up until the February launch of the fourth and final season of the Emmy-award winning “The Osbournes,” “Battle For Ozzfest” is the ultimate battle of the bands, with contestants having survived 2004’s grueling Ozzfest challenges.

This year, a limited number of fans who purchase OZZY OSBOURNE's first-ever 51-song, four-CD retrospective box set 'Prince of Darkness' (out March 22 of Epic Records) will be able to obtain one free Ozzfest ticket. The initial pressing of the box set will feature a precedent-setting promotion allowing fans to buy one Ozzfest general admission ticket and get one free.

Ozzfest, originally launched in 1996 as a limited two-city trek, has become a virtual breeding ground for up-and-coming bands. The renowned second stage has been instrumental in catapulting the careers of SYSTEM OF OF DOWN, LINKIN PARK, LIMP BIZKIT, INCUBUS, SLIPKNOT, GODSMACK, and CHEVELLE. 'Playing Ozzfest --twice-- will always be among the highlights of our career,” notes drummer Samuel Loeffler of CHEVELLE, who most recently appeared in the festival’s 2003 line-up. “Personally speaking, I was honored and somewhat nervous about sharing the stage with Ozzy, but finally felt comfortable after both he and Sharon patted me on the ass.'

The heavy metal juggernaut 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. Just as the festival is committed to presenting the best music, it also provides an interactive, multi-sensory experience for concert-goers with a wide-range of attractions. The traveling show’s notorious “Village Of The Damned” --alive with tattoo artists, piercing booths, state-of-the-art video games, a wide range of vendors and much more-- promises to be wickedly tempting.

JUDAS PRIEST -- one of the biggest attractions on last year’s tour -- declared: “We were thrilled to be part of such a unique moment in heavy metal history that will be remembered forever!” Jonathan Davis --lead singer for KORN, who pounded the main stage in 2003-- added, 'Ozzy and Ozzfest are some of the cornerstones of metal. I loved playing in front of the Ozzfest crowd, the fans at those shows were fucking amazing.'

In addition to drawing vital hard rock acts, Ozzfest has always attracted a variety of select sponsors devoted to the tour’s core fan base. Hot Topic --returning to host the second stage-- will be the festival’s official soft line teen retailer. Throughout the day, Tama drums and Ibanez guitars will proudly showcase their arsenal in the Village. F.Y.E. (For Your Entertainment) is on board for the fifth consecutive year as the official music retailer and will host the FYE autograph tent giving fans the opportunity to meet some of their favorite Ozzfest artists. Trojan brand condoms will also have presence in the Village as the official latex condom of Ozzfest. Jagermeister will once again bring the backyard BBQ party back to Ozzfest and prove their commitment to metal music with artist autograph signings and tons of free swag for attendees 21 and over.

For more information, visit: www.ozzfest.com"

Here are the Ozzfest tour dates:

July 15 - Boston, MA @ Tweeter Center
July 17 - Hartford, CT @ Meadows
July 19 - Camden, NJ @ Tweeter Waterfront
July 21 - Buffalo, NY @ Darien Lakes
July 23 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Post Gazette
July 24 - Washington, D.C. @ Nissan
July 26 - Holmdel, NJ @ PNC
July 30 - Chicago, IL @ Tweeter Center
July 31 - Indianapolis, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center
August 2 - Columbus, OH @ Germain Amphitheatre
August 4 - Detroit, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
August 6 - East Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley
August 7 - Minneapolis, MN @ Floatrite Park
August 11 - Seattle, WA @ White River
August 13 - San Francisco, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
August 14 - Sacramento, CA @ Sleep Train
August 16 - Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Pavilion
August 18 - Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket
August 20 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hyundai Pavilion at Glen Helen
August 23 - Albuquerque, NM @ Journal Pavilion
August 25 - Dallas, TX @ Smirnoff
August 27 - Houston, TX @ Cynthia J. Woods Pavilion
August 28 - San Antonio, TX @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
August 31 - Nashville, TN @ Starwood Amphitheatre
September 2 - Charlotte, NC @ Verizon
September 4 - West Palm Beach @ Sound Advice

To recap, here are all of the bands the press release has confirmed with more bands still to be announced:
BLACK SABBATH
IRON MAIDEN
SHADOWS FALL
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
ROB ZOMBIE
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
AS I LAY DYING
MASTODON
THE HAUNTED
IN FLAMES
ARCH ENEMY
SOILWORK
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
TRIVIUM
IT DIES TODAY
BURY YOUR DEAD
A DOZEN FURIES

Total = 17, with more bands still to be announced.

[*Ed note - SMNnews.com still strongly believes ANTHRAX with their Joey Belladona-era lineup is still among the number of bands not mentioned in the press release. When their website is relaunched, we may find out for sure. As for the fate of the only other band SMNnews.com reported would be on Ozzfest and was not confirmed in the press release, MUDVAYNE, we do not have a definitive answer but will find out as soon as possible. The other 14 bands previously mentioned as confirmed by SMNnews.com have, in fact, been confirmed via the press release.]

this is gonna kick so much ass

:ylsu per:

[chevydrummer76]

awesome....man i wanna go, always wanted to hit up ozzfest

[MBTN]

Holy shit. I gotta pick a date/place near me. I must attend this.

[93rollaracer]

The second stage is freakin' awesome. I'm personally gonna head to the Pittsburgh show on 7-23...can't wait to see Sabbath and Maiden.

[chevydrummer76]

If I go the only date that would work is......... August 11 - Seattle, WA @ White River

['97ventureowner]

Hell yeah, Six Flags at Darien Lake, July 21.Great place for a music fest of this magnitude.