The heavy metal festival born from a door slammed in the face
In short: When Sharon Osbourne was rejected by Lollapalooza, she didn't just take the loss—she built her own empire. Ozzfest became a massive touring circuit for heavy metal, navigating protests, technical sabotage, and international expansion before its recent revival plans in Birmingham.
Founded in 1996 by Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, Ozzfest was a direct response to Sharon being rebuffed by the Lollapalooza festival. It began not as a national tour, but as a two-day event in Phoenix, Arizona, and Devore, California, in October 1996. The tour quickly expanded, reaching the United Kingdom in 1998 and eventually Japan in 2013. It served as a massive platform for diverse subgenres, including thrash, industrial, metalcore, and gothic metal.
The festival's history is marked by significant friction. In 1997 and 2001, it faced large-scale protests targeting Marilyn Manson's performances. Internal drama also surfaced; during a 2005 show in San Bernardino, the crowd—reportedly encouraged by Sharon—bombarded Iron Maiden with eggs and ice after a dispute regarding Ozzy's use of a teleprompter. This event was further complicated by the P.A. system being switched off during the set, leading to accusations of deliberate sabotage by organizers.
Financially, the tour relied on sponsorship money rather than paying the bands directly. In 2007, the festival attempted a "free fest" model, which led to server crashes and issues with "eBay scalpers" selling fake tickets. After a period of irregular dates and various collaborations—including the "Ozzfest Meets Knotfest" series—the festival's future was tied to Ozzy's legacy. Following his death in July 2025, Sharon Osbourne announced a 2027 return to Birmingham's Villa Park to honor his memory.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Ozzfest
- Also: Wikidata — Ozzfest · CC0
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