Ozzfest 2005-Ozzfest Ends, More Details On DVD Released

[Rob]

IRON MAIDEN took over as the mainstage headliners at the Ozzfest bill for Wednesday night's (July 27) show in Holmdel, New Jersey after Ozzy Osbourne was apparently taken ill, forcing BLACK SABBATH to drop off the show. MAIDEN's extended setlist for last night's performance was a follows:

01. Ides of March
02. Murders in the Rue Morgue
03. Another Life
04. The Trooper
05. Prowler
06. Revelations
07. Wrathchild
08. Run to the Hills
09. Phantom of the Opera
10. Number of the Beast
11. Hallowed be thy Name
12. Iron Maiden
Encore:
13. Running Free
14. Sanctuary

They also played Die With Your Boots On.

[Malcolm]

Launch Radio Networks reports: Ozzy Osbourne should be ready for BLACK SABBATH's headlining set at Ozzfest tomorrow (July 30) at Tweeter Center in Tinley Park, Illinois. Osbourne was sick earlier this week and BLACK SABBATH cancelled their Ozzfest appearance in Holmdel, New Jersey, on Wednesday (July 27), which meant IRON MAIDEN got to do an extra-long set. A spokesperson told Launch that Osbourne is expected to play tomorrow at the Tweeter Center. The nature of Osbourne's illness hasn't been announced.

Osbourne told Launch that touring is a lot harder on him today than it used to be. "As we get older, we get more work," he said. "In the old days, you'd do, like, a three-week tour, and take six months off, you know? It was a luxury. Now, it's like a job."

The 10th annual edition of Ozzfest runs through September 4 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

[Malcolm]

 According to the official web site of the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana, BLACK SABBATH will **NOT** be performing at today's Ozzfest stop at the venue "due to an illness in the band." However, the remainder of the show will go on as planned and IRON MAIDEN will headline and will play a "complete" set.

If you choose to not attend the show, tickets can be refunded at your original point of purchase beginning Monday (August 1). Show attendance waives your choice for a refund.

This is the second SABBATH cancellation in five days following the band's no-show in Holmdel, New Jersey Wednesday night (July 27). That appearance was reportedly cancelled after SABBATH frontman Ozzy Osbourne ? who recently revealed to fans that he was battling a cold ? became "too sick" to take to the stage.

BLACK SABBATH performed a headlining set Saturday night (July 30) at the Tweeter Center in Tinley Park, Illinois.

The 10th annual edition of Ozzfest runs through September 4 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

[Malcolm]

 According to a spokesperson for the Germain Theater in Columbus, Ohio, BLACK SABBATH will **NOT** be performing at today's Ozzfest stop at the venue "due to an illness in the band." However, the remainder of the show will go on as planned and IRON MAIDEN will headline and will play a "complete" set.

This is the third SABBATH cancellation in seven days following the band's no-shows in Holmdel, New Jersey last Wednesday (July 27) and Noblesville, Indiana on Sunday (July 31). Both appearances were reportedly cancelled after SABBATH frontman Ozzy Osbourne ? who recently revealed to fans that he was battling a cold ? became "too sick" to take to the stage.

BLACK SABBATH performed an abbreviated headlining set Saturday night (July 30) at the Tweeter Center in Tinley Park, Illinois.

The 10th annual edition of Ozzfest runs through September 4 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

[Malcolm]

 Due to a family emergency, MASTODON will not be performing at the Detroit Ozzfest this Thursday, August 4. The band will return for the Ozzfest shows this weekend.

[Malcolm]

Metal Edge magazine recently conducted an interview with BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler. An excerpt from the interview follows:

Metal Edge: It's been 27 years since the last studio album from the original band, and the set remains pretty much unchanged from year to year. At this point, for you, what keeps SABBATH interesting?

Geezer: "Well, I'm always praying we'll do something different. And, you know, I really am hoping we can put in some stuff that we can't play backwards. It's always a bit of an uphill battle to try and change the set around."

Metal Edge: Are there anby songs in particular that you would like to play?

Geezer: "Anything. I'll even do BRITNEY SPEARS songs, just to make it different. [laughing] Just to do something different. I mean, the songs are great ? you know, playing the old songs and everything ? but it would really be nice to put something different in, to make it a bit of a challenge for us."

Metal Edge: Would you like to do another BLACK SABBATH album?

Geezer: "Only if it comes up to standard. We did come up with some stuff a few years ago, but I thought maybe two or three of the tracks were good, and the rest of it wasn't great. It has to be great for a new SABBATH album. I'd like to be able to do a new SABBATH album, but it has to be really good."

Metal Edge: At this point, would BLACK SABBATH be able to do something spontaneous, like the way you recorded [your new solo album], "Ohmwork", or the way the first albums were made?

Geezer: "I'm not sure. You can never tell with this band. A lot of Tony's [Iommi, guitar] new [solo] album could have easily been a really good SABBATH album, so it's still there somewhere. Whether it will ever come out, I don't know."

[Malcolm]

Ozzfest's official web site, Ozzfest.com, has been updated with the following message:

"Unfortunately, Ozzy has been battling some throat problems recently and had to cancel a couple shows. Ozzy has now had four days of rest and received the thumbs up from his doctor in Los Angeles earlier today. Ozzy is on his way to Detroit [for Thursday night's Ozzfest show] as you read this, [so] be prepared to 'go fucking crazzzzzzzzy!'"

As previously reported, BLACK SABBATH were forced to back out of three appearances in a week due to Osbourne's health. The band were an early scratch from yesterday's (Tuesday, August 2) Ozzfest tour stop at the Germain Amphitheatre in Columbus, Ohio, which meant IRON MAIDEN once again did a full headlining set. SABBATH previously dropped off last Wednesday's (July 27) date in Holmdel, New Jersey, and again on Sunday (July 31) in Noblesville, Indiana.

In a recent interview with Launch Radio Networks, Osbourne explained that he's not even supposed to be on the road: "Not so long ago, I killed myself in a motorbike accident, and then they told me not to tour for two years, you know? And I said ? and I, I, I did ? I went against the doctor's orders, you know?"

[Malcolm]

 The following are some of the early Ozztfest 2005 concert grosses, as reported by Billboard magazine:

Artist/Event: Ozzfest: BLACK SABBATH, IRON MAIDEN, MUDVAYNE, & others
Venue: Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts
City/State: Mansfield, Mass.
Date: July 15, 2005
Gross Sales: $1,152,356
Attendance: 20,100
Capacity: 20,100
Shows: 1
Sell-Outs: 1
Prices: $85.25, $18
Promoter: Tea Party Concerts

Artist/Event: Ozzfest: BLACK SABBATH, IRON MAIDEN, MUDVAYNE, & others
Venue: Tweeter Center at the Waterfront
City/State: Camden, N.J.
Date: July 19, 2005
Gross Sales: $982,538
Attendance: 23,655
Capacity: 25,371
Shows: 1
Sell-Outs: 0
Prices: $83, $18
Promoter: Electric Factory Concerts

Artist/Event: Ozzfest: BLACK SABBATH, IRON MAIDEN, MUDVAYNE, & others
Venue: New England Dodge Music Center
City/State: Hartford, Conn.
Date: July 17, 2005
Gross Sales: $842,248
Attendance: 20,430
Capacity: 24,000
Shows: 1
Sell-Outs: 0
Prices: $81, $30.50
Promoter: Jim Koplik Presents

[Malcolm]

 According to Minnesota's Pure Rock 93X, the Ozzfest concert originally planned for this Sunday, August 7 at the Float-Rite Amphitheatre in Somerset, WI will be rescheduled for Saturday, September 10. "The word is: Ozzy [Osbourne] injured his voice and needs a break," reads a posting on the radio station's web site.

"Those that have reservations to camp this weekend at Float-Rite campground are encouraged to keep their plans. Upon on arrival at Floatrite this weekend ... campers will be given a complimentary certificate for camping at the September 10th Ozzfest performance."

For more information, call the Float-Rite campground at 800-826-7096.

As previously reported, BLACK SABBATH were forced to back out of three appearances in a week due to Osbourne's health. The band were an early scratch from Tuesday's (August 2) Ozzfest tour stop at the Germain Amphitheatre in Columbus, Ohio, which meant IRON MAIDEN once again did a full headlining set. SABBATH previously dropped off the July 27 date in Holmdel, New Jersey, and again on Sunday (July 31) in Noblesville, Indiana.

BLACK SABBATH are scheduled to headline tonight's (August 4) Ozzfest concert at the DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan

[Malcolm]

John Bream of the Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting that Ozzy Osbourne is having throat problems so Ozzfest, set for Sunday (August 7) at Float Rite Park in Somerset, Wis., has been postponed until Sept. 10, promoters announced Thursday evening (August 4). Osbourne has been ordered by his doctors to rest his voice, and his band BLACK SABBATH now has scratched four shows, each the day after a performance.

"You gotta do Ozzfest with Ozzy," said Minneapolis promoter Randy Levy. "We're going to lose some of the bands [for the rescheduled date] and add some others. We'll know in the next 10 days."

Osbourne has missed shows July 27 in Indianapolis, Sunday in Holmdel, N.J., and Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio. Last month he had told the Columbus Dispatch that he was having acid reflux problems.

Tickets will be honored for the rescheduled date; refunds are available at the place of purchase.

[Malcolm]

Gemma Tarlach of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting that promoters expect a close-to-capacity crowd on Saturday (August 6) when this year's incarnation of Ozzfest hits the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy. That's 40,000 or so headbangers, and it's a pattern that will be repeated across the country until Ozzfest winds down in September.

The secret to Ozzfest's success, say insiders and observers alike, is knowing its audience.

"Ozzfest is successful for the same reason Warped is successful ? they stay true to what they do," said Ray Waddell, senior editor at Billboard.

"Ozzfest and Warped don't try to be all things to all people. Some fests that didn't last tried to force people to broaden their horizons," Waddell added.

John 5, whose full name is John Lowery, is in the middle of his third Ozzfest. The guitarist took the stage with MARILYN MANSON on his first two outings and this summer is handling axe duties for ROB ZOMBIE. Whether performing or watching the action from backstage, John 5 says Ozzfest's appeal is the quality of its bill, year after year.

"We have IRON MAIDEN, SLIPKNOT, MARILYN MANSON, ROB ZOMBIE," 5 said, listing Ozzfest bands past and present.

"Those are great acts. I don't think there's been a bad bill yet. Ozzfest has had every successful band in heavy metal," he added.

Ozzfest's long-term future also is in question as its namesake Iron Man shows signs of rust. Ozzy Osbourne typically cancels at least one show a year due to overextended vocal chords and exhaustion, and this year was no exception, with the singer and the rest of BLACK SABBATH sitting out [three shows since Ozzfest's kick-off in mid-July].

Zombie guitarist John 5 contended that Ozzfest can and will go on regardless of Osbourne's touring ability.

"My prediction is that it will go on another six years. It's going to continue without BLACK SABBATH, without Ozzy. But it's going to continue. It's too big not to," said 5.

[Malcolm]

 No sweat: Ozzfest 2005 beats the heat at DTE
Review
OAKLAND COUNTY
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Friday, August 05, 2005
By James R. Chesna
Contributing writer

CLARKSTON - You know you're in for a rough ride at a heavy metal concert when oppressive heat and humidity is more obnoxious than any sensory pummeling provided by the acts onstage.

Such was the case for Ozzfest 2005, the traveling rock 'n' roll haunted carnival that annually sets up camp at Clarkston's DTE Energy Music Theater and is entering its 10th year.

But the summer weather didn't seem to hamper the enthusiasm of the sold-out crowd that spent the daylong event drenched in sweat or hiding from the sun's rays.  When it got to be too much, shirtless was the attire of choice - even for women, who bared (almost) all beneath colorful body paint airbrushed on by artists dwelling in the faux horror show concourse area.

While the thick, moist air (and some a.m. rain) did little to deter the rowdy throng spread on the lawn and the fans crammed into the pavilion, it did change the temperament of a few acts - namely Mudvayne, whose ornery vocalist Chad Gray had to give up his gorilla suit about a third of the way into the band's set on the main stage.

Sans over-the-top costumes, the band fared admirably, especially with burly guitarist Greg Tribbett dolling out sludgy power chords and crisp, clean phrasing in the recent hit "Happy?"

As in recent years, unfortunately the second stage, once the place to be to find the Next Big Thing, suffered from too many faceless bands all grunting, growling and regurgitating noise for noise's sake rather than taking metal in new directions.

Iron Maiden fared best on the main stage, greeted by chants of "Mai-den! Mai-den!" as they charged through a shaky opener, "Murders in the Rue Morgue," before also providing a "Spinal Tap" snafu.

Singer Bruce Dickinson, dressed in a red British infantryman's uniform, galloped up one of several narrow staircases leading to elevated platforms stage right and left during "The Trooper," and slipped, falling face down.

Quickly leaping up and running to the edge to assure fans he was unharmed, Dickinson led the sextet (energized by guitar alchemists Dave Murray, Janick Gers and Adrian Smith and busy bass thumper Steve Harris) through the band's early years.

Gaining steam with each number, Maiden performed only songs from the group's first four albums, making gems rarely heard in the United States, such as "Phantom of the Opera," shine like new.

All of which led to headliners and metal granddads Black Sabbath, who while hindered by frontman Ozzy Osbourne, who confessed to be ailing, still managed to rumble the rafters with metal blueprints such as "War Pigs," "Iron Man" and "Paranoid."

[Malcolm]

Launch Radio Networks reports: BLACK SABBATH returned to Ozzfest yesterday (Thursday, August 4) after missing several dates due to an ailing Ozzy Osbourne. The group did their full headlining set at the DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan, with Osbourne warning the crowd early on, "If my voice breaks up from time to time, it's not my fault. I'm sick, as you know, but I told the doctor to go f**k himself. I'm doing the best I can, babes." BLACK SABBATH missed shows in Holmdel, New Jersey, on July 27; Noblesville, Indiana, on Sunday (July 31); and Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday (August 2).

Osbourne's voice was noticeably rough yesterday, though he was in otherwise energetic form, mooning the audience at the start of the show, tossing a bucket of water on the front rows later on, and jumping around throughout.

Specific details about Osbourne's ailment have not been revealed, but sources told Launch it's primarily a throat problem.

Ozzfest continues tomorrow (Saturday, August 6) in East Troy, Wisconsin. However, Sunday's (August 7) show in Somerset, Wisconsin, has already been rescheduled to September 10, to give Osbourne a day off to rest his voice.

[Malcolm]

Ozzfest's official web site, Ozzfest.com, has been updated with the following message:

"Ozzfest organizers have been forced to postpone only this Sunday's (August 7) show in Somerset, WI. Contrary to published reports that Osbourne is sick, the show is being rescheduled under doctors' advisement that he not perform consecutive shows. Osbourne performed a sold-out show [Thursday] night [August 4] in Detroit with BLACK SABBATH and will take the stage again on Saturday at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre. Ticketholders for Sunday's show should hold onto their tickets, as they will be honored for the rescheduled September 10 date."

[Malcolm]

 According to the Chico Enterprise-Record, Bill Graham Presents announced Monday (August that it has postponed Ozzfest 2005, an all-day heavy-metal concert scheduled Sunday (August 14) for Sleep Train Amphitheatre in Marysville, CA.

The concert, featuring the Ozzy Osbourne-fronted BLACK SABBATH, along with IRON MAIDEN, ROB ZOMBIE, KILLSWITCH ENGINE and more, will take place Monday (August 15) instead.

"Contrary to published reports that Osbourne is sick, he is under doctors' advisement that he not perform consecutive shows (he will perform Aug. 13 at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View)," a BGP press release stated.

Tickets for the postponed show will be honored Monday; refunds are available at place of purchase. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster and bgp.com.

[Malcolm]

 According to a posting at Ozzfest.com, Ozzfest organizers have been forced to cancel the Tuesday, August 16 Ozzfest concert "due to some unforeseen scheduling conflicts." The show will not be rescheduled and refunds are available at point of purchase.

[Malcolm]

Rob Zombie (tickets | music) has a lot to celebrate these days. His horror film "The Devil's Rejects," the follow-up to his 2003 effort "House of 1,000 Corpses," grossed $15.4 million in its first three weeks. Meanwhile, he's headlining the second stage at Ozzfest . The Ozzfest gigs prompted Zombie to assemble a new band: guitarist John 5 (ex-Marilyn Manson), drummer Tommy Clufetos (Ted Nugent) and longtime bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson.

"Our show's a lot more stripped down, but it's a lot more fun than it's ever been before," Zombie said. "The main stage is a very controlled atmosphere, and it can sometimes be borderline boring. Whereas the second stage, it's great. It's always chaotic. They asked me to do the main stage, but I didn't want to. It's kind of a drag. The second stage is where it's at."

Prior to the tour, Zombie began work on the follow-up to his 2001 album, "The Sinister Urge."

liveDaily: Why did you decide to hire a new band for the Ozzfest tour?

Rob Zombie: Just sometimes it's time to change it up. Personalities don't fit anymore. Things seem stale, so you have to get new people.

How is your new album coming along?

I'm going to finish it up when I get home. Scott Humphrey is producing it, who produced the last two albums. None of the new guys in the new band are on it because I hadn't actually worked with them yet. But we're not completely done. We probably will [have some of the new band members on the album]. Wes Borland from Limp Bizkit played guitar. Tommy Lee played drums. Josh Freese from A Perfect Circle played the drums.

What did Wes Borland and Tommy Lee bring to the record?

Just a different take. Everyone's different. Tommy Lee has a very distinctive style of drumming. Tommy's played on the last two records anyway. Wes has a unique away of playing. It's hard to really describe why it's different. He plays completely different than John 5, who brings another something to the table.

How did you meet Wes Borland?

Through Danny Lohner, who used to be in Nine Inch Nails. They were doing music to that movie "Underworld." He was like, "I'm working with Wes. I think he'd be great. He wants to work on the record." It's usually something as simple as that.

Tell me about your songwriting process. Do you write primarily on the road or in the studio?

Always in the studio. I don't think I've ever written anything on the road. There's never really any time. It's the only way I've ever done it. For me, it's probably the easiest way. There's always a lot of pressure. But I've been working with Scott Humphrey for a long time now and we basically write all the songs together, so it's pretty easy.

You've played multiple Ozzfests. Is there still something to learn from them?

The years go by, this time what's kind of cool is, by not having a theatrical show, it forces you to find other ways to entertain the crowd. It's good. Having new guys in the band, it's always different. So you're always learning something.

You just released your second movie, "The Devil's Rejects" ?

I love it. I love the movie. It's a very hard movie to describe. It's not really a horror movie. It's a very violent crime movie, really, much in the tradition of the '70s-style crime movies. It's cool.

Why did you decide to get into movies?

Same thing that made me want to do music. You just love something, and you want to do it. It's as simple as that. Music and movies were the two things I've always loved. I always wanted to work on movies. I've been trying to do it for a long, long time. It takes a long time before you can crack through.

[Malcolm]

 Crawfordsville, IN's The Journal Review recently conducted an interview with IN FLAMES frontman Anders Frid?n. Several excerpts from the chat follow:

On the band's evolution:

"We never really set out to be anything, you know. Obviously when we first started out, we had all the influences from other bands and we were like, 'We want this type of sound.' But these days, we just write whatever comes to mind. I feel that we (still) have the essence that is IN FLAMES; the speed, the aggression and the melody."

On how his voice has developed:

"I just don't want to repeat myself. I want to take my instrument, which is my vocals, to a higher level. I love to scream; it's great to get that energy out. I would never stop screaming, though. I don't think IN FLAMES is ever going to release an album with all clean singing. There will always be the elements that we have today, otherwise we lose the identity. That wouldn't be fair to the fans."

On playing the main stage at this year's Ozzfest:

"I don?t know if they're waiting for the bigger bands, or if that's just how they act. I?ve watched the other bands, and I don't think the crowd is that into them, either. It's an honor to be on the main stage with bands like BLACK SABBATH and IRON MAIDEN, but I'd rather be on the second stage in front of a crowd that's actually standing up. But if we can introduce more people to IN FLAMES at the main stage, that's great."

On the recent rise in extreme metal's popularity:

"In a way I think that everything sounds the same. All this 'metalcore' or whatever you call it, it's just not interesting. It's good that Sweden is here (at Ozzfest) to prove where this music comes from. It's just boring when everything sounds the same."

On their next album, "Come Clarity":

"With this album, it's like a 'best of' without really being a 'best of.' It's like all the albums we've done. I'm really psyched about letting people hear it, and I'm very proud of it."

[Malcolm]

Jada Pinkett Smith was a no-show, and the Prince of @#%#@ Darkness had a little @#%#@ tantrum when the 10th annual Ozzfest tour rolled into Auburn?s White River Amphitheatre Thursday.

An estimated crowd of 17,000 turned out to see the monsters of metal perform on two stages, and the concert lasted more than 13 hours.

For the second year in a row, the concert?s namesake, Ozzy Osbourne, was joined by Black Sabbath band mates Geezer Butler (bass), Tony Iommi (guitar) and Bill Ward (drums). And Ozzfest nearly lost its namesake again, two years after Osbourne called in sick to the tour?s local stop in 2003.

All seemed to be going well early on as Sabbath kicked off with ?N.I.B.,? ?After Forever? and proto-metal classic ?War Pigs.? Then things went wrong when the band tackled ?Dirty Women.?

Osbourne?s voice cracked hideously during that number, and he responded by slamming his mike down and storming off stage.

The rest of Sabbath remained cool and professional, continuing to jam until Ozzy could pull it together and return. The singer forced a grin that looked more like grimace as he lead the crowd in waving their hands side to side.

He explained himself once the number had ended. ?My voice is ? blown out again,? he said, promising to go on if the crowd wanted to hear him.

But this was Ozzy, after all ? metal?s patron saint. And while hundreds could be seen headed for the parking lot, most in the crowd remained faithful and even turned their cheers up a notch.

Sabbath picked things back up with ?Fairies Wear Boots,? and Osbourne seemed to feed off of his fan?s energy, catching a second wind for the latter part of the set, which included a snippet of ?Sweet Leaf? (a song sorely absent from last year?s set), ?Iron Man,? ?Black Sabbath,? ?Snowblind? and ?Children of the Grave.?

?Iron Man? and ?Sabbath? were set highlights, as fans sang exuberantly along with the former and Ozzy?s maniacal expression was captured by the giant movie screen behind him during the latter.

Black Label Society, Shadow?s Fall, Mudvayne and In Flames also joined Black Sabbath on the main stage. But an informal survey of black concert tees on Thursday (and there were a lot of them) revealed which main stage act was generating the most buzz this year: Iron Maiden.

?I?m a guitar player, and they?re just phenomenal,? gushed Tom Pierce, 30, of Seattle.

Dave Berglund, 28, of Beaverton, Ore., also counted himself among the Maiden faithful. ?I don?t know exactly what it is,? he said. ?I just like a lot of their stuff from when they first came out.?

Berglund was well rewarded. Maiden kicked off its set with ?Murders at the Rue Morgue? and pulled the rest from the band?s first four albums.

The influential metal vets mostly performed before successive backdrops of ghoulish mascot Eddie. But notable changes to that aesthetic included a large Devil sculpture that rose from the back end of the stage to gazed menacingly over the crowd with glowing, crimson eyes; and a 12-foot-tall Eddie (a costumed guy on stilts) that lurched onstage late in the set during ?Iron Maiden.?

After taking an informal poll of who had never seen Maiden (many raised their hands), singer Bruce Dickinson, who joined the band in 1982, introduced ?Phantom of the Opera? as ?the very first song I ever heard Iron Maiden play.?

?Run to the Hills? ? a song that angrily recalls Native American genocide -- provided the set?s high point. Fans pumped devil horn salutes as they belted the song?s anthemic chorus at the top of their lungs.

?Run to the hiiiiillllls. Run for your liiiiiiiife.

Dickenson also made reference to his band recording a new album, to be released in 2006, during Maiden?s set.

Rob Zombie ? a guy known almost as much for directing cinematic splatterfests ?House of 1,000 Corpses? and ?The Devil?s Rejects? these days ? headlined the smaller second stage with a raucous set that included ?Demon Speeding,? ?Dragula,? ?More Human Than Human,? ?Living Dead Girl? and other hits before Zombie wound down with Lynyrd Skynyrd?s ?Sweet Home Alabama.? (What? No ?Freebird??)

Atlanta math-metal upstarts Mastodon also stood out among the similar sounding second stage acts ? Gizmachi, The Black Dahlia Murder, A Dozen Furies and others. Mastodon easily earned a main stage slot for next year?s festival with a furious set that was book-ended by the epic ?Iron Tusk? and infectious ?Blood and Thunder,? both numbers tracks from last year?s phenomenal ?Leviathan? album.

Wicked Wisdom ? the band known primarily for having actress Jada Pinkett Smith as its mouthpiece ? was a second stage no show despite being listed on the Ozzfest Web site as late as Thursday morning. White River representatives could provide no details on why Pinkett did not peform.

Fans packed the White River pavilion earlier in the afternoon to enjoy Ozzfest?s edgy carnival aesthetic. They got fresh ink at the Last Chance tattoo booth. They picked up cannabis-flavored suckers at the Chronic Candy stand. And they got their favorite bands? names and logos sprayed onto their faces and torsos at the body painting booth. (Females were made to wear cloth strips over their nipples in contrast to Ozzfest ?03 when hordes of the painted women walked around topless.)

A sign at the ?drown the clown? dunking booth warned ?clown jokes may offend some people.? And it was no lie early on as the smart aleck sitting over the water tank taunted contestants with digs regarding their lack of sexual prowess and their ethnic backgrounds.

?Come on, you hillbilly redneck,? the clown yelled at a contestant wearing a muscle shirt.

Matt Stuart, 39, of Arlington responded by nailing his target with a baseball a few tosses later, thus dunking his tormentor. ?I got a good arm,? he said.

More hardcore and popular was the ?kick me in the ? head? station. For five bucks, festivalgoers got to kick a soccer ball at the guy sitting at the back of the net taunting them.

Hitting a noggin was easier said than done. Several minutes passed before Darren Wanner, 21, of Calgary, Canada pelted his target?s cranium, sparking a round of raucous cheers from dozens of onlookers.

Wanner said the key to his technique was a good running start. ?And you gotta start playing soccer when you?re eight years old,? he added with a grin as he walked away with the t-shirt he?d just won.

Dave Sauve, 21, of St. Louis was one of the soccer ball?s targets. Protecting the nose was a must, he said, estimating that about a dozen people were good enough to actually hit him at each tour stop.

?The first one?s always ? rough,? Sauve said, a smile cracking the tangled thicket of his beard. ?But after a few beers it doesn?t really matter any more.?

He figured he and the other ?kick me in the head? guys would take in $2,000 in Auburn.

Only in America.

[Malcolm]

It's been rumored for months that this summer's Ozzfest would be its namesake's last ? and on Friday, Ozzy Osbourne announced that he is retiring as the headliner of the annual heavy metal festival. However, the singer is expected to finish
this summer's tour and plans to make occasional appearances at future Ozzfests. "After 10 years, the Ozzfest's name and reputation have been established," he said in a statement. "It's time for me to move on and do other things." His publicist noted in a statement, "Ozzfest will carry on in 2006, however Ozzy will limit his performances to only a few, select cities."

Osbourne, who's been performing with Black Sabbath this summer as the tour's headliner, has been dogged by throat problems, which have forced the band to drop off of the bill on several recent dates