Report: Promoters Expect Near-Capacity Crowd At East Troy OZZFEST

August 4, 2005

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.

Read the rest of the article at JSonline.com.

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