Disturbed is finding some new challenges now that it has moved from its spot as the OzzFest second-stage headliner to a role as support act on the main stage.
The group made the switch after an estimated 20,000 fans swarmed the second stage on the tour’s opening day in Disturbed’s hometown of Chicago last month (June 8).
Guitarist Dan Donegan tells LAUNCH how things have changed on the big stage. “It’s definitely different,” he says. “I mean it’s a bit more challenging ’cause, you know, a lot of the venues, most of the venues, have pavilion seats so you have to try to convince these people to put down their hot dogs and popcorn and stand up out of their seat.”
However, the main stage does have its perks. “The first show that we got moved to the main stage, we look over on one side of the stage and there’s Marilyn Manson and Twiggy, and Richard Patrick from Filter was out,” Donegan tells LAUNCH. “And then I turn around the other way and there’s Ozzy [Osbourne] standing on the side of the stage watching our set. We all pretty much kinda freaked out at that point.”
OzzFest arrives today (July 5) at the Smirnoff Music Theater in Dallas. The current main stage lineup is Black Sabbath, Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, Papa Roach, Linkin Park, Disturbed, Crazy Town, and Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society.