The annual three-ring circus that is Ozzfest has become a perennial summer celebration of all things loud and abrasive over the last decade – and this summer’s lineup will not disappoint.
Black Sabbath and British metal stalwarts Iron Maiden – who will be playing material exclusively from their first four albums – will share headlining duties, and they’ll be joined for the 26-city ride by Rob Zombie and a host of young metal bands, starting on July 15.
Along with Sabbath, Maiden and Zombie, the main stage will also include Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall and Ozzfest regulars Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society.
The second stage will include Mastodon, the Haunted, Trivium, In Flames, As I Lay Dying, the Black Dahlia Murder, Bury Your Dead, It Dies Today, Arch Enemy, Soilwork and “Battle for Ozzfest” winners A Dozen Furies.
“I’m most proud of the success of Ozzfest,” founder Sharon Osbourne said in a statement. “Everyone said it would never happen, and 10 years later we are still in business.”
Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson broke the news about the band’s summer set list in the official Ozzfest statement. “This summer’s Maiden touring is based on the recent ‘Early Days’ DVD,” he said, “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.
The stage sets, production and backdrops will re-create 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.”
Sadly, chinwag that Anthrax – reunited with classic-era singer Joey Belladonna – might also be taking the Ozzfest stage in 2005 proved to be nothing more than wishful speculation. The squad has regrouped, according to the band’s publicist, but no plans for a North American tour were announced at press time.
Ozzfest tour dates, according to the official press release:
- July 15, 2005 – Boston, MA – Tweeter Center
- July 17, 2005 – Hartford, CT – Meadows Music Theatre
- July 19, 2005 – Camden, NJ – Tweeter Waterfront
- July 21, 2005 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lakes
- July 23, 2005 – Pittsburgh, PA – Post Gazette
- July 23, 2005 – Washington, DC – Nissan
- July 26, 2005 – Newark, NJ – PNC Arts Center
- July 30, 2005 – Chicago, IL – Tweeter Center
- July 31, 2005 – Indianapolis, IN – Verizon Wireless Music Center
- August 2, 2005 – Columbus, OH – Germain Ampitheatre
- August 4, 2005 – Detroit, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre
- August 6, 2005 – East Troy, WI – Alpine Valley
- August 7, 2005 – Minneapolis, MN – Floatrite Park
- August 11, 2005 – Seattle, WA – White River
- August 13, 2005 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Ampitheatre
- August 14, 2005 – Sacramento, CA – Sleep Train
- August 16, 2005 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Pavilion
- August 18, 2005 – Phoenix, AZ – Cricket
- August 20, 2005 – Los Angeles, CA – Hyundai Pavilion at Glen Helen
- August 23, 2005 – Albuquerque, NM – Journal Pavilion
- August 25, 2005 – Dallas, TX – Smirnoff
- August 27, 2005 – Houston, TX – Cynthia J. Woods Pavilion
- August 28, 2005 – San Antonio, TX – Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre
- August 31, 2005 – Nashville, TN – Starwood Ampitheatre
- September 2, 2005 – Charlotte, NC – Verizon
- September 4, 2005 – West Palm Beach – Sound Advice
