Dishonour at OZZFEST

[LaconianShot]

<b>Beware: profane language in link. Don't click if your sensibilities are offended easily... instead, you might want to use that time to grow up.</b><p>Expect a lot of backlash from [url="http://www.roadrun.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=40739"]this[/url]<br>blatant show of disrespect. Honestly, what the hell was the Osbourne camp thinking when they decided to engage in this? What, pelt one of the biggest names in metal with garbage and you'll gain support? <p>I've never been a fan of OZZFEST. It's a breeding ground for crappy Slipknot-esque nu metal bands and emo-ish hardcore bands. Also, it's incredibly corporate. However, this year one of the headlining acts was Iron Maiden, and I would've paid the ticket fare just to see them if OZZFEST had been in driving distance.<p>From what the article that I linked to says, as well as a press release on behalf of Maiden's manager Rod Smallwood that I will copy and paste here, the case was the same for a lot of the OZZFEST audience. Luckily, they were very supportive of Maiden throughout the disastrous set.<p> <blockquote><i>Press release by Rod Smallwood, on behalf of Iron Maiden, from www.ironmaiden.com</i><br>23/08/2005OZZFEST - SAN BERNARDINO AUG 20<p>Maiden are currently returning from America and preparing for UK festivals this weekend and don't wish to waste time giving Sharon Osbourne's statement the dignity of a reply. Considering the disgraceful nature of the events that occurred they feel it's a pretty dismal effort at self justification and they don't think Metal fans are at all gullible and that they will easily see through it. They want no more to do with this sorry incident and are very much looking forward to headlining Reading and Leeds Festivals this weekend.<p>I would however like to add my own comment on this.<p>In 30 years in this business and after attending hundreds of gigs l have never seen anything anywhere near as disgusting and unprofessional as what went on that night. I was standing on our sound desk out front as usual but ran to the stage as soon as the hail of missiles began and from then on watched from the front of the stage right next to Bruce's walkway. The scale, viciousness and concentration of the throwing made it obvious that this was a premeditated and co-ordinated attack. Assaulting musicians while performing by throwing bottle tops, lighters and eggs at them from just a few yards away is vile, dangerous, criminal and cowardly. It is incredible that Ozzfest security apparently did nothing about it - aren't they there to protect the bands too? Especially when the band is concentrating on a performance in front of 45,000 people and the missiles are coming out of the glare of the spotlights. And to spit at a band on stage is unforgivable.<p>Iron Maiden, like all the bands on Ozzfest, had to sign quite onerous legal documents part of which was promising not to throw anything into the audience, even wristbands!!! Ironic isn't it.<p>It is well documented on the web who was responsible for planning and participating in this attack and for musicians to join in this assault on other musicians is a shocking disgrace akin to treachery. You should all be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves.<p>We know who authorised the making of the 'ozzy - ozzy' chant tape the day before and how it was played secretly through the PA at the very beginning and end of our set.<p>We also know who continually turned off the power interrupting our set at crucial moments. It is a good thing that the power was turned back on before there was a riot as you could sense on stage a lot of the huge audience were getting totally pissed off at this continual onslaught on the band.<p>The great majority of the Ozzfest crew throughout the tour were terrific and we thank them. Those who participated or stood idly by and watched as this all went down should also be ashamed of themselves and l would certainly hope they never come near a tour with which we are involved.<p>There is little point in my commenting on the chap with the flag or their trying to hold up Eddie or Sharon's speech as the audience made their feelings very clear on each occasion.<p>And in the end what was all this about?? If l had any sort of problem or misunderstanding with a band working on a tour we were involved in l would go and talk to them or their manager - not wait until the end of a tour and assault and ambush them. Or was that really it?<p>I find it staggering that this ambush would take place in front of any audience, let alone in San Bernardino, the biggest audience of the tour. Didn't that audience merit any consideration? They pay an awful lot to be there in terms of prices for tickets, parking, food, beer etc. Surely if they spend this sort of money they deserve to watch the bands they paid to see be able to put in a full unhindered performance. Free of danger and intimidation. If I had paid I would ask for my money back!<p>And this audience really were outstanding, giving the band incredible support and many voting with their feet in disgust after the set and the speech, which to many was the final insult.<p>I have to say l was immensely proud of Maiden who stood up to it all and showed great courage and just got better and better through the adversity. Their heads never dropped, instead they went on the offensive. It was a truly memorable moment when Bruce went to the very front of the stage during Trooper - something which he never normally does as he is usually on the ramps - waving the flag whilst avoiding the hail of missiles and yelling 'This is a fucking British flag, and these colours don't fucking run!'. The imperturbable attitude and ability of the band shone through and in the end made this a truly remarkable rock and roll event, even if for all the wrong reasons.<p>We will have no more to say on this matter except that l do think the band deserve an apology from a number of people, and you know who you are.<p>ROD SMALLWOOD<br>MANAGER, IRON MAIDEN<br>CHAIRMAN, SANCTUARY ARTIST MANAGEMENT </blockquote> <p>Personally, I'm disgusted by the behavior of those of the Osbourne camp that were involved in this, and indeed the OZZFEST staff who stood by while this was happening. However, I'm glad that Bruce Dickinson and the rest of Maiden weren't beaten down by this, and went on to play even more ferociously then usual. This was of course, Iron Maiden's last tour date on OZZFEST.

[Xian Shade]

Not the first time. I have sound clips of one of the times Iron Maiden suffered things being thrown at the band. Two sound clips from the same night, the first telling off the would-be thrower, and the second going into a rage after that person threw something again, and apparently the 'tard was running in a sea of Maiden fans that Bruce was urging to tear him apart.<p>"I TOLD YOU! I F(*$ING TOLD YOU! RIGHT, CAN YOU SEE?! CAN YOU SEE WHO HE IS!? GET HIM! THERE HE IS! GET HIM! KILL HIM! F(*$ING KILL HIM! I'LL F(*$ING KILL HIM MYSELF!"<p>I'm having this brief wonderment in which this may have been the same guy, but this time had the sea of fans on HIS side, organizing it. Sounds very reminiscent. Obviously why Iron Maiden had to sign disclaimers. More than one I'm willing to bet said he had to keep his cool this time (if anyone wants the sound clips, hit me on aim).<br><p>[size=small][Edit by Xian Shade on [TIME]1124840420[/TIME]][/size]

[LaconianShot]

<blockquote>I'm having this brief wonderment in which this may have been the same guy, but this time had the sea of fans on HIS side, organizing it</blockquote> <br>Actually, if you read both of the sources I posted, it says that the crowd was on Maiden's side, booing at Sharon Osbourne and such, and chanting "Maiden! Maiden!" as well as singing the song when the PA system was intentionally cut out. <p>Aside from that, people allowed in the front row are patted down and searched for objects that could be thrown at the performers. Obviously, this was an inside job, as is made apparent in the Blabbermouth article. Read it... Sharon Osbourne was backstage, encouraging other bands to throw stuff at Maiden.<p>As for the sidestage bands that actually engaged in throwing eggs, beer and spit at Maiden, I would have say that their careers are in danger of being over. I'm looking at the underwhelming Bury Your Dead. Jesus Christ, a good way to gain popularity in the metal world is <b>not</b> to throw junk at one of the biggest and most succesful metal bands.

[Nightmare]

it sounds like you don't like Ozzfest but some of the bands on it are actually pretty good (2 at least) Trivium and In Flames... these bands are pretty hardcore but the guitar wok and all of the harmonies they do are just... AWESOME. haha I'm a guitar player so i respect these bands a lot. You should give them a listen (Trivium is destined to be the next Metallica) I read that in a magazine ... guitar world I think <p>ALSO ! Iron Maiden are metal pioneers and d not deserve to be disrespected at all this is an outrage<br><p>[size=small][Edit by Nightmare on [TIME]1125172196[/TIME]][/size]

[Muuuu teki]

Link is broken in first post. I would like to read it, but can't.

[LaconianShot]

Link is broken? Shit... okay, here we are...<br>http://www.roadrun.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=40739<p><blockquote>it sounds like you don't like Ozzfest but some of the bands on it are actually pretty good</blockquote> <br>Some, but the majority of them are utter garbage. The best metal festival this summer was Gigantour. Dave Mustaine organized that one, so it wasn't filled with crappy nu-metal and harcore bands.<p>When I say "hardcore", I'm not talking about bands being heavy, I'm talking about the genre "hardcore", which is defined as being a mix of thrash metal and punk, with more tendancies towards punk then thrash metal. In Flames are death metal, not hardcore.

[Muuuu teki]

Ahh, thanks.<br>I think that (while not a major metal fan) that I'm going with the majority here.