Ozzfest 2004 will continue to be a fan-focused event, founder Ozzy Osbourne and his wife and manager Sharon Osbourne said as they unveiled details of the tour today (Feb. 20) in Los Angeles. The outing — the ninth installment of Ozzfest — will be promoted nationally by Clear Channel Entertainment.
Artists on the bill were selected based on a poll of fans conducted on the Ozzfest Web site. In addition to Ozzy — who is still wearing a neck brace from his ATV accident in December — the main stage will feature the reunited Judas Priest, Slayer, Dimmu Borgir, Superjoint Ritual and Black Label Society.
Osbourne joked, “Is there going to be a team of paramedics waiting [onstage]? I’m not dead. I’m ready to rock, man.”
Joining Slipknot on the second stage will be Hatebreed, Lamb Of God, Atreyu, Bleeding Through, Lacuna Coil, Every Time I Die and Unearth.
Commenting on the lineup, Sharon said, “It’s harder than hard, and my God, is it ugly. But we think it’s what the fans want.”
Also with an eye to fans, Sharon said 2004 ticket prices will range from $10-$65, “the same as the last two years.” The average price in 2003 was $50.
A total of 26 shows will roll through primarily major-market amphitheaters starting July 10 at ctnow.com Meadows Music Theatre in Hartford, Conn. The dates will wrap Sept. 4 at Sound Advice Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Fla.
While Ozzfest has been tremendously successful — last year it grossed $23.5 million and drew 481,857 people, according to Billboard Boxscores — there are no plans to take it overseas.
