Ozzfest was a central part of the hard rock year when it toured from 1996 to 2008 and a few years after. That ship seems to have sailed for the time being however. Namesake Ozzy Osbourne seems to be consolidating his touring showcase of metal into one big international event, taking place in Riviera Maya near Cancun in Mexico. Just to prove he's down with the international nature of the event, the operating title will be Ozzfiesta.
If that's not enough to make this awesome, they've dropped some other details as well for the event, taking place over a five-day stretch at the end of May.
Obviously Osbourne will be playing at least one set during the festival, as well as taking part in a Q&A and other events. His wife Sharon is also featured on the website for the festival, so apart from presumably organizing the event, she may be making featured appearances at non-musical events as well (read: distraction for your non-metal significant others). Black Label Society, the band of former Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde, is the only other performer on the lineup thus far but we presume more will come. A golf tournament and movie night are also included.
All of this will be based around the Hard Rock Hotel in Riviera Maya. Tickets will go on sale beginning October 17, with adult tickets going for $1,900 (but that includes your residency at the hotel).
Although the event will be taking place in the more friendly, tourist-centric confines of Mexico, no nation deserves to host an Ozzy-themed event more than this one. Having spent several years living in the Bronx and attending metal shows all over New York, we can attest that no ethnicity is more dedicated to metal, from Black Sabbath-era heavy metal to more extreme variants, than the Mexican populace. Rock on.
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