Ozzfest 2010 Returns

More than 15 years after OZZY OSBOURNE debuted Ozzfest, the defining blueprint for hard rock tours and festivals returns this August in six American cities with an explosive bill co-headlined by Ozzy and, in their first-ever Ozzfest appearance, M?TLEY CR?E ? touring together for the first time with Ozzy since he invited the group on their now-legendary 1984 arena tour. Expect the energy to go way off the charts at the all-day extravaganza of music and deranged merriment.

The 2010 Ozzfest will kick off August 14 in San Bernardino (the birthplace of the first Ozzfest in 1996) and then make stops in Chicago, Illinois; Hartford, Connecticut; Camden, New Jersey; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Boston, Massachusetts.

The main stage will feature full sets from OZZY, M?TLEY CR?E and HALFORD (whose frontman Rob Halford last appeared on Ozzfest in 2004 with JUDAS PRIEST), performing songs from Rob Halford's solo career along with material from JUDAS PRIEST and FIGHT. DEVILDRIVER and NONPOINT will round out the main-stage lineup. Second-stage headliners and six-time Ozzfest veterans BLACK LABEL SOCIETY will be joined by DROWNING POOL, KINGDOM OF SORROW, GOATWHORE, SKELETONWITCH, SAVIOURS and KATAKLYSM.

Each Ozzfest date will include 13 bands on two stages with music beginning at 1:00 p.m. In addition, concert-goers can once again visit the Ozzfest "Village of the Damned" featuring a mix of interactive activities, shopping and entertainment throughout the venue concourses.

These Ozzfest dates mark the first concerts in the U.S. in connection with the June 15 release of "Scream" (Epic Records), the Ozzfest founder's first album in three years and 10th studio album overall. Produced by Ozzy and Kevin Churko, both of whom did the same honors for Ozzy's 2007 worldwide million-seller "Black Rain", the album will feature the first single "Let Me Hear You Scream".

The multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer recorded most of "Scream" at his Los Angeles home studio, The Bunker, and co-wrote all the songs, primarily with Churko. Notably, the album marks the first appearance of Ozzy's new guitar player, Gus G. (FIREWIND, ex-DREAM EVIL, ARCH ENEMY). Ozzy's band also features bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson, drummer Tommy Clufetos (ex-ROB ZOMBIE, ALICE COOPER) and keyboardist Adam Wakeman.

Ozzfest 2010 Main Stage:

OZZY OSBOURNE
M?TLEY CR?E
HALFORD
DEVILDRIVER
NONPOINT

Ozzfest 2010 Second Stage:

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
DROWNING POOL
KINGDOM OF SORROW
GOATWHORE
SKELETONWITCH
SAVIOURS
KATAKLYSM

The dates are as follows:

Aug. 14 - San Bernardino, CA ? San Manuel Amphitheater
Aug. 17 - Chicago, IL ? First Midwest Bank Amp.
Aug. 19 - Pittsburgh, PA ? First Niagara Pavilion
Aug. 21 - Hartford, CT ? Comcast Theater
Aug. 22 - Camden, NJ ? Susquehanna
Aug. 24 - Boston, MA ? Comcast Center

Ozzfest did not take place in 2009 after Osbourne stated that he did not want to tour until he had a new album in stores. The move was not really surprising, given the festival's scaled-down reconfiguration as a one-day event in 2008 after more than a decade as a full-length summer tour.

In addition to the general slowdown in both the economy and the concert business, Ozzfest began facing competition in 2008 from the Rockstar Energy Mayhem tour and Cr?e Fest.

Tour co-organizer Sharon Osbourne experimented in 2007 by making the show admission-free, with fans obtaining tickets through corporate sponsors. But the bands were not paid either, leading to a lack of big names.

The 2008 "destination festival" took place on August 9, 2008 in Dallas and featured METALLICA, SERJ TANKIAN and others along with headliner Ozzy.