Sharon Osbourne Says Ozzfest Ended Because of Greedy Managers

There was a time when one of the biggest and best things happening in metal here in the States was none other than Ozzfest. In the 90s and early 2000s, some of the biggest bands on the planet either got their start or blew the fuck up as a result of touring with the roaming festival. Acts like System of a Down, Slipknot, Tool, Disturbed, Limp Bizkit did well on the festival, while Slayer, Pantera, Type O Negative and the like held it down as established acts.

And while it was once an institution, the world’s been devoid of an Ozzfest in any capacity since 2018. During the most recent episode of The Osbournes podcast, Sharon Osbourne explained that the thing that ultimately killed the show was money and egos.

“Yeah, it was a very weird beast because all the bands were our mates, but the managers were greedy and for some reason they thought that we were making billions on it and we weren’t. We made a profit. But it was not like — we couldn’t retire on it. And managers and agents wanted more and more and more, and it just wasn’t cost effective anymore. We stopped, because it just wasn’t cost effective.

“Years and years ago, one of the bands — it was the second Ozzfest we did, or the third — wouldn’t go on stage until I agreed to give them 10,000 more dollars. And they were holding everything up, and I said, ‘Of course, of course I’ll give it you.’”

That act, you ask? Apparently it was none other than New Jersey native and free nap connoisseur Glenn Danzig. And while her son Jack Osbourne called Danzig a “twat,” Sharon revealed that she ultimately won out in the end, stating that the band went on to play because they’d already “signed a contract, your agent agreed it, and you’re just gouging.”

Ultimately, it’s not entirely surprising that money ended up killing something as cool as Ozzfest. Though let’s be real — given the logistical and financial nightmare that touring has become, Ozzfest was probably doomed anyway.