Ozzfest Meets Knotfest Announced, Ozzy and Sharon Appear Together at Promo Event
Some weeks ago, we announced that something was about to be announced about Ozzfest. Then last week, it was announced that Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne had finally split up, and for a brief period Ozzy went missing, leaving many fans to wonder if Ozzfest’s upcoming announcement had been put on the back burner.
But apparently not, because yesterday Ozzfest Meets Knotfest, a weekend-long merger of two of metal’s most (historically) successful festivals, was announced. The fest will be held at the San Manuel Amphitheater and Festival Grounds in San Bernardino, CA, on Saturday, 9/24 (apparently the Ozzfest night, with Black Sabbath headlining with their “final” Southern California show) and Sunday, 9/25 (the Knotfest night, with Slipknot headlining).
During a press conference yesterday at the Palladium in Hollywood, Ozzy and Sharon appeared together, and Sharon said the following:
“Twenty years ago, we realized that there was no touring festival that supported music like these guys did. We came up with Ozzfest and for twenty years it was amazing. And for many of those years, we had the unbelievable Slipknot playing. And Slipknot came along and kicked our arses and created Knotfest. They took that around the world and it was hugely successful and critically acclaimed as one of the best festivals on Earth. Then we decided, ‘Why not merge together?’
“We want it to be the loudest, biggest, dirtiest festival in California. We couldn’t be happier.”
Read: “We wanted to do Ozzfest, but damn was that expensive, and Slipknot’s festival has been doing all right, so we figured, hey, call in some favors.”
Meanwhile, Slipknot’s Shawn Crahan made the following statement:
“Playing with Black Sabbath is always an honor…Merging both festivals will be a legendary experience that will be life-changing for all fans. We are excited to bring all the families together again.”
…really? This sounds like a once-famous festival and a currently-famous festival teaming up to throw, well, another weekend-long music festival. How is this going to be life-changing? Will this really alter the face of metal as we know it? Do we really need to act like this is a world-altering event? Can’t we just say, “Two great flavors, together at last?”
That said, there are some pretty sick bands on this line-up. Other acts involved include Slayer and Disturbed, along with bands like Amon Amarth, Whitechapel, Municipal Waste, Nails, Overkill, Suicide Silence, Goatwhore, and Dave Lombardo’s killer new band Dead Cross. Scroll down for a complete listing.
Finally, there is also the issue of Ozzy and Sharon appearing together. Have the couple squashed their beef, or did Sharon take a page from the Jay-Z and Beyoncé book and create rumored marital troubles as a publicity stunt? I understand the latter sounds cynical as Hell, but if Sharon Osbourne is anything, it’s a shrewd businesswoman.
Anyway, you can find out more about the festival here. If you think this clumsily-named merger is going to give your life new meaning, let us know in the comments section. Otherwise, enjoy seeing Amon Amarth live while having a $7 Sprite.
Ozzfest Lineup – Saturday, September 24
Main Stage
Black Sabbath
Disturbed
Megadeth
Opeth
Black Label Society
Rival Sons
Lemmy Stage
Children of Bodom
Hatebreed
Devildriver
Goatwhore
Huntress
Dead Cross
Nuclear Blast Stage
Municipal Waste
Kataklysm
Nails
The Shrine
Still Rebel
Knotfest Lineup – Sunday, September 25
Main Stage
Slipknot
Slayer
Amon Amarth
Anthrax
Trivium
Lemmy Stage
Sabaton
Suicide Silence
Overkill
Emmure
Butcher Babies
Man With A Mission
Nuclear Blast Stage
Whitehcapel
Combichrist
Death Angel
Sim
Oni
