Hard Features

Ozzfest ‘05

Verizon Wireless Music Center
Indianapolis, Indiana
July 31st, 2005

by John Haseltine

Well the day did not start out as any normal day. Waking up at 5:00am to go to an all day concert. I need not complain about this, as our caravan only had a two hour trek down the highway. With the great distances between cities this years Ozzfest is running, I’m sure a lot of people journeyed much farther than I. Besides, it was not just another all day festival for me. It was Iron Maiden with a shit load of opening acts. That’s how I looked at it. I guess the fact that it is the tenth year anniversary is cool too. This is my second trip to an Ozzfest. The last was last summer. Yep, went for Judas Priest. Not only, but that as with Iron Maiden was the driving force to shell out $85.00 for a half-assed descent seat. Anyways…..

We roll into the parking lot at about 8:55am. Thought we were going to be able to see all the bands this time around. Wicked Wisdom were scheduled to go on at 9:20am. We get out of the van and hear some brutal music blaring from inside. Shit! It was Gizmachi. They started early. 20 minutes early to be exact. They rolled a tight schedule all day running 20 minutes early throughout the event. After being stopped at the gates being told that Black Sabbath would not be performing tonight, and would we like a refund, screwing around with getting my photo/media tent pass we finally made it in and down the lawn by the end of Soilwork’s last song. They were the 3rd band up. I can’t even tell you what song they had finished up with. What a bummer that was. I wanted to catch them. I heard Gizmachi was cool and Jada Pinkett’s Wicked Wisdom were pretty heavy. Not good but heavy. I guess Will Smith got up there and thrashed out a tune during their 20 minute set. They’ve got their hands in about everything now. Next up ,Buffalo, NY’s It Dies Today. They belted out a vicious 20 minute set to start off my watching for the day. 10:40 am , and the almighty Arch Enemy hit the stage. What a shame it was/is to only get a 20 minute dose of Arch Enemy. Someone should have pull any of the five main stage acts, other than Maiden, and put Arch Enemy up for 40 minutes. What a great band. In the states for their latest ’Doomsday Machine’ release , the band was on the money. A couple tracks were,’ Ravenous, Nemisis and Dead Eyes See no Future and We Will Rise’. An amazing act every time. Sweden’s The Haunted tore some shit up as well. I think it was still too early for the crowd to appreciate such stellar talent so early in the day. Last up for the 20 minute second stage slots was Bury Your Dead. I stood way back for them as I’m not too familiar with what they offer. They seemed to rip it up pretty good. A Dozen Furies, As I Lay Dying and Mastodon got 30 minutes each . All sounded excellent. When Killswitch Engage came on, that’s when the crowd started to wake up a bit. They crowd surfing was getting a little out of hand and some flashing occurred. They got 40 minutes which included ’My Last Serenade, Life To Lifeless, The End Of Heartache’, and 8a few others. Headlining the second stage was Rob Zombie. Haven’t heard when anything new (musically) will be coming from the Rob Zombie camp, but he did spend a good portion of time in between song plugging his new horror flick. A very cool and erotic stage set. He was very energetic and put on a hell of a set rolling true all the Zombie radio hits and classics.

Main stage festivities start promptly after Rob’s set was over. In Flames did not have all the crowds attention or capacity, but the 20 minutes they played was very well done. What crowds were present while they played, responded to them very well. They did seem to be some sound difficulties present that wouldn’t be ironed out till after BLS. Next up Black Label Society. How many years in a row does Zakk get to be on the main stage? I guess I don’t understand the premise behind to tour. He did a splendid job on tracks like ,’ It’s Been A Long Time, Still Born and Suicide Messiah.’ Really cool was hit tribute to Dimebag. Next on the bill is Shadow’s Fall. They always deliver up a hearty portion of their new millennium style thrash with almost perfect precision. It was cool to see them up on the main stage as just the week before I’d seen them on an off date in a little club. Mudvanye come on next. They played pretty heavy, which I was somewhat impressed. Not one of my favorites, and with all the hits on the radio, I still wonder why they were on the bill as well. Anyways they crowd loved them. They paid special tribute to all those in the Armed Forces and we got to hear ,’Happy, A World So Cold and Falling’ live. Twelve times a day on the radio a day is just not enough. (Not) A good set anyways.

And on with the show. I know I’ve said it before, and yes I’ll say it again. The premise of Ozzfest to me was to showcase underground and new not so heard of bands. From the get go 10 years ago, they have done a descent job at this, but not a great one. Always on the bill are many “well known” bands. Not that this is an issue for me, just practice what you preach I guess. And because of this, I have only attended one other show, and that was last years with Judas Priest. Now last year and this year, there were many great acts on the line up as with years before, but never enough for $75 to $150. There are so many summer metal fests that actually promote and have unknown, underground bands on the bill for $35 to $50 for a two day pass with over a hundred bands. To see the Priest reunion and Maiden was worth the price alone. But with the stiff rules and $8.00 hot dogs, $5.00 bottle waters and no in and out privileges, this makes for one hell of a long day. Blah, blah, blah…..

Another band not belonging on the bill, but I’m so glad they were, (as do Ozzfest coordinators) the reason this years tour is selling well, the greatest band on the planet, Iron Maiden. Okay so I like them. And you should too. Even a couple not really even Maiden fans at all that I attended the show with will tell you how they stole the show. Not the most elaborate stage set this time around, but some kick ass drops, lighting, sound and yes, Eddie. They boys were in top shape for the show. Maiden Fest 2005 is what it was with Black Sabbath not playing, we got an extra 20 minutes out of Maiden. A total of 80 minutes. Still too short, but better that the 60 they were scheduled for. My only bitch is the set list. As any Maiden fan out there, and trust me, I buy all the same shit year after year too, the fact that they are only playing tracks from the first four albums which are feature on the last DVD “The Early Years”. They are definitely marketing geniuses, but come on. And now The Essentials??? Oh, oh and another double live release next month with another live DVD. I love Maiden but man, it seems they are just milking it. We are promised a new disk with all new songs next year. So that’s something to look forward to. As for this evenings set. Amazing as always. This is the 11th time seeing them and they are just as great now as ever. It was very cool, despite my few complaints hearing just the oldies from them. Wonder how the next couple tours will be like. Bruce is as energetic as ever. Probably the greatest front man in metal. Hands down a true showman. Just watching the rest of the guys up there wailing away gives even the slightest fan the chills. The show started off with ‘The Ides Of March’ playing over the sound system as the lights go out. When the band come out they tear through, in this order: ‘Murders In The Rue Morgue, Another Life, Prowler, The Trooper, Revelations, Wrathchild, Die With Your Boots On, The Phantom Of The Opera, Run To The Hills, The Number Of The Beast, Hallowed Be Thy Name, Iron Maiden, Running Free and the classic closer, Sanctuary’. Great, great ,great. I’m also glad as a long time fan, to see the new genre of youth who are being introduced to them.

Well a very good outing this year. Sorry for all the fans of Ozzy and Black Sabbath who missed out at a certain number of shows this year. And for those catching the last leg of the festival without Iron Maiden on the bill. There were prior commitments they were not going to break. And for all of those who will supposedly not be able to see Ozzy or Black Sabbath headline the event ever again. It seems just this week Ozzy made the announcement that neither group would ever headline the festival again. I suppose it may be time to pack it up and really retire. And huge thank you to one of the founders of what heavy metal today has become. Without the sounds of Black Sabbath, the founders of true metal, there’s no telling what the scene would sound like today. Bow out gracefully now and enjoy the riches you’ve earned. Happy 10th anniversary Ozzfest.