Is Ozzfest still a thing?

Ozzfest is an annual heavy metal and hard rock festival started by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon in 1996. For many years it was a staple summer touring festival in the United States and occasionally Europe, showcasing some of the biggest names in metal and building itself up as a must-attend event for metalheads. However, the last full Ozzfest tour was in 2010. This has left many fans wondering, is Ozzfest still a thing?

Brief History of Ozzfest

The first Ozzfest was held in Phoenix, Arizona in 1996 and featured second stage acts like Powerman 5000 along with main stage artists like Ozzy Osbourne, Danzig, Biohazard, Sepultura, Fear Factory, Earth Crisis, and more. It was a huge success right out of the gate.

In the early 2000s, Ozzfest became a virtual household name in metal and expanded internationally with tours in Europe, Japan, New Zealand, and more. The festival went on a hiatus in 2012 and 2013 before returning for abbreviated one-day events in Tokyo and California in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

The End of Full Ozzfest Tours

The last time Ozzfest toured as a full nationwide festival was in 2010. That year’s lineup featured Ozzy as well as Mötley Crüe, DevilDriver, Nonpoint, and others. It turned out to be the end of an era.

Sharon Osbourne spoke in 2011 about her decision to stop doing full tours, saying:

“We’re just not doing it anymore because it’s become so oversaturated. We decided to just do one show in London, Los Angeles, New York and Indio, CA, next year.”

Cost and lack of big name headliners were cited as reasons for ending the annual summer tour. As the festival marketplace grew more crowded with Mayhem Fest, Uproar Festival, and others competing for top metal acts, it became harder for Ozzfest to stand out.

Without the draw of a nationwide tour, Ozzfest operated more sporadically after 2010. There were single day events in Japan, California, and Texas in 2013. Ozzfest came to Japan again in 2014 along with a one-off Ozzfest Meets Knotfest show in California co-headlined by Ozzy and Slipknot.

Recent Ozzfest Events

While full nationwide tours have ceased, the Ozzfest name has continued to pop up here and there in recent years:

Ozzfest Meets Knotfest 2016 and 2017

In 2016, Ozzy teamed up once again with Slipknot for a two-day Ozzfest Meets Knotfest event held in Devore, CA. Ozzy and Slipknot headlined with support from artists like Disturbed, Megadeth, and Black Label Society.

They followed it up with another joint Ozzfest/Knotfest in 2017, this time expanding to two weekends with shows in San Bernardino and Glen Helen, CA. The 2017 edition featured Ozzy, Rob Zombie, Deftones, Marilyn Manson, and Stone Sour.

Ozzfest 2018 (Ozzy Solo)

Ozzy decided to bring back Ozzfest in 2018 without the Slipknot collaboration. It was another single day fest held in Mountain View, CA headlined by Ozzy along with other acts like Marilyn Manson, Trivium, and more on stacked bill of over 20 bands.

Ozzfest New Year’s Eve 2018

As a special treat for fans, Ozzy put on an Ozzfest New Year’s Eve show in 2018 back at The Forum in Los Angeles. Dimmu Borgir, System of a Down’s Serj Tankian, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, and of course Ozzy himself helped ring in the new year in heavy metal style.

One-Off Ozzfests

Outside those major events, there have been occasional one-off Ozzfests held internationally. These include:

• Ozzfest Mexico 2013 – Mexico City, Mexico
• Ozzfest Japan 2013 – Chiba City, Japan
• Ozzfest Colombia 2015 – Bogota, Colombia

Is Ozzfest Coming Back?

While full-scale national tours seem to be a thing of the past, clearly Ozzfest is still alive and well in abbreviated form. The Osbournes still wheel out the name periodically for standalone shows and festivals.

It allows them to bring back that nostalgic Ozzfest feeling on a smaller scale without the challenges of a whole tour. Fans can count on the festival popping up sporadically in the future as long as Ozzy is still rocking.

In 2019, Sharon Osbourne mentioned they held back from planning an Ozzfest, saying:

“We didn’t do an Ozzfest this year because Ozzy ended up getting pneumonia,” she said. “So we had to cancel all those dates. All good things come to an end eventually, so we’ll just play it year by year.”

So while yearly nationwide Ozzfest tours are done, the festival could reemerge anytime depending on Ozzy’s schedule and health. Sharon seems intent on bringing it back periodically when the time is right.

The Legacy of Ozzfest

Regardless of whether it tours consistently again, Ozzfest made an enormous impact during its heyday that can never be erased. It helped launch bands like Slipknot and System of a Down to stardom and put a spotlight on heavy metal at a time when mainstream interest was fading.

For decades, Ozzfest was THE heavy metal summer festival to circle on your calendar. It gave metal loyalists a place to congregate, celebrate, and discover new bands together every year. The camping, parties, and camaraderie built Ozzfest into a community as much as a concert.

That same community still feels nostalgia every time Ozzy unveils a new Ozzfest, even just for one day. Though it’s not the huge nationwide affair it once was, Ozzfest remains the grandfather of metal festivals and its spirit still lives on.

Conclusion

Ozzfest may never regain its peak touring years but it continues to make appearances. While metal fans would undoubtedly love to see a full tour again, Ozzfest has cemented its legacy as one of most important festivals in metal history. The Osbournes seem content to use it periodically when the timing is right. So even if it’s not a yearly event anymore, Ozzfest still lingers as an iconic brand in heavy metal that can rear its head at any time.