During the festival’s 10th anniversary run you also can catch these main stage groups:
BLACK SABBATH
OK, so this isn’t exactly a “son of Ozzy” — this is the womb. Rock legends John “Ozzy” Osbourne (vocals), Anthony “Tony” Iommi (guitar), Terence “Geezer” Butler (bass) and William “Bill” Ward (drums) charted the course for dark metal 36 years ago. Once again, Ozzy says this is the band’s final reunion. No, really.
VELVET REVOLVER
Also known as Stone Temple Roses, this outfit brings together former STP frontman (and multiple rehab graduate) Scott Weiland with noted black guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum, all Guns N’ Roses alumni, and Dave Kushner, ex-guitarist of Wasted Youth, Infectious Grooves and Dave Navarro’s band.
MUDVAYNE
Critically acclaimed Illinois heavy quartet featuring Chad Gray (vocals), Greg Tribbett (guitar), Ryan Martinie (bass) and Matt McDonough (drums). These guys would rather you call them by their weird pseudonyms Kud, Gurrg, Ryknow and sPaG. Don’t ask.
SHADOWS FALL
Melodic aggressive metal featuring Brian Fair (vocals), Jon Donias (guitars), Matt Bachand (guitars), Paul Romanko (bass) and Jason Bittner (drums). The band’s dark, black death metal sounds Swedish, but Shadows Fall really hails from Massachusetts. Don’t tell.
IN FLAMES
These hardcore metalheads really are from Sweden — Gothenburg, to be exact. Features Anders Friden (vocals), Jesper Strömblad (guitar), Björn Gelotte (guitar), Peter Iwers (bass) and Daniel Svensson (drums).
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
This is ex-Ozzy guitarist Zakk Wylde’s new metal quartet with Nick Catanese (guitars), Craig Nunemacher (drums), and James Lomenzo (bass). (Not to be confused with the decidedly non-metal band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.)
Side stage acts
Besides Wicked Wisdom (see main cover story), other bands appearing include:
Killswitch Engage
As I Lay Dying
Mastodon
A Dozen Furies
The Haunted
The Black Dahlia Murder
It Dies Today
Trivium
Soilwork
Arch Enemy
Bury Your Dead
Gizmachi
Ozzfest rolls into Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, 707 Pavilion Blvd., on Friday, Sept. 2. Doors open at 9am. Tickets are $35-$105. For more info, call 704-522-6500 or go to www.cellardoor.com.
This article appears in Aug 31 – Sep 6, 2005.
