OZZFEST!!!

[Sock]

Alright, I had the most amazing Sunday night.  I went to OzzFest in Hartford, CT!  I got to see In Flames, Black Label Society, IRON MAIDEN!!!!, and BLACK SABBATH!!!!!!!!!...!!!    

The way they had everything set up, there was a steep lawn that I paid $47 to sit on and then about 50 rows of covered seats, that you would have had to of paid about $100 for, and the stage.  

It rained cats and dogs at the start of the show.  I mean it poured!  Everybody started ripping the grass off the lawn and throwing mud everywhere.  It was like Woodstock, but with more metal.  I think I still have mud in my ear.  I got nailed in the head four times!  ;D

About half way through Mudvains (or however you spell it, I don't like them anyway...) set,  I snuck into the pavilion. ( )  Then IRON MAIDEN came on, and by their fourth or fifth song, I had made my way into the pit!!! ( )  I was TEN FEET from the stage!! ( )  They played "Rath Child", "The Trooper", "The Number of the Beast", and holy crap they played "Running Free"!!!  Bruce said they were going to play some old songs, and I yelled, "Play Running Free!!!" and he was like, "This ones called Running Free."  YES!!! ( )  It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen.

Until Sabbath came on...  They had all the hippie dippie lights going all over the walls, and I was ten feet from Toni Iommi!!  I can't even describe it, it was amazing.  

A-maz-ing.  Period.  It was so worth getting grounded.  ;D

[Katahu314]

When you said OZZFEST, I had the impression that Ozzy might have planned something deviously insane with his Spit.

[Apex]

Well done, Sock.  Being up close is really awesome.  Long ago I once saw Jethro Tull from the front row (real seats).  And Sabbath, well, saw them many times in the early 70's, never quite got that close tho, but myself and my ex-drummer actually met Ozzy and Tony in 1975, West Palm Beach Florida USA after a Sabbath concert.  We somehow snuck backstage, wandered around, saw them in a huge room, walked in, got thrown out, and finally got let back in after begging a roadie. Ozzy was tired but very friendly, really a nice fellow, and my drummer, who by then was playing guitar and building his own fuzz-boxes, had a long chat with Tony Iommi about how he got his sound on those early Sabbath albums.  Ozzfest is coming Sept 4 to West Palm Beach, so I just found out, so thanks for the thread.  Keep on rockin'!

[elwellnick24]

sweet mate! ive been to a couple here in the uk, and had a great time at both.
shame they hardly have them over here.....i guess it bugs me that ozzy/black sabbath are british, yet they play here once in a blue moon....if we're lucky  :(

[ozzy72]

I know John, Ozzy, as he is a neighbour of my mums He is a really nice bloke, but I've never seen him in concert. People like that don't come to Hungary, we get Chumbawamba and dross like that instead

[beaky]

Good for you, sock; I'm envious. Never seen Sabbath or Ozzy live, and who knows if they'll ever play together again.
Not a huge Maiden fan, but it sounds like you had a wonderful "Wayne's World" moment, there... excellent!!

[Sock]

Hey Apex, the only show I ever saw front and center was a small show at a local club called The Chance with a couple of tribute and cover bands.  It was good nonetheless, and only $10 bucks!  ;D

But I think you've got me beat!  I mean, come on, you snuck backstage and met them!!  :o  I only got to the pit.

elwellnick, is metal even really that popular in the UK nowadays?  Its not as big as it was in the 80's, but here in the states it has a huge underground scene.  The audience in the UK just might be to small.  :(

Mark, you're an English teacher!  Just pump your students full of good old English Rock n' Roll (Hit 'em with some Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Faces, Cream, and then get a little heavier with some Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest!) and maybe it'll catch on there and you'll get some good bands playing!  ;D

Rottydaddy, you live in New Jersey right?  I hope I'm right, don't want to look stupid if you're from Iceland or someplace similar.  ::)...  But OzzFest is coming to New Jersey I think next month.  I only liked four out of the twenty some-odd bands that were playing but I still had a rocking good time!  Excellent!!  ;D

P.S.  Now there is just four more shows to see this summer, The Allman Brothers Band, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, The Black Crowes and to top it all off, The Rolling Stones!  ;D

[Sock]

Seeing Maiden is truly an experience, I saw them at download 2 years ago and they were awesome. The highlight was definately when they played "Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter" and "Can I Play With Madness." Bruce is a monolithic frontman.

Pete

They didn't play either of those songs, which bummed me out, but they did play "Running Free"!!!!!    When they first came on though, they played "Rath Child" and you couldn't hear anything but the bass if you were in the back.  Someone mess up on the audio.  ::)  Everyone started booing and shouting and chanting "TURN IT UP!"  After that, they blared it so LOUD!  But your right, Bruce and Rob Halford have the best voices in metal music.  I've never been able to decide which is better though.

[beaky]

Hey Apex, the only show I ever saw front and center was a small show at a local club called The Chance with a couple of tribute and cover bands.  It was good nonetheless, and only $10 bucks!  ;D

The Chance is a great room... was living in Poughkeepsie for awhile; last show I saw there was The Machine, the Pink Floyd tribute band. They're terrific

Rottydaddy, you live in New Jersey right?  I hope I'm right, don't want to look stupid if you're from Iceland or someplace similar.  ::)...  But OzzFest is coming to New Jersey I think next month.  I only liked four out of the twenty some-odd bands that were playing but I still had a rocking good time!  Excellent!!  ;D

Iceland??? LOL!! When in doubt, click on the name to see the profile info.. .Nope, I'm NJ-born(Bergen County), and have lived in the NYC area all my life. Thanx for the heads-up about Ozzfest; doubt I'll be able to get tickets, but maybe I'll check it out. I'd love to see Sabbath together on stage...

[Sock]

Hey, neat!  Yeah, The Chance is my favorate place for a good show.  Last time I went I caught Hindenburg, and Direct Drive, one of the best Stevie Ray Vaughan tributes out there.  Plus The Sundown Band and Two Bit Jive.  Four great bands for only ten bucks!  One of the best best places for show in the region, in my opinion.

After writing all that, I didn't want to start over to check and make sure you're from New Jersey.    I wouldn't worry about getting tickets, I bought mine at the gate, and they were still cheaper than I expected.  It really is worth it, to see Black Sabbath.