Ozzy ends Ozzfest after 2005

[Untamed]

From the Ozzfest.com website...

August 18, 2005
A MESSAGE FROM OZZY

After 10 years I’ve decided that this year will be my last as the headlining act on Ozzfest. The Ozzfest is well-established now and I feel it’s time for me to hand the reigns off to someone else. However, I will be performing at a few select Ozzfest shows next year.

Despite the rumors, I don’t have permanent throat problems. The truth is that after 11 straight summers on the road, I would just love to finally take a summer holiday with my wife.

You haven’t heard the last from me.

God Bless,

Ozzy

[Untamed]

same site...

August 21, 2005
LAST SHOW FOR MAIDEN

Iron Maiden were chosen for the Ozzfest tour because the Ozzfest committee felt they were a good band, plus the fact that they had not done shows in the U.S. for some time. From day one, Bruce Dickinson started berating Ozzy and belittling the Ozzfest audience. He stated he"didn’t need a reality show to give him credibility"; "we're not just some ******** reunion band"; and continuously complained about the sound system, saying that when he comes back to America he’ll have a better one. I understand he hasn’t toured in the U.S.in these size venues in a while and no longer understands the political structure of things. Out of 200-plus bands over the last 10 years, he has been the only person who hasn’t had the Ozzfest spirit. He thought he was at a battle of the bands, always making other comments about the other artists.

Might I say, the rest of the band are gentlemen and have a great professional attitude. The crew are absolutely great. But how sad it was, after 10 years, that this little man tried to ruin it for everyone. The bands of Ozzfest don’t even look at Ozzfest as touring, but as its heavy metal summer camp. Bruce is in fact a jealous prick and very envious. None of his tirades were directed at Sabbath, only Ozzy. Steve Harris [Iron Maiden's bassist] personally came to Ozzy in San Bernardino and apologized for Bruce’s behavior this summer, stating that he and the rest of the band were "embarrassed" by their own singer.
It also offended me every night how he took out the English flag in America. There are American boys going to war alongside the English boys every day. How dare he forget the American troops on their home turf. He has had no respect for the American audience he has been playing for, stating in an interview, "When you do the 'hits' tour here [in the U.S.], the audience is smug, and there's a sense of self-satisfaction, like, 'We got what we wanted…I'm looking at an audience that is self-satisfied and happy and fat, and getting what it wants and isn't prepared to get off its ass.."

Before there was Samson there was SABBATH!

Ozzfest 2005 continues on with our summer of fun with the addition of Velvet Revolver. This is where the fun begins…..

[Ian]

If I was bruce dickinson, I'd badmouth whoever I wanted too! I know the sound quality at ozzfest will never be optimal because its outdoors, but think about how long Iron Maiden has been around and without the help of reality shows, dumb marketing ploys and a ton of MTV apperances. They still sell out every show and they are one of the best bands in the world. don't get me wrong, he is being a douche, but at least he back back up what he's complaining about.

[90FormulaWS6]

well ozzy is a hundred years old and obviously cant physically take it... no surprise... Maiden rules but dont badmouth ozzy hes the man

[Savage_Messiah]

Did crackbaby ozzy actually get that all out himself?

Don't get me wrong, I love ozzy and sabbath, but still have you heard him speak lately?

[Untamed]

I saw Ozzy at Ozzfest 2003, and before that, the Black Sabbath Reunion Tour when it came through Continental Arena. He sounded good, but looks pathetic. And at every show, he always dunks his head in a water barrel then takes his shirt off to throw into the crowd. ::cringes:: Ozzy without a shirt now is nasty!

No surprise that he finally hung it up. They contemplated 2003 as the last one but I guess they changed his medication or something and went another two years. The only person more pickled by drugs than Ozzy is probably Keith Richards.