What Ozzy Did When Snubbed By Lollapalooza?

In 1995, Ozzy was rejected from the lineup of Lollapalooza, a festival of alternative rock, techno, and hip-hop artists begun by Jane’s Addiction leader Perry Farrell.

According to Osbourne, event organizers passed on him, telling Sharon Osbourne that Ozzy was a “dinosaur…in not so many words.”

The following year, he gave the middle finger to event organizers, and Ozzy headlined his own festival, Ozzfest. It toured throughout the United States and, in some years, parts of Europe. The last Ozzfest was held in 2018.

The festival quickly evolved into a national touring event, attracting large crowds and featuring a variety of metal and hard rock acts. 

Ozzfest hosted many popular bands, including Black Sabbath, Tool, Slayer, Marilyn Manson, Pantera, Foo Fighters, Rob Zombie, System of a Down, and Korn. 

Ozzfest's second stage was a key element, offering exposure to emerging bands and contributing to the festival's reputation for discovering new talent. 

Bands like Coal Chamber, Powerman 5000, Hed Pe, Kittie, Mudvayne, Motograter, and so many more

Ozzfest has played in Michigan four times, all at the DTE Energy Music Theatre (formerly Pine Knob Music Theatre) in Clarkston. Specifically, these years were 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. 

Ozzy fans made it a huge success as the shows at Pine Knob were some of the highest-grossing stops on the tour.

Ozzfest was cancelled due to "greedy" management and a lack of cost-effectiveness.

 Sharon Osbourne, who co-founded the festival, explained that managers of the bands involved started demanding more and more money, making the festival financially unviable.

 She noted that some managers seemed to believe the festival was making billions, which it wasn't. 

Ozzfest took place 18 times between 1996 and 2018, with a few breaks and some years featuring multiple legs. 

Years of Ozzfest Festivals 1996-2008, 2010, 2013, 2015-2018. 

Ideas have already been bouncing around about a tribute around the world of shows to honor Ozzy and Ozzfest. Still way too early to tell if it will ever happen.

 Sharon Osbourne has suggested to Rolling Stone Online that the festival might return. This was way before Ozzy's passing.