Oz Fest
June 4, 1997
Deer Creek, Noblesville, IN

Rating :

I can sum this whole event up with one simple powerful word - Ozzy.  This guy has done more for heavy metal than anyone I can think of. He is truly a legend, and to be able to see him along-side Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler playing "Paranoid" was truly awe inspiring. I felt like I was transported to another place and time. Ozzy always goes out of his way to tell his fans how important they are to him and his success. He did his usual water gun antics, and he had an opening cartoon-like video like on his last tour. Ozzy did a set with his current band, and then a set with Black Sabbath. And if this wasn't enough, the rest of the day had already been filled with some serious bone crunching metal from the other bands: Pantera, Machine Head, Powerman 5000, Fear Factory, and the gothic band Type-O Negative. There was a second much smaller stage with other bands as well. I went away from this festival feeling like I got much more than my money's worth of music. This was like an all day head banging smorgass board picnic. It was pretty obvious that heavy metal music is very much alive.

-Joe Coulson

Obviously the OZZFEST. Why all them bands on the same line-up. Some of the best heavy metal arounds today. The show also proved that heavy metal is not DEAD.

Rating list:
1. Black Sabbath
2. Ozzy
3. Pantera
4. Machine Head
5. Powerman 5000
6. Type 'O Negative
7. Fear Factory

Beth Reed