WILL FREE OZZFEST STAY TRUE TO THE MUSIC?

Even though Ozzfest 2007 is free, don’t expect a drop in musical quality. Sharon and Ozzy discuss the tour in depth.

With the ground breaking news of a 25 date free Ozzfest for 2007 still resonating through the musical community, it’s only natural to have a few questions about how the tour will stay afloat, how organizers plan on off setting the enormous costs of running a touring festival and how young up and coming bands without much tour support can survive the summer tour. Even though the tour is free to the public, it was announced sponsors Jaeggarmeister and Monster Energy Drink will help with the mounting costs of putting on one of Summers hottest touring festivals.

During the press conference announcing the free tour, Ozzy and Sharon talked about giving bands a stage to play in front of thousands of fans, how they can still make money while on tour and their goals of bringing quality music with integrity to the masses even without paying any of the bands.

“What we’re doing is we’re giving people a stage, and we’re giving them a chance to play in front of thousands of people. And we’re giving them the chance on days off. They can go work wherever they want to work and gig wherever they want to gig. They can even play OzzFest and then go off that night and do another gig because we start music from noon. If someone plays at noon they can go off and play a paid gig that night, but they can come they can sell their merchandise, they can sell their music, but it’s free. We’re not paying anyone. This whole thing is about the integrity of the music and always has been with us, and it’s all about the music and not just, ‘Any old band can play because it’s free. Come up, play,” you know. That’s not what we’re about. This is credible legit music. [Ozzy] “How do you know which bands are going to be on?” [Sharon] “Oh behave!” [Ozzy] “It’s free to come in, but you have to pay to get out. (laughs)”

So with Ozzfest being free to the public and with all the bands touring this summer for free, will the tour continue to play at the same large outdoor venues of the past or will they look to play smaller indoor venues?

“It’s all outdoors. It’s the usual venues that we go to. It’s all these sheds across Live Nation buildings, which we love, and that’s where we’ll be playing. It’s business as usual except that it’s free. We want to encourage new music. We want to encourage new talent. That was why OzzFest was firstly created to keep this music alive and to give a huge stage to bands that normally wouldn’t get the opportunity so early in their career, and we want to perpetuate that and keep that going.”

Since 1996, Ozzfest has been a virtual breeding ground for rising bands. The festival has been instrumental in igniting the careers of platinum-selling artists like System of a Down, Disturbed, Linkin Park, Incubus, Slipknot, Queens of the Stoneage and Godsmack. Along with supporting bands on the rise including Avenged Sevenfold, Mudvayne, Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage and Lacuna Coil, among many others. So will Ozzfest continue to showcase up and coming talent as well as top headliners even with free tickets?

“It’s like a two headed monster. You can’t feed it enough. Everybody of course, every year wants more, and more and more. We do. You know, I’m not saying we don’t love money. We love it, especially me. But, it’s enough. You have to know when it’s time to give back something, and I think it will say a lot for other bands that want to say, ‘You know what? I’m not going to do the whole tour, but I’ll come and play for one show. I’ll do it.’ If the show is in their hometown, step up, come, perform for thousands of kids. You know what? It’s not going to cost them anything. We’ll pay for expenses, but you’re not going to get a fee, but bands can sell their merch, they can sell their music at the show so there’s other ways to make money. It’s not just about getting paid at a venue.”

As of press time the only tour date announced is July 7th in San Bernardino, California which will kick off Ozzfest 2007 and the only band confirmed is Ozzy Osbourne. Look for more announcements on tour dates and which bands will be performing with Ozzy at the end of the first week of March.