One-day Ozzfest grosses $3.5 million

The one-day Ozzfest on three stages at the Pizza Hut Park in Dallas, TX, on August 9 was deemed a success by its promoter AEG Live. With close to 30,000 metal bashers in attendance and a gross of nearly $3.5 million, plans are underway to bring the festival, which started as a roving multi-city tour in 1996, back to Dallas for two days next summer. Last year's tour's unique feature was that it was a free event.

The 13-hour spectacle featured Metallica and Ozzy Osbourne, the latter's only U.S. concert appearance this year. Before the sun went down, the day had an emotional moment when Hell Yeah’s set transitioned into a one-time only all-star tribute to fallen Pantera guitarist and Texas native “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott.

The four-song tribute featured three Pantera classics and a moving version of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here.” As musicians celebrated the achievements of Dimebag, whose December 2004 murder while performing onstage still has the hard rock/metal community reeling, video images of his life were shown on stage.

The musicians participating in the all-star tribute to Abbott were: Kerry King (Slayer), Scott Ian (Anthrax), King Diamond, Vinnie Paul (Pantera), Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains), Mike Inez (Alice in Chains/Ozzy), Lars Ulrich (Metallica), Nick Bowcott (Grim Reaper), Chad Gray (Mudvayne), Bob Zilla (Damageplan), Max Cavalera (Sepultura/Soulfly/Cavalera Conspiracy) and Igor Cavalera (Sepultura/Cavalera Conspiracy).

“Dallas was definitely the rock 'n’ roll capital of the world [during Ozzfest],” said Randy Phillips, president and CEO of AEG Live, in a statement. “We can’t wait to see what Ozzy has up his sleeve for 2009 as Ozzfest just keeps getting more exciting every year.”

Also performing where Serj Tankian, Hell Yeah, Johnathan Davis,Cavalera Conspiracy, Shadows Fall, Apocalyptica, In This Moment, Sevendust, Devildriver, Kingdom Of Sorrow, Soilent Green, Witchcraft, Goatwhore, The Sword, Drowning Pool, Rigor Mortis, Within Chaos and Destro.