The triumphant return of Ozzy Osbourne's eponymous summer music festival, Ozzfest, is official. The veteran rocker and self-declared Prince of Darkness went on hiatus from the annual outing in 2009, but he'll be back on the road in late summer with six festival dates.

Tour stops have been confirmed from coast to coast, beginning with an August 14 event at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore, CA, and continuing through an August 24 show at the Comcast Center in Mansfield, MA. Each market on the itinerary will feature two stages and performances by 13 bands.

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.

Forget those rumors that Ozzfest will have to do without Ozzy Osbourne in the future, Billboard reports. The Prince of Darkness told reporters during a teleconference this week that he'll be at the top of the 2008 Ozzfest bill -- "as far as I know."

Drugs and Alcohol Considered Possible Catalysts

WCBS-TV in New York is reporting that New Jersey police are investigating two deaths involving concert-goers who attended Thursday's Ozzfest concert at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.

Patrick Norris, 24, of Coram, and 27-year-old Raymond Guarino, of Forked River, were identified as the two victims, whose deaths are believed to be drug and alcohol related, according to WCBS. Paramedics were initially able to resuscitate Guarido after he fell unconscious, but he later died at a local hospital.

Police said both had passed out during the show.

"From what I heard it was a combination of drugs, alcohol, and caffeine ... in the one death. I'm not aware of the second one that happened late last night," Joe Orlando, a spokesman for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, told WCBS. The Turnpike authority owns the land the venue sits on.

By Seth Olson
TicketNews.com

On February 1, 2007, the official Ozzfest website stated that on Tuesday, February 6, 2007 a "major announcement" concerning the 2007 Ozzfest would be made by Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne at 11:00 a.m. PT at a Hotel in Century City, California. This event was going to be closed to the public but details would be made available as soon as they were known.

On February 7th, it was announced to the public that Ozzfest 2007 was going to be completely free of charge, calling this summer’s Ozzfest "free fest." The tour will begin in Los Angeles, the other Ozzfest tour cities as of now are San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio, Kansas City, St Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis, Columbus, Detroit, Pittsburgh, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Hartford, Charlotte, Atlanta, West Palm Beach, and Nashville.

"For the last few years," said Sharon, "ticket prices have steadily climbed as artists demand more and more money for summer tours. We certainly want everybody to make money, however we also want the kids to be able to afford to come out and have an incredible experience. If we continued with the traditional touring festival model, we would have no choice but to raise ticket prices again this year."

OZZFEST 2007 ONLINE TICKET CODE REDEMPTION SCHEDULE. ALL TIMES ARE LOCAL

White River Amphitheatre - Seattle, WA - 7/12/2007
Code Redemption Starts: 6/12/2007 10:00 AM

The Gorge - George, WA - 7/14/2007
Code Redemption Starts: 6/12/2007 8:00 AM

Sleep Train Amphitheatre - Marysville, CA - 7/17/2007
Code Redemption Starts: 6/12/2007 4:00 PM . . . (MORE)