Thank god that Lollapalooza dismissed Sharon Osbourne's bid to get Ozzy Osbourne on the bill. Their claims that Ozzy was no longer "relevant" or "cool", and that he was "too old" lit a fire under the power duo. They took the rejection in stride and countered with the creation of Ozzfest, a music festival dedicated to hard rock and heavy metal. The first rendition of the festival occurred thirty years ago as a two-day event held in Phoenix, Arizona and Devore, California. Once the Osbournes realized that there was a great demand, Ozzfest became a full blown tour across North America, Europe, and even in Japan. Not only did Ozzy prove that he was still on top of the metal world, he also provided a platform for up and coming bands to get their names out there.
Due to the time period when Ozzfest was at its peak of success, the tour became synonymous with the burgeoning nu metal scene. Whether it was the already established giants like Korn and Limp Bizkit, the future stars of the genre just getting their start like Slipknot, Kittie, Disturbed, and Mudvayne, or the flash in the bands that achieved fifteen minutes of fame before fizzling out, numerous lineups consisted consisted of a strong nu metal presence. Pictures and videos from this era captured the cultural phenomenon that was taking the world by storm. From a fashion perspective, look no further to find fans wearing staples of the nu metal look, including piercings, spiked and dyed hair, ball chain chokers, oversized shirts and pants, and skater shoes. Ozzfest created a safe place for fans and musicians alike to authentically express themselves without ridicule or pressure to fit societal standards.
With the passing of Ozzy Osbourne last year, there has been a reignited interest in the revival of the iconic festival. While the nostalgic feelings of the 90's and early 2000's cannot be replicated, its resurrection would be welcome where older and newer fans alike can create new memories. Ozzfest has been confirmed to return in 2027 at Villa Park in Birmingham where Ozzy's final performance took place. Sharon Osbourne has also mentioned potentially bringing the show to North America, but nothing has been officially confirmed. It seems as if tours consisting of 20+ bands are a thing of the past, with promoters opting for multi-day festivals across a weekend, such as Sick New World and Welcome To Rockville (among others). There haven't been any hints on who could perform at a 2027 Ozzfest show, but one can imagine it would be a mix of metal titans who performed on the festival over twenty years ago alongside newer acts who might not have even been born during the tour's heyday.
One year ago, I did a deep dive into Ozzfest 2000. Now, let's take a trip down memory lane for Ozzfest 2001.
MAIN STAGE
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath headlined the iconic heavy metal summer tour for the third time, with the first two times being in 1997 and 1999. The band would consist of the original lineup: Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. Before embarking for the festival, the group would get together with producer Rick Rubin in the spring of 2001 to begin recording new music, but the plans fell apart. Osbourne had to stop working on the new Black Sabbath material in order to complete his own eighth studio album, Down to Earth, which would come out later that year on October 16, 2001. Iommi cited that everyone in the band had become so busy with their own lives that it became difficult for everyone to get together at the same time, but they were proud of the songs that they were able to come up with. Black Sabbath did end up releasing a new song that they played live on the tour, "Scary Dreams", but after Ozzfest 2001 concluded, the band would go back on hiatus for a few years.
It has just passed the one year anniversary of Ozzy's passing, but his legacy lives on through the numerous artists his music has inspired, as well as his family and bandmates. Programs such as the VMAs and The Masked Singer have paid tribute to the heavy metal legend in the year since.
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson had previously performed at Ozzfest in 1997, being a late addition to the tour. Manson spent the majority of 2001 promoting the band's fourth studio album, Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death), on the Guns, God, and Government Tour. This world tour included their appearance on Ozzfest 2001, with their dates spanning from October 2000 to September 2001. Much of this album was inspired by the Columbine massacre and how a bulk of the blame was pinned on Manson. The band declined the invite to play Ozzfest 2001 at first, due to the fact that the tour would make a stop in Denver, CO on June 21st, which would be their first time in the state since the massacre happened. However, they ultimately agreed to perform despite protests from religious organizations. Their performance at the Denver date would be featured alongside Manson's interview in the 2002 Columbine documentary, Bowling for Columbine.
Manson wrote this response to the protesters on his website:
"I am truly amazed that after all this time, religious groups still need to attack entertainment and use these tragedies as a pitiful excuse for their own self-serving publicity. In response to their protests, I will provide a show where I balance my songs with a wholesome Bible reading. This way, fans will not only hear my so-called, 'violent' point of view, but we can also examine the virtues of wonderful 'Christian' stories of disease, murder, adultery, suicide and child sacrifice. Now that seems like 'entertainment' to me."
After the conclusion of their tour, Marilyn Manson released their rendition of "Tainted Love" by Gloria Jones for the movie soundtrack of Not Another Teen Movie in November. Manson also joined forces with Korn's Jonathan Davis on the song "Redeemer" for the soundtrack of the 2002 film Queen of the Damned. The band has released eight studio albums since, with their latest one, One Assassination Under God — Chapter Two released on August 14th, 2026. They are currently on tour with Rob Zombie, The Hu, and Orgy.
Slipknot
Slipknot has become one of the bands most synonymous with their presence on the Ozzfest tours. They had previously played the festival in 1999 (their first tour, no less), with their blistering debut album releasing in the middle of the tour. Ozzfest gave Slipknot much needed exposure and shot them into the metal stratosphere, with Slipknot achieving platinum certification in less than a year since its release. In 2001, the band was invited back, going from playing on the second stage to being one of the main headliners. Slipknot had wrapped up the recording for their sophomore album, Iowa, in early 2001 and embarked on the Iowa World Tour, spanning from May 2001 to August 2002. The record officially released on August 28th, but fans at Ozzfest were treated to hearing "(515)", "People = Shit", "Disasterpiece", "Gently", "New Abortion", and "The Heretic Anthem" beforehand. Iowa is easily Slipknot's heaviest and darkest album, with immense pressure being put on the band to live up to their highly successful debut album.
Luckily for us, they were able to pull through and deliver. Iowa has since become certified platinum by the RIAA, and Slipknot are still going to this day. They've released five additional studio albums since, and have become one of the most notorious metal bands of this century. Their success hasn't been without setbacks or tragedy, though. We unfortunately lost bassist Paul Gray on May 24th, 2010 and drummer Joey Jordison on July 26th, 2021. Keyboardist Craig Jones and percussionist Chris Fehn are also no longer with the band. Most recently, Slipknot have been in the headlines for the confusing situation surrounding DJ Sid Wilson's dismissal from the band, which has been officially confirmed by the man himself. Shawn "Clown" Crahan has spoken about an eighth studio album being in the works, but no word on when that is planned to be released.
Papa Roach
Papa Roach made their Ozzfest debut in 2001, immediately being slotted on the main stage. The band was coming hot off of a meteoric rise to fame in 2000 following the release of their sophomore album, Infest (although this marked their major-label debut). "Last Resort" was played all across radio stations and MTV, resulting in major mainstream success for the band. They spent approximately two years touring for the album, including their time on Ozzfest. After the conclusion of the festival, the band returned to the studio to begin work on their next album, lovehatetragedy. While Infest is considered a staple nu metal album, Papa Roach wanted to include less rapping on their follow-up effort.
The band have since distanced themselves from the nu metal sound that made them popular two decades ago, but they haven't shied away from experimenting with their sound throughout the years. Papa Roach have released nine studio albums since their time on Ozzfest 2001, with the most recent one being 2022's Ego Trip. However, there is a new record in the works with a few singles having been released since 2025: "Even If It Kills Me", "Braindead", and "Wake Up Calling". The band also created "See U In Hell" for the second season of Netflix's Devil May Cry anime. They are currently on their Rise of the Roach tour which sees them play at multiple festivals around the United States.
Linkin Park
Another band making their debut on Ozzfest is Linkin Park, arguably the most successful nu metal band in the world. The previous year, they released their debut studio album, Hybrid Theory, which would launch Linkin Park into superstardom very quickly. With the initial commercial success of the record, it was a no-brainer to extend the invitation to the world's hottest new band on the scene. In the year after their debut release, they performed over 300 shows. Talk about dedication. Linkin Park would work on their next project while touring, with their Hybrid Theory remix album Reanimation being released the following year on July 30th, 2002.
Hybrid Theory would go on to get certified platinum twelve times over and cement itself as one of the best-selling albums of all time, regardless of music genre. Linkin Park have released eight albums since 2001, continuing to see immense success worldwide. From the beginning of their career, vocalist Chester Bennington had made his struggles with mental health very public, which is part of the reason why the band's music became so beloved. He wasn't afraid to express his feelings through the outlet of music, and in turn, many fans found relatability in the lyrics. Unfortunately, he lost his battle and committed suicide on July 20th, 2017. After a lengthy hiatus after Bennington's shocking passing, Linkin Park would make their exciting return in 2024. Dead Sara's Emily Armstrong would assume the reins of vocalist, with Colin Brittain joining the band once Rob Bourdon decided to exit the band. The band's first release since Bennington's passing would be the single "The Emptiness Machine", with a full album called From Zero would be unleashed to the world on November 15th, 2024. At the time of writing, Linkin Park are gearing up for the release of their documentary film Unshatter, out on September 30th, 2026.
Disturbed
Disturbed came back for seconds after their highly successful run on Ozzfest 2000. They skyrocketed to fame with their debut album, The Sickness, and opened up for Marilyn Manson's European tour in early 2001 before they made their triumphant return to the festival that gave them so much exposure the year previous. Shortly after wrapping up the Ozzfest tour, they went into the studio to work on their second album. Their sophomore effort, Believe, would be released on September 17th, 2002. Vocalist David Draiman collaborated with Korn's Jonathan Davis to create "Forsaken" which would appear on the Queen of the Damned soundtrack.
Disturbed have since released seven studio albums, with the most recent one being 2022's Divisive. The band have made it clear that they have plans to release new music with an album being in the works. They released the single "I Will Not Break" in February of 2025, but nothing new since. Disturbed are currently taking a break from touring in 2026, having only played two shows so far.
Crazy Town
Crazy Town came back for redemption. They were booked on the previous Ozzfest, but ultimately had to pull out due to singer Shifty Shellshock getting arrested for destruction of property while intoxicated. Luckily for the band, they were invited back in 2001. Their debut album, The Gift of Game, came out in 1999, but once their hit "Butterfly" was released as a single, it significantly boosted the band's popularity. The Gift of Game went from approximately 100,000 album sales to over 1.5 million due to "Butterfly"'s success. The single topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the song was everywhere. Their reception on 2001's Ozzfest was mixed, with some people mocking them with the nickname "The Butterfly Boys". This is the exact reason why the band initially didn't want to release the track as their first single, but it's what Crazy Town is still most known for to this day.
Their follow up album, Darkhorse, was released the following year on November 12th. They didn't reach near the level of success that "Butterfly" had brought them, and they ended up calling it quits in 2003. Crazy Town would eventually reform a few years later, and would release their third and final full length album, The Brimstone Sluggers, in 2015. However, they weren't done there. They released the Flirting With Disaster EP in March of 2024, but that would be the ultimate end of the band. Vocalist Seth "Shifty Shellshock" Binzer had not been private about his struggles with addiction, having appeared on the reality TV show Celebrity Rehab. Unfortunately, he was found deceased on June 24th, 2024 due to an accidental overdose at only 49 years old. Rest in peace, Seth Binzer.
Black Label Society
Black Label Society played a handful of shows on Ozzfest 2000, replacing Queens of the Stone Age, but were invited back to run the full tour the next year. While this festival has been heavily linked with nu metal, not every band who played Ozzfest fit this bill. Ozzy Osbourne's good friend and lead guitarist Zakk Wylde founded Black Label Society in 1998, a band that is considered to be southern/biker metal or groove metal. They had released two albums, Sonic Brew and Stronger Than Death, prior to Ozzfest 2001.
This would not be the band's last appearance on Ozzfest; they would join the tour many more times in the future. Impressively, Black Label Society stayed busy by going on to release records consecutively from 2002 to 2006. Overall, they have created twelve studio albums over the course of their almost 30 year career. Their most recent record, Engines of Destruction, dropped earlier this year on March 27th. The album features a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne called "Ozzy's Song".
SECOND STAGE
Mudvayne
Making their debut on the tour, Mudvayne came to melt people's faces off (as if the summer sun wasn't already doing that). Actually, they probably melted their own faces off too by sweating off their prominent face paint. Mudvayne had just released their blistering debut studio album, L.D. 50, the year prior and was taking the metal world by storm. Slipknot's Shawn "Clown" Crahan even worked on the album as an executive producer. The visual aesthetics of the band helped to capture the attention of their audiences and boosted their recognition. As if their appearances weren't captivating enough, their experimental sound blended multiple different styles of music to enthrall listeners.
Mudvayne used Ozzfest to continue promotion of L.D. 50 after having toured with Slipknot, Slayer, Nothingface, and Sevendust in 2000. The band has only released four studio albums since their debut due to a lengthy hiatus from 2010 to 2021. In the five years since their return, Mudvayne is finally back in full force. They released their first new song in sixteen years in 2025 with "Hurt People Hurt People", followed up by "Sticks and Stones". Mudvayne also embarked on a fall tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of L.D. 50. The band has plans for a sixth album via Alchemy Recordings, but at the beginning of 2026, vocalist Chad Gray announced that Mudvayne would be taking a break for the year to recover from touring. Fans have remained loyal to the guys in Mudvayne over the years, whether that means indulging in side projects such as Hellyeah and Audiotopsy, or continuing to blast their music so much that the band receives multiple platinum RIAA certifications. Vocalist Chad Gray is about to embark on his solo U.S. tour with support from Butcher Babies and Devil's Cut.
The Union Underground
Talk about a band that burned bright for only a few years before being snuffed out. The Union Underground released their first and only studio album, ...An Education In Rebellion, on July 18th, 2000. This record featured the smash hit "Turn Me On 'Mr. Deadman'" which was all over the alternative radio stations and MTV. The Union Underground had previously toured with a few Ozzfest cohorts in Linkin Park, Systematic, and Marilyn Manson.
The Union Underground found even more success the following year when they released the song "Across The Nation", which was used as the theme song for WWF/WWE's Monday Night Raw from April 2002 to October 2006. However, shortly after the release of their live album Live... One Nation Underground, the group disbanded. Most notably, the bassist John Moyer would go on to join Disturbed in 2005 and has been with the band since. The Union Underground made their official return in 2023 when they joined Soil, RA, and Flaw for the "Back to the 2000's" tour, inspired by the days of festivals such as Ozzfest. Most recently, they supported Spineshank on the "25 Years of Rebellion & Callousness" tour.
Taproot
Another band returning for back-to-back appearances on the touring festival is Michigan's own Taproot. Their time on Ozzfest 2000 helped the band gain notice from fans, so they were invited back to play again. It doesn't hurt to have a fan in Jack Osbourne, the son of the tour's namesake, who helped the band secure their place on the festival. They had released their debut studio album, Gift, the previous year, finding success with the singles "Again & Again" and "I".
After their stint on Ozzfest 2001, Taproot would head to the studio to begin work on their second album, which would become their most commercially successful effort. Their sophomore record, Welcome, was released on October 15th, 2000 and debuted at #17 on the Billboard 200 charts. "Poem" was the lead single and became an instant hit. The band had actually played it on the Ozzfest tour and was met with a great reaction. The song peaked in the fifth position on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks. Guitarist Mike DeWolf had this to say about "Poem":
"That's actually the first song we wrote for the album. . . We played it at the 2001 Ozzfest and there was a big reaction. The kids went nuts for it even more than to our other songs that they'd heard a million times before. In production we changed little things here and there to make it stronger, but it's basically the same song."
Taproot have seven albums to their name, with the most recent one being 2023's SC\SSRS. It was the band's first album in over a decade, due to vocalist Stephen Richards' health issues. While not currently touring, Taproot did play select shows last year in 2025, including festivals such as Inkcarceration and Upheaval.
Systematic
While Systematic formed in 1996, they didn't release their debut studio album, Somewhere in Between, until May 22nd, 2001, shortly before commencing their run on Ozzfest. Andy Wallace (Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, System of a Down, Disturbed, Staind, Mudvayne) mixed the album. They were signed to Lars Ulrich's record label The Music Company, an offshoot of Elektra Records. Prior to joining Ozzfest, they toured with Linkin Park and The Union Underground on the "Road Rage" tour. They also accompanied Stereomud, Adema, Drowning Pool, and Disturbed on the first iteration of the "Music as a Weapon" tour after the conclusion of Ozzfest. Systematic played their last show on the festival on July 13th.
After their appearance on Ozzfest, their track "Thick Skin" was used in the video game ATV Offroad Fury 2 in 2002. They only released one more record, Pleasure to Burn, in 2003. Just one year later, the group officially disbanded in April of 2004. Systematic would reunite in 2011 to celebrate the ten year anniversary of their debut album, which would lead to the band playing additional shows up until early 2012. As of April 2026, the band has teased that new music in the works. Here's to hoping they'll release some new tracks by the end of this year.
Nonpoint
Nonpoint out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida formed in 1997 and released their major label debut studio album, Statement, on October 10th, 2000. The following year, they would join the 2001 iteration of Ozzfest in order to promote their album and hopefully gain more recognition across the nation. Thanks to these efforts, Statement would enter the Billboard 200 at 166th position and the lead single "What A Day" would peak at 24th on the Mainstream Rock charts.
Nonpoint remain active to this day, having released nine albums since Statement. Another record is on the way, The Last Word, scheduled to drop on September 18th, 2026. The band's newest single is called "Red Yeti". Throughout the years, their music would be featured on NASCAR and WWE video games, as well as movies such as The Condemned and Miami Vice. Some of their most popular tracks are "Bullet With A Name", "Alive and Kicking", "That Day" and their cover of "In the Air Tonight" originally by Phil Collins. Nonpoint are currently on tour with support from fellow nu metal cohorts in Soil, Spineshank, and (hed)p.e.
Drowning Pool
Drowning Pool is another classic example of a band whose stint on Ozzfest was a major factor in their quick and early success. Their debut album, Sinner, was released days before the tour kicked off. Just a mere six weeks after its release, the record was certified platinum by the RIAA. Tracks from this album were everywhere, being used for WWF PPV's and the Funimation dub for the movie Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge. Drowning Pool was all over the airwaves and TV screens, dominating the nu metal world at large.
While at the height of their success, tragedy would strike. The following year towards the conclusion of their second run on Ozzfest, vocalist Dave Williams was found dead on August 14th, 2002 due to heart failure. As sad as his premature passing is, at least he was able to enjoy the tremendous accomplishments afforded to the band. Rest in peace, Dave Williams. Drowning Pool has continued on in his absence, but not to the degrees of success that they had found with Sinner. They have released six studio albums since their raucous debut, with the most recent being 2022's Strike A Nerve. There are plans to release a new album by the end of 2026, and the band is currently touring. "Bodies" remains an instantly recognizable and iconic track to this day that is sure to get any crowd amped up.
Spineshank
Spineshank joined the tour a few weeks late, starting on June 30th. They were in the midst of promoting their second studio album, The Height of Callousness, which had released on October 10th, 2000. The band had become known for their blend of nu metal with industrial metal, also seen on their debut album, Strictly Diesel. Spineshank have cited Fear Factory, Deftones, Sepultura, and Korn as influential on their sound. However, the band didn't feel as if they had truly come into their own identity until The Height of Callousness. This newfound confidence, combined with their spot on Ozzfest 2001, greatly increased the band's exposure to a wider audience after the "flop" of their debut record.
Spineshank would see a few more years of success following their time on Ozzfest, even having their single "Smothered" nominated for a Grammy (Best Metal Performance) in 2004. That same year, frontman Jonny Santos parted ways with the band. After finding a replacement vocalist, Spineshank attempted to create new music but ultimately disbanded due to a lack of chemistry among the band members. The band reformed in 2008, reuniting with Santos, and by 2012, Spineshank would release their fourth and final (for now) studio album, Anger Denial Acceptance. They claimed that they had done everything they wanted to as a band, but never say never. Spineshank rose from the dead yet again in 2025 in order to tour in celebration of 25 years of The Height of Callousness. They have revealed that they have been working on some new music, so maybe 2026 will see the first new album from the band in over a decade. Spineshank just wrapped up the "Nu Metal Sucks" tour with Primer 55 and (hed)p.e., and are currently on the road with Nonpoint, Soil, and (hed)p.e.
Hatebreed
Hatebreed do not fit the bill of nu metal, rather they are more associated with metalcore and hardcore. However, they were no strangers to a touring summer festival, having previously appeared on the Vans Warped Tour in 1998 and the Tattoo the Earth tour in 2000 with fellow nu metal bands in Slipknot, Sevendust, Sepultura, Mudvayne, Systematic, etc. Up to this point, Hatebreed had only released one studio album, 1997's Satisfaction Is the Death of Desire.
After their tenure on Ozzfest, they headed into the studio to record their sophomore album, Perseverance, in late 2001 and it was released on March 26th, 2002. Due to its success at charting in the 50th position on the Billboard 200, Hatebreed were invited back for Ozzfest 2002. They became staples of Ozzfest, appearing in 2004, 2006, and 2007 as well. Hatebreed have been cited as bringing together hardcore and metal. The band have released a total of eight studio albums over the course of their career. Their ninth record, Fatal Paradox, is scheduled to drop on November 6th, 2026. In support of this album, they are on tour in the U.S. with Terror, Torture, Creeping Death, Gates to Hell, and incantation.
American Head Charge
American Head Charge burst onto the scene in 1999 with their industrial style. They opened for System of a Down in August 1999, catching the attention of bassist Shavo Odadjian. He recommended the band to producer Rick Rubin, who signed American Head Charge to a record deal six months later. Their second studio album, The War of Art, released on August 28th, 2001 soon after the conclusion of their time on Ozzfest. While initially successful, it's momentum was halted due to 9/11 a few short weeks later. American Head Charge literally got their start on Ozzfest, as it was their first professional tour that the band set out on. Their time on the touring festival was not without controversy thanks to the band burning the American flag on stage. They followed this up with a run on the Pledge of Allegiance tour previously aforementioned.
American Head Charge have released a total of four studio albums, the most recent one being Tango Umbrella in 2016. Over the years, drug addiction and tragedy have plagued the band. Multiple band members checked into rehab and attempted to get sober with varied success. In 2005, guitarist Bryan Ottoson was found deceased due to an accidental prescription drug overdose. Rest in peace, Bryan. American Head Charge officially called it quits in 2009. However, the band would reunite in 2011 and record new music. Unfortunately, disaster would strike again as co-founder Chad Hanks passed away in 2017 due to a terminal illness. Rest in peace, Chad. Vocalist Cameron Heacock has had legal troubles, as well as struggles with addiction and homelessness. Our own Holiday Kirk took matters into his own hands and created the Something Beautiful Project in order to help Heacock get back onto his feet. Thanks to his hard work, as well as all of the support and donations from fans around the world, he is doing well now.
STREETWISE STAGE
Godhead
Another industrial and nu metal fusion, Godhead formed in 1994 but didn't breakthrough until 2000. They were discovered by Marilyn Manson and became the first band signed to his record label, Posthuman Records. They released their fourth album, 2000 Years of Human Error on January 23rd, 2001. This record captured the attention of Ozzy Osbourne and earned Godhead a spot on Ozzfest 2001. Their songs "Penetrate" and "Break You Down" were featured on the soundtracks for the movies Queen of the Damned and Dracula 2000 respectively. Godhead even put their industrial spin on the classic Beatles track "Eleanor Rigby".
Godhead have released a total of ten full length albums and EPs over the span of their career, with the most recent, The Shadow Realigned, coming out in 2014. Along with being the vocalist of the band, Jason C. Miller is also a voice actor for numerous animated shows and video games throughout the decades. Some examples include Hellsing Ultimate, Code Geass, Avatar the Last Airbender, Monster, Diablo III, and Street Fighter. He has even performed Kenny Omega's entrance at last year's AEW PPV All In.
Otep
Otep formed a mere seven months before embarking on the Ozzfest 2001 tour. They were invited to the festival after Sharon Osbourne attended their fourth ever show and liked what she saw. They had only played seven times total before their time on Ozzfest. They released an EP in June of 2001 titled Jihad before their debut album, Sevas Tra, came out on June 18th, 2002. This is yet another band who can accredit a lot of their success in their early days to the attention they received from Ozzfest. Otep was also the only female fronted metal band on the bill for that year.
They would go on to perform at Ozzfest again in 2002 and 2004. There have been numerous lineup changes throughout the years, but frontwoman Otep Shamaya has remained constant. Otep have released a total of nine studio albums before calling it quits in 2024. The band have been known for their political stances, and their album Kult 45 is a scathing critique of modern society under a Trump presidency, including topics such as rape, immigration, and government corruption. Their most recent album, The God Slayer, was released in 2023 and featured numerous covers of tracks by artists such as Billie Eilish and Eminem. Shamaya has just recently come out of retirement in April of this year, collaborating on a track with Whitney Peyton.
No One
No One out of Chicago, IL formed in 2000 and played their first show opening for Soil on August 5th, the day after Ozzfest had just played at Tinley Park. This garnered the attention of fellow Chicago natives in Disturbed, as well as Soulfly and The Deadlights, who were all on the 2000 Ozzfest tour. They would go on to sign with Immortal Records and released their debut and only studio album, No One, on August 14th, 2001. They were invited to play on the 2001 Ozzfest lineup, but they cancelled their run after only ten shows. Post Ozzfest, No One opened for Mudvayne, American Head Charge, Rammstein, System of a Down, and Slipknot on the "Pledge of Allegiance" tour.
Their work had not produced the results that the label was hoping for, and subsequently dropped the band out of disappointment. No One called it quits a few short years later in 2003, but reconvened to perform some shows in 2010. Unfortunately, guitarist Bob Bielarz and bassist Mike Flaherty have both since passed away in 2014 and 2019 respectively. Rest in peace. In 2024, the band re-released their debut album but with alternative cover art and a different order in the track listing. No One has released four new songs that were previously recorded demos from 2002: "Let Me In", "I Want Everything", "Call Me Out", and "Leech".
Pure Rubbish
Pure Rubbish was formed in 1995 by brothers Derek and Evan Durivan who were only eleven and nine years old. Their father, Willie, joined the band as the vocalist as he already had experience playing in numerous bands. Pure Rubbish wore their inspirations proudly, including glam rock, punk, blues, and country. They got their big break in 2000 when they went out on their first tour of the West Coast. At the Los Angeles show, someone from Ozzy Osbourne's record label, Divine Recordings, attended the show and ultimately made a good impression. At this point, Derek, now fifteen, assumed the role of frontman of the band. Sharon Osbourne flew out to Houston to catch one of their performances, and by the next month, the band had officially signed a record deal.
In the months leading up to Ozzfest, Pure Rubbish recorded their debut studio album, Glamorous Youth, with Mike Clink who had also worked on Guns N' Roses debut album, Appetite For Destruction. They were recruited for both the U.K and U.S editions of Ozzfest 2001 which helped them to gain more fans, but it was also a struggle since their genre of music didn't align with what was crazy popular at the time. Then, the scheduled release for their album got postponed. While waiting around, they played with Kelly Osbourne as her backing back during the 2002 MTV Movie Awards show. Plans with Roadrunner Records to record an album fell through due to creative differences. They wanted the original hard rock sound that Pure Rubbish became known for, while the band wanted to switch it up. This ultimately led to the downfall of the group, officially disbanding in 2003.
Beautiful Creatures
Beautiful Creatures formed in 1999, consisting of DJ Ashba (BulletBoys, Guns N' Roses, Sixx: A.M.) and Joe Lesté (Bang Tango). After only performing a handful of shows, the band signed with Warner Bros. Their self-titled debut studio album released on August 14th, 2001, two days after the conclusion of their time on Ozzfest. They are another example of a glam rock band that didn't quite fit in with the rest of the bill. Their songs "1 A.M" and "Ride" were featured in the movies Valentine and Rollerball respectively. Not long after their success on the tour, founding member Ashba would quit the band. This kicked off a string of multiple lineup changes over the years. Beautiful Creatures would go on to release only one more album, Deuce, in 2005. The band was no more by 2010, but reunited in 2017 with plans to remaster their second album. Most recently, the band has just posted an interview with a few of the band members to celebrate 25 years of their debut album.
Pressure 4-5
Pressure 4-5 was formed in 1998 as a group of college friends. They rebuked being pigeonholed into the nu metal genre (even though they initially had a DJ in the band); rather, they claimed to just be a heavy rock band. They wanted to evade the stereotypes of the genre by claiming that they didn't want to be associated with nu metal because they wrote lyrics that were "intelligent". Their first independent release, an EP called Antechnology, came out in 1999 and the band was able to garner buzz thanks to their live performances, music websites, and fan magazines. This attention earned them a record deal with DreamWorks Records in 2000 and a spot on Ozzfest in 2001.
Their one and only studio album, Burning the Process, was released on October 2nd, 2001. Most notably, the band played a sold out show with Alien Ant Farm at WWF New York after the 9/11 attacks. Regardless if they wanted to or not, Pressure 4-5 rode the nu metal wave to find their most success in that year. The band would be short lived, however. Right as they were on the verge of creating their second album, two of the band members quit to pursue other avenues outside of music. The band officially disbanded in July of 2003.
It cannot be understated how important Ozzfest was to the nu metal scene. While not a festival that was centered around this one genre, nu metal could not be escaped during this time. Many of the genre's biggest names owe a lot of their early success to the exposure that the band gave them. This seems to be almost a lost art these days. Fans would show up early to these all day long festivals to hang out with friends and discover new music before the main acts performed. Touring festivals would travel all across the U.S and even into Canada to bring heavy music to many different places. Now, huge festivals take place across a three or four day weekend with dozens of bands playing.
These festivals aren't as accessible as touring festivals were back in the day. Before, a fan would attend Ozzfest for $50 to see 20+ bands, then go home and return to every day life. If people had to travel to make it to a show, they typically only had to request one day off of work. These current festivals can be extremely expensive for the average person, with the cost of tickets alone being hundreds of dollars. That's without considering the cost of lodging, transportation, merchandise, parking, and exorbitant concession prices. Fans also have to request multiple days off of work, depending on their schedules. Towards the end of the weekend, people are exhausted and don't want to go out at 11 a.m. to discover new music. Bands nowadays seek exposure through social media in hopes of going viral and appeasing the algorithm. Gone are the days of these touring music festivals such as Ozzfest, Vans Warped Tour, and Mayhem Fest.
I don't know what the logistics are of operating a touring festival across the country, but as a fan, I know that I miss them.
