More than 100 metal and hard rock acts have performed at Ozzfest over the years, but how many do you truly remember?
We have compiled the names of every act that played Ozzfest.
The Beginning of Ozzfest
The inaugural Ozzfest took place in 1996, headlined by Ozzy Osbourne. However, the festival looked quite different compared to the Ozzfest that music fans grew to love in later years.
ozzy osbourne in 1996
Notably, the first Ozzfest was only held at venues in Phoenix and Devore, California during its debut year. It is also unusual to see the 1996 version of the festival taking place in October instead of capitalizing on the summer months.
The initial Ozzfest lineup was considerably smaller compared to later iterations. Besides Ozzy, there were only 10 other acts on the bill, with Slayer, Danzig, and Sepultura among the notable names.
How Ozzfest Expanded
The first year of Ozzfest was a success, even amidst a competitive market that included the Warped Tour and Lollapalooza while it was still a traveling festival.
READ MORE: Looking Back at All 43 Bands That Played Korn’s Family Values Tour
Ozzfest organizers were determined to transform this somewhat limited event into a full-fledged traveling festival of metal and hard rock. The artist lineups grew larger, as did the number of Ozzfest dates.
Adding more bands to the lineup meant longer days for attendees since Ozzfest opted for a relatively small stage footprint that did not require overlapping set times or multiple bands performing simultaneously. This necessitated opening venue gates much earlier, with some shows starting as early as 11 AM.
READ MORE: <span style="text-decoration: underline">The Insult That Launched Ozzfest</span>
Eventually, Ozzfest went international to reach a broader fanbase. In 2010, it featured three separate lineups in the U.S., the U.K., and Israel. After a three-year hiatus, Ozzfest returned as a Japan-only festival.
The Later Years of Ozzfest
The international expansion was not enough to sustain Ozzfest. The festival returned to its roots as a one-day event in San Bernardino, California in 2016, which was paired with Slipknot’s Knotfest festival. That year saw Black Sabbath and Disturbed headlining the Ozzfest portion of the bill.
The two festivals partnered again in San Bernardino in 2017 with Ozzy as a headliner.
The final Ozzfest took place on New Year’s Eve in 2018 at The Forum in Inglewood, California. Ozzy returned as the headliner alongside supporting acts Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, and Jonathan Davis of Korn.
This may not be the absolute last Ozzfest; Sharon Osbourne has confirmed plans to potentially revive the festival in 2027.
Until then, here is a look at every single band that ever played an Ozzfest.
Reflecting on More Than 100 Bands That Played Ozzfest
Ozzfest provided a platform for established metal acts and emerging bands to reach a wider audience as a traveling festival. Here is a retrospective on the more than 100 acts that performed during Ozzfest over the years.
Gallery Credit: Rob Carroll
Below, see how we ranked all the Ozzfest lineups.
Every Ozzfest Lineup, Ranked
Ozzfest featured some incredible lineups, but only one can be deemed the best.
Gallery Credit: Bryan Rolli
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