- June 29, 2001 - Shoreline Amphitheater - Mt. View, CA
- The heavy-handed circus of the bizarre came to town this summer in the form of OzzFest 2001. Ozzy Osbourne, the still-reigning king and patron saint of Metaldom brought his current entourage along for the party to Mt. View, CA. Steadfasts as Ozzy's Black Sabbath, Marilyn Manson, and guitarist extraordinaire Zakk Wylde performed along such newer, yet wildly popular acts as Mudvayne, Slipknot, Papa Roach, Linkin Park, Crazy Town, and more. The show went along at a great clip as crowds clammored between the two stages (a bit of a feat, realizing the space restrictions that 20,000 might have to endure through certain space restrictions and openings). The show went off without a hitch, culminating in a spectacular set by Black Sabbath, featuring two new songs that finally sounded true to classic Sabbath form.
The only complaint that could be had about the show itself is - well, we all know what a large portion of heavy metal fans make up... The crowd make up at the Shoreline Amphitheater was primarily (although not exclusively) your choice of young grunge kids just discovering to what lenghts alcohol can take their social skills and behavioral patterns, as well as old-school stoners/drunks who felt that the best way to worship at the altar of Ozzy would be beer drenched with no shirts, pants sagging practically to their knees, and shouting the barely intelligable words of "Yee-aaahhh!! Dude! Ozzy RAWKS!" This was not a pretty mix. The catwalk vision of heavy metal fashions was enough to scare anyone into next Halloween. I rediscovered two important words that day: 1) linguistics - learn to use language so that other may communicate with you, and 2) shower - something that many audience members could have benefitted from. I know my nostrils would have benefitted greatly.
As far as who were the best acts, that is always up to interpretation however, it did appear that the running joke through the day was hearing many kids sarcastically asking "You liked Slipknot, didn't you?". Aside from Sabbath, it appeared that Marilyn Manson really showed true to form by delivering a great set. Zakk Wylde was HEAVY - that's about the best word to describe his music as his searing guitar licks just flowed forth. Slipknot did whatever it is that Slipknot does with nine members onstage. Papa Roach put their energies into their performance but didn't seem to ignite the spark that should have been there. Linkin Park is the band that I used to hear everyone complain about while I have always enjoyed them. They did not disappoint me on this day either. Crazy Town is the band that I had looked forward to seeing, and they delivered the goods - pumping beats, catchy rhymes, and chunky tunes all around. Mudvayne is the band to watch. They have taken that which usually ends up as toss-away gimmickery by so many other bands and have woven it into an ever-evolving tapestry of interesting visuals to go along with their varied musical heaviness. Their songs are great - lyrically and musically - and they sure put on the performance. All in all, a great show.
On to the visual aspect of OzzFest 2001 -
- As we traverse into the sights of OzzFest 2001, we can take notice of one of the highlights of the day - the Topless Hotties, some uninhibited females who thought a bungie ride would be more exhilirating if done without shirts. It was!... for us. A sight to behold indeed. Look ahead to the photos.
Written by and photos © 2000 Philip Anderson
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Philip Anderson is a musician, in addition to being a writer/photographer. He has performed as a guitarist/vocalist, as well as songwriter, in several bands over the past 20 years. As a writer and photographer, he has been published by several magazines and in several books, and had his works appear on television. |
