Lamb Of God frontman Randy Blythe has shared his thoughts on the possibility of Ozzfest returning following the passing of Ozzy Osbourne.
Blythe reflected on Lamb Of God’s experience performing at Ozzfest in 2004. He described it as a landmark moment for the band before weighing in on Sharon Osbourne’s reported plans to revive the festival.
“Summer 2004 was just magnificent,” Blythe said. “Ashes Of The Wake, our major-label debut, had just come out, and we were one of three non-rotating headliners with Hatebreed and Slipknot on Ozzfest’s second stage.”
“We were on tour with Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Slayer and so many other amazing bands,” he continued. “And it did a lot for us in terms of introducing us to new fans. Every date of that tour was a really big deal.”
When asked about the prospect of Ozzfest returning as a celebration of Ozzy’s legacy, Blythe was direct in his support.
“What do I make of the idea that Ozzfest could return as a celebration of Ozzy? I think it should happen,” he said. “Some people might say, ‘No Ozzy, no Ozzfest!’ But that’s bullshit. The spirit of Ozzfest was always to show off a whole range of different bands, and it was amazing to be a part of that.”
Blythe’s comments come amid ongoing discussions about the future of Ozzfest following Ozzy Osbourne’s death in 2025.
Lamb Of God’s place in the 2004 lineup speaks to just how significant Ozzfest was as a platform for heavy music. The festival had established itself as the premier touring event in metal. Its second stage in particular became a proving ground for bands on the rise.
The 2004 edition featured a main stage stacked with Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Slayer, Dimmu Borgir, Superjoint Ritual, and Black Label Society. The second stage — where Lamb Of God performed alongside Slipknot and Hatebreed — showcased a generation of bands that would go on to define heavy music in the years that followed.
Ozzfest was born out of rejection. Sharon Osbourne created the festival in 1996 after Ozzy was turned down for a spot on the Lollapalooza lineup. What started as a two-date event in Phoenix and Los Angeles quickly grew into one of the most influential touring festivals in rock history. It ran almost every year through 2018.
Over its run, Ozzfest served as a launchpad for some of the biggest names in metal. Bands including Slipknot, Disturbed, and System of a Down all used the festival as a platform before achieving mainstream success. This legacy gives weight to Blythe’s argument that the spirit of Ozzfest was always bigger than any single artist.
Sharon Osbourne has indicated plans to bring the festival back as a celebration of Ozzy’s life and music. Blythe’s endorsement adds a prominent voice from the metal community to those calling for its return.
Source: Kerrang!
