TOUR REVIEWS

August 20th - Hyundai Pavilion at Glen Helen - San Bernardino, CA, U.S.

Rogelio Matamoros Duran:

I can imagine that recently you have received lots of mails talking about something that apparently doesn’t have so much of relation with Black Sabbath and their amazing show in San Bernardino and what happened thanks to some certain ass wife.  But personally I fell responsible to write this since not only I was there, but I was right on the front row and I saw something that none of the other statements have talk about.

The Iron Maiden concert of that unforgettable and infamous day began, as always in the recent years, with “Doctor, Doctor” of U.F.O. roaring at the P.A.  And at that moment, an Ozzfest roadie, something that I can tell because he had a laminate pass accrediting him like that, brought three Ozzy’s fans ( or I rather have to say fanatics) to the photographer’s pit.  These guys where pretty stoned without a doubt.  One of them even had “OZZY” written in his forefront with a marker.  Immediately, they start to scream to me and all the people chanting for Iron Maiden, to stop doing it because: “…they have offended Ozzy”.  Of course, none of us give any importance to them.  But when “The Ides of March” started playing, the same guy returned very rushed and took them away.  But a few seconds later, they where a few centimetres behind me doing their work.

My reconstruction of the events is Sharon yelling at this roadie: “I told you the general admission pit, not the photographers pit asshole”.  Unfortunately, after this the rest is history now.  But I have to add that these jerks were throwing the eggs very close to the stage, so it’s incredible how the security guards weren't able to detect these criminals, because out of the Hyundai Pavilion that’s what we called these kind of people in the rest of the world.

The concert that Black Sabbath played that night was possibly the best that I have seen since the first time that I saw them reunited in 1999.  I think that it would be technically impossible for Iommi to play a bad show, since he’s simply the best.  And I have to say that they didn’t play “The Wizard” that night, as was expected, but Ozzy went e specially crazy because the crowd was like that since Iron Maiden steeped the stage.  At the end of the day, I felt so sorry and ashamed that Tony Iommi. Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and even Ozzy have to stay in silence behind the acts of some certain wife.  The same person who made me feel proud  a few hours previously after she saluted me when she was at the side of the stage watching Black Level Society.

To finish, I want to say how stupid they could be to bring an opening act for mere 180, 000 dollars per night.  And if Bruce Dickinson’s attitude wasn’t so comfortable since the first show why Sharon, the boss, didn’t kick Iron Maiden out of the tour after that night?  So that means that the offenses to her family, her reality show and her husband could resist for 20 nights, in order to get a few more million dollars selling Ozzfest tickets?.  I think that after these events any other band in the order of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest ( for example_ would think twice before accepting to be be part of the Ozzfest in the future.

Thank you very much.

In your service,
Rogelio Matamoros Duran

May the rock be with you

Live Pictures from San Bernardino 2005 by Rogelio

From Blabbermouth (8/23/05)

IRON MAIDEN's manager, Rod Smallwood of Sanctuary Artist Management, has issued the following statement regarding the band's final Ozzfest performance this past weekend in Devore, CA:

"MAIDEN are currently returning from America and preparing for U.K. festivals this weekend and don't wish to waste time giving Sharon Osbourne's statement the dignity of a reply. Considering the disgraceful nature of the events that occurred they feel it's a pretty dismal effort at self justification and they don't think metal fans are at all gullible and that they will easily see through it. They want no more to do with this sorry incident and are very much looking forward to headlining Reading and Leeds festivals this weekend.

"I would however like to add my own comment on this.

"In 30 years in this business and after attending hundreds of gigs, l have never seen anything anywhere near as disgusting and unprofessional as what went on that night. I was standing on our sound desk out front as usual but ran to the stage as soon as the hail of missiles began and from then on watched from the front of the stage right next to Bruce's walkway. The scale, viciousness and concentration of the throwing made it obvious that this was a premeditated and co-ordinated attack. Assaulting musicians while performing by throwing bottle tops, lighters and eggs at them from just a few yards away is vile, dangerous, criminal and cowardly. It is incredible that Ozzfest security apparently did nothing about it — aren't they there to protect the bands too? Especially when the band is concentrating on a performance in front of 45,000 people and the missiles are coming out of the glare of the spotlights. And to spit at a band on stage is unforgivable.

"IRON MAIDEN, like all the bands on Ozzfest, had to sign quite onerous legal documents part of which was promising not to throw anything into the audience, even wristbands!!! Ironic isn't it.

"It is well documented on the web who was responsible for planning and participating in this attack and for musicians to join in this assault on other musicians is a shocking disgrace akin to treachery. You should all be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves.

"We know who authorised the making of the 'Ozzy - Ozzy' chant tape the day before and how it was played secretly through the PA at the very beginning and end of our set.

"We also know who continually turned off the power interrupting our set at crucial moments. It is a good thing that the power was turned back on before there was a riot as you could sense on stage a lot of the huge audience were getting totally pissed off at this continual onslaught on the band.

"The great majority of the Ozzfest crew throughout the tour were terrific and we thank them. Those who participated or stood idly by and watched as this all went down should also be ashamed of themselves and l would certainly hope they never come near a tour with which we are involved.

"There is little point in my commenting on the chap with the flag or their trying to hold up Eddie or Sharon's speech as the audience made their feelings very clear on each occasion.

"And in the end what was all this about?? If l had any sort of problem or misunderstanding with a band working on a tour we were involved in l would go and talk to them or their manager - not wait until the end of a tour and assault and ambush them. Or was that really it?

"I find it staggering that this ambush would take place in front of any audience, let alone in San Bernardino, the biggest audience of the tour. Didn't that audience merit any consideration? They pay an awful lot to be there in terms of prices for tickets, parking, food, beer etc. Surely if they spend this sort of money they deserve to watch the bands they paid to see be able to put in a full unhindered performance. Free of danger and intimidation. If I had paid I would ask for my money back!

"And this audience really were outstanding, giving the band incredible support and many voting with their feet in disgust after the set and the speech, which to many was the final insult.

"I have to say l was immensely proud of MAIDEN who stood up to it all and showed great courage and just got better and better through the adversity. Their heads never dropped, instead they went on the offensive. It was a truly memorable moment when Bruce went to the very front of the stage during 'Trooper' — something which he never normally does as he is usually on the ramps — waving the flag whilst avoiding the hail of missiles and yelling 'This is a fucking British flag, and these colours don't fucking run!' The imperturbable attitude and ability of the band shone through and in the end made this a truly remarkable rock and roll event, even if for all the wrong reasons.

"We will have no more to say on this matter except that l do think the band deserve an apology from a number of people, and you know who you are."

John Carp: 

I was visiting my brother in California this past August and attended the Ozzfest in Devore. Sabbath was great, although Ozzy really looked rough. His voice cracked on the first song, but the rest of the set he was spot on. Just looking a bit crippled as he tried to run around the stage.

The whole deal with Iron Maiden was really sad. I have never been a fan of theirs, but after seeing them play live, I must say they put on a hell of a show. Sharon Osbourne (and the crew responsible for the whole debacle) handled things very badly. Bruce Dickinson is a prick... that's a well established fact... But no matter how arrogant he is, they should never taken out their tensions on the fans. I actually thought all the negative press Sharon has received over the years was unwarranted until seeing this. I was sitting right behind the pit, and I saw the "entourage" of people walk past security into the pit (wearing Ozzfest shirts which weren't for sale at the show) and saw the same crowd throwing eggs at the band. Just wanted to share a perspective from an actual attendee.