OZZFEST JAPAN Debuts To Capacity Crowds May 12 and 13, 2013 At Makuhari Messe

OZZFEST JAPAN
DEBUTS TO CAPACITY CROWDS
MAY 12 AND 13, 2013
AT MAKUHARI MESSE

 

The first-ever OZZFEST JAPAN debuted this past weekend (Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12, 2013) to capacity crowds and wide critical acclaim. The two-day music festival–the first major international music festival to ever travel to the country–drew sold-out crowds of 20,000 fans on each day.

OZZFEST JAPAN–a collaboration between Sharon Osbourne, in partnership with Japanese promoter Hayashi International Promotion (H.I.P.)–included OZZFEST alumni Black Sabbath, Slipknot, Tool, Deftones, Slash and Stone Sour. Other bands on the bill included Maximum the Hormone, Dir En Grey, MAN WITH A MISSION, Momoiro Clover Z, Steel Panther, Ningen Isu, Galneryus, Namba69, AA=, Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas, MUCC, The Treatment, Anthem, Crossfaith, coldrain, Knock out Monkey, HEAD PHONES PRESIDEN, ARTEMA, and fade.

“I am so thrilled with the success of the first ever Ozzfest Japan,” says Sharon Osbourne. “The fans really loved the extraordinary mix of international and Japanese artists. Since we had such a great reception, we’re already in dialogue about a 2014 Ozzfest Japan!”

H.I.P. Promoter Kaori Hayashi adds, “I feel we created a perfect storm with an amazing Japanese and international line-up.”

“It was an extreme honor to have been invited to play the first show of two shows at the first ever Ozzfest in Japan,” says Clown from Slipknot. “It’s always a beautiful thing to be a part of something that is brand new for the fans. As always our love for the Japanese people goes without saying and we are relieved that we finally got back to Japan. Everyone went off at the show, making it completely incredible…but it’s always like that when we go to Japan. Thank you to everyone for having us and you can rest assured we will always be back. We love you.”

Billboard Japan had this to say about OZZFEST JAPAN: “Many music fans have been hoping and waiting for years for Ozzfest to come to Japan…from Sabbath reforming at Ozzfest Japan to the new Black Sabbath album, the first thing I want to do is thank the ‘gods of metal’ from the bottom of my heart for this wonderful sequence of events.”

About OZZFEST:

Beginning in 1996, OZZFEST established itself as a virtual breeding ground for rising bands. The festival has been instrumental in igniting the careers of platinum-selling artists like System of a Down, Disturbed, Linkin Park, Incubus, Slipknot, Queens of the Stone Age, Godsmack, Avenged Sevenfold, Mudvayne, Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage and Lacuna Coil, among others. It was cited as “one of rock’s biggest juggernauts” in the cover feature of Sunday’s New York Times’ “Arts & Leisure” section (6/25/06). In 2008, the festival changed to a one-day stadium spectacular in Texas that teamed OZZFEST founder and namesake Ozzy Osbourne (in his only U.S. concert appearance that summer) with Metallica (marking their OZZFEST debut).

About H.I.P.

In the more than 35-year history in Japan, promoter H.I.P. has worked with international superstars including AC/DC, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Guns N’ Roses, as well as Japanese powerhouse newcomers Momoiro Clover and internationally acclaimed band Dir en grey.