August , 18 PNC Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ

Arrived at Ozzfest around 9:00 a.m. with VIP parking passes in hand only to find out that our parking spot (usually next to the 2nd stage) has now been taken up by the 2nd stage tour buses! So we take our spot next to the buses and set up our party tent, tables, chairs and grill. We could see the 2nd stage, but the view isn't that great. We watch the first couple of bands and then some bitch with a video camera comes up to the fence and starts taping. Security tried to get her to hand over the tape, but when she ran security moved some of the tour buses up, blocking our view. The only way now to see the bands was to go inside, and we weren't about to do that just yet. We could hear them and that was good enough for us.

We saw some of the 2nd stage acts walking around the buses, but I couldn't figure out who was in what band unless someone told me. Someone kept telling me they saw Fieldy from Korn, but it was just someone who looked a bit like him. We did see Motograter (who were easy to spot since they were painted) and shared a few beers and burgers with them. They thanked us by giving us some free CDs (Almir I got some for you too) and took pictures for Fanzmosis after I explained the flag, my T-shirt, and what Fanzmosis is. Other people (band members?) behind the fence inquired about my flag and gladly posed for pictures for the website. I have no idea who some of these people are, but one person said, "hey, I'm from Brazil too!" and it was good enough for me.

As we were about to leave our party tent and head out to join the real party that is Ozzfest, when my brother notices the man himself, Ozzy, coming towards us. Of course we all freak out and ascend upon him like the insane people we are, cameras flashing, our faces full of awe and wonder as we ask to have pictures with the man himself. I jump into action and start handing out stickers. He smiles and says, "Cool stickers, but what is Fanzmosis?" I explain as best I can before he walks off.

We are now psyched to enter Ozzfest! I smuggle my camera in my purse (since it looked like I had a giant penis when I put it in my shorts...lol ) Getting it passed security took a lot of BS and slight of hand, but I made it in.

Ok, so it wasn't Ozzy I met in the parking lot....it was Bill, our newest member of Fanzmosis! . I've seen Bill at quite a few shows, but this was my first encounter with him. We did ascend on him like the insane people we are and I did hand him a sticker and briefly explain Fanzmosis. Welcome to the Asylum Bill....heh heh

Back to my Ozzfest story:

We enter Ozzfest and who do we see at the FYE tent? None other than Zakk Wylde! No, I'm not kidding now, this is for real. I see the long line and realize that I am never going to be in that line, so I casually walk up and snap a few shots of Zakk signing autographs. I'm thinking for sure that someone is going to confiscate my camera, but nobody even cared that I was taking pics, so I walked on to the next booth....the dominatrixes. I notice their sign that says, "no pictures or we'll break your camera" so I put my camera safely back into my purse and observe the other stands.

Finally, the main stage starts. I've seen all of the bands live before...Disturbed and Taproot I've seen this year, so I know what to expect.

Taproot: A few guys playing music with no props and hardly any talking in between songs. A good show!

Disturbed: I can't get tired of them--great band with great music!. I try to take as many shots of Dave as I can (for Gwenna), but I know that he will just be a speck on my prints since I'm in the back of the orchestra and I'm using a disposable camera.

Marilyn Manson now takes the stage. The props in his show are different, but it's still the same show until Manson starts talking to a 12 year-old boy (I thought he was at least 14). He's asking the kid if he's old enough to be in the front row and wants to see if he can prove it by showing him his pubic hair. The crowd (as well as myself) wondering what the fuck is he thinking? Manson continues to embarass this kid and grabs at his clothes. Finally the kids uncle grabs Manson and tries to pull him in the audience. He gets a couple swings at Manson, before security comes and them out. The crowd is disgusted and confused at this point. Manson sings a couple more songs and then sticks a microphone into one of the dancers butt and starts singing into the microphone. From where I am, it looks like her butt, but I've heard it was in the fake butt she was wearing. Either way, Manson isn't about performing songs anymore...he's just out to see how far he can go. I am a Manson fan, but until he focuses more on his music instead of the props in his act, I'm not going to anymore of his shows.

Korn comes on. Same old show. Whine, whine, whine...let me tell you about my fucked up childhood....boo hoo!

Finally, the moment we've all been waiting for...OZZY (the real one this time)
The band and Ozzy are not playing together at first. The band plays faster than Ozzy's singing. Then Ozzy gets a few words ahead and then the band passes him again. They finally get it right and all is well. Ozzy sounds great! His voice did crack a couple times, but overall he was fantastic!
The set list is basically the same as the other reviews, so I'm not going to post it. I did think he was going to play "Fire In The Sky", but it didn't happen. Ozzy sprayed his water gun on the crowd, Zakk does his solo, and I continue to take pictures. I figure I have a better shot if I take pictures of the screen instead of Ozzy himself. At least I'll be able to notice him in the pics. Zakk came out to play the last song wearing a NJ Devils jersey. In case you're not familiar, the Devils are New Jersey's hockey team...and Staney Cup Champions. Of course I had to take a picture of that. The band took their bows and left the stage while I was left wondering....will there be another Ozzfest?

Review : by Lisa