Ozzfest scrapped for 2009

Ozzy Osbourne's long-running traveling metal festival, Ozzfest, will not take place in 2009. A press release issued by Osbourne's publicist stated that the singer does not want to tour until he has a new album in stores later in the year, adding, "Thus, Ozzy has decided to put his namesake festival Ozzfest on hold this year." The announcement is not really surprising, given the festival's scaled-down reconfiguration as a one-day event last year after more than a decade as a full-length summer tour.

In addition to the general slowdown in both the economy and the concert business, Ozzfest began facing competition last year from the Rockstar Energy Mayhem tour and Cruefest. Singer David Draiman of Disturbed, a veteran Ozzfest act, said at the time that nothing lasts forever: [ Click to listen if you have a backstage pass] "Well, you know something, I mean it's been the seminal breeding ground for many a hard rock and metal band, so yeah, I am sad to see it go. But, you know, everything has a lifespan and I think that it went out with a bang."

Tour co-organizer Sharon Osbourne experimented in 2007 by making the show admission-free, with fans obtaining tickets through corporate sponsors. But the bands were not paid either, leading to a lack of big names.

Last year's "destination festival" took place on August 9th in Dallas and featured Metallica, Serj Tankian and others along with headliner Ozzy.

Ozzy is currently working in Los Angeles on his 10th studio album, which will follow up 2007's Black Rain. The new disc is expected in stores by Thanksgiving of this year.

Ozzy, Sharon and their kids Jack and Kelly will star in a new variety show for Fox this spring called The Osbournes: Reloaded.