System Of A Down vocalist/guitarist Daron Malakian has spoken with Rolling Stone in regards to the July twenty second passing of heavy metallic godfather Ozzy Osbourne. The enduring musician’s passing was introduced by his household and adopted a prolonged battle with sickness.
In the course of the course of his dialogue with the above-mentioned publication, Malakian additionally went on to quote how showing on the annual ‘Ozzfest‘ festivals within the late 90s and early 2000s have been instrumental to their wildly profitable profession. The multi-platinum Armenian-American musician advised Rolling Stone of that have:
“‘Ozzfest‘ was like a heavy-metal summer time camp. We have been nonetheless touring in an RV on the primary one [1999], however these early Ozzfests for me have been among the finest occasions of my fucking life. It was enormous for us, and it was a giant deal for me.
Once we performed our first ‘Ozzfest‘, we have been on the second stage, and we might typically play at 11 o’clock within the morning. It wasn’t like how festivals at the moment are. It was like a touring circus. It was a tour that went from metropolis to metropolis.
I used to be simply in awe of the those that have been round me. Motörhead was headlining the second stage. Lemmy [Kilmister] had this previous, turquoise Eagle tour bus. One time I noticed him sunbathing subsequent to the bus with turquoise Speedos on. That’s all he had on. I’ll always remember that. One other time, I talked with Motörhead drummer Mikkey Dee, who used to play with King Diamond, and I advised him how a lot I appreciated these albums. He’s like, ‘Oh, wow. I haven’t even considered that for such a very long time.’ And you then would see Ozzy stroll by right here and there.
My goals have been coming true. I’m simply sitting right here having conversations with these those that I used to see in music movies or they have been on my wall once I was a young person. And there I’m with my band.
It was an honor to be a part of the roster of bands for these reveals. I’ve all the time had confidence in System Of A Down and myself, even from the membership days. We stood out from all of the membership bands. We grew to become the most important membership band on the Sundown Strip. Then as soon as we acquired signed, it was, “Now you’re on tour with Slayer.” Then, “Now you’re on the ‘Ozzfest‘. Now these are the large boys. Now you’re going to write down some songs and also you’re going to carry out to the place you’re going to face out with the best.”
I felt like we belonged there. Did I stroll onstage at ‘Ozzfest‘ and say, “Hey, we’re fucking the shit”? No. We had one thing to show. On daily basis we acquired on that stage, and we proved it. And I feel folks noticed that. Clearly, we’re nonetheless right here.
And ‘Ozzfest‘ was a celebration, too. We might be performed early as a result of we have been taking part in at 11, 12 o’clock, so we had all fucking day on the ‘Ozzfest‘ daily. I used to be 22, 23 years previous, so I’ll allow you to think about what that was like for me. So we had golf carts, and we’d go choose up chicks with the golf carts. It was simply partying.
On our second yr doing ‘Ozzfest‘, we opened the primary stage. We weren’t taking part in in entrance of packed amphitheaters, as a result of we have been the opening band. It wasn’t like all of the seats have been full but. However even when the amphitheater was lower than half empty, we acquired up there and we left all of it on the stage. As soon as once more, we have been performed very early. You’d watch the bands, otherwise you’d hang around with someone on their bus. You’d get stoned. Then Ozzy would come on at evening. I’d all the time watch from the stage proper the place [Osbourne guitarist] Zakk [Wylde] can be taking part in.
Right here’s the shaggy dog story: In these days, on the finish of ‘Sugar‘, I’d take off my pants. So, [singing] ‘Ultimately, all of it goes away,’ and my pants have been down, and my ass was exhibiting. So at some point, we have been taking part in, and [drummer] John [Dolmayan] determined to affix me. On the finish of the present, we acquired up in entrance of the viewers and we’re buck bare. We simply did issues. Don’t ask why.
Quickly after that, John and I acquired known as into the manufacturing workplace. And the woman that labored underneath Sharon [Osbourne] was fucking pissed. She checked out us and goes, ‘Who the fuck do you guys assume you might be? You assume you could possibly rise up in entrance of individuals and simply be bare like that? You already know we are able to get sued for indecent publicity.’ In my head, I used to be like, ‘That is the ‘Ozzfest‘. I assumed that might be OK right here.’ However she’s like, ‘This isn’t System of a Down Fest. When it’s the System of a Down Fest, you guys may do no matter you need, however that is the ‘Ozzfest‘.
Then a yr or two later, we headlined the ‘Ozzfest‘ and Ozzy wasn’t even taking part in that yr. Sharon was battling most cancers; Ozzy didn’t play each evening. There have been just a few reveals Ozzy performed, however we have been the headliners each evening. John and I have been like, ‘Wait a second, can we get on the market bare each evening now?’
We noticed headlining ‘Ozzfest‘ as an enormous accomplishment. And other people confirmed up, too. It wasn’t like, ‘It’s not ‘Ozzfest‘. What the fuck?” It was a packed home each evening.
So take into consideration that: We began the second stage, 11 o’clock. Moved up after which acquired to be the headliner. ‘Ozzfest‘ was enormous for us. It was such a giant push for our band. I’m very grateful to Sharon, very grateful to Ozzy.
In between these Ozzfests, we noticed our viewers develop. I’m positive you could possibly say the identical factor for Slipknot or different bands. Ozzfest was an ideal match for us as a result of it was metallic, and there was a metallic scene taking place at the moment. A variety of the bands that we performed with on the Sundown Strip in L.A. — Coal Chamber, Incubus, Static-X — have been on the ‘Ozzfest‘. It gave us publicity. On daily basis you have been in a distinct metropolis and acquired audiences which may haven’t seen you in any other case to see you, and also you have been there to transform them into followers. I couldn’t offer you a proportion of the followers we transformed, but it surely was enormous. ‘Ozzfest‘ was an enormous deal for System of a Down.”
