Three years ago, Ozzfest's entry into the then-overpopulated festival tour landscape was met with snickers and forecasts of failure.

But, as Phil Anselmo barked during Pantera's co-headlining set at Ozzfest 2000's kick-off on Sunday, "Yesterday don't mean sh**."

With Lollapalooza, Lilith Fair, and H.O.R.D.E. in drydock, Ozzy Osbourne and his metal-minded cohorts seemed to be heartily enjoying the last laugh when the now reigning summer festival champ unveiled this year's edition in West Palm Beach, Florida.

"Metal never dies," Static-X frontman Wayne Static told MTV News of the tour's staying power. "Sometimes it's not on the radio and sometimes it's not at the forefront, but heavy rock or metal or whatever the hell you want to call it has always been around and will always be around. Metal fans are the most hardcore, loyal fans. There's always going to be an audience for this kind of event."

TapRoot, who have made the trek from Ann Arbor, Michigan

to Ozzfest's second stage, are also well aware that opportunity and execution are two different things. "It's a huge opportunity for us, and we know that, so every day you go out whether you're sick and tired and want to go to bed or you want to throw up or what have you, you've got to dominate out there," TapRoot guitarist Mike DeWolf said. "You've got to fight for it and take all these kids way with you feeling what you feel. That's the opportunity that's there for us, we just have to take it."

The band held true to that ethic on day one, fighting mid-afternoon high temperatures that almost wilted a couple of band members to deliver a set that saw several in the crowd already singing along and hundreds of others grinding along for the ride.

So as the summer rolls on, Kittie, TapRoot, Slaves On Dope, and the rest of the second stage back will rub elbows with Ozzy, Pantera, and other members of metal royalty and will continue to look for their big break in the least likely

of places... a tour that many said wouldn't make it past 1997.