For Black Sabbath fans, the opening date of Ozzfest was an omen, offering revealing glimpses of what lies ahead for Ozzy Osbourne and his bandmates.
An ad announcing his impending solo album adorned Ozzy's tour bus at Friday's festival kickoff in Tinley Park, Illinois (see "Metal Scrapes Against Metal At Ozzfest Opener"), and Black Sabbath's performance was preceded by, essentially, a commercial for it. Ozzy's first solo album since 1995's Ozzmosis, scheduled for release October 16, is described by producer Tim Palmer (U2, Robert Plant) as "a contemporary rock record" reflecting influences ranging from the Beatles to some new bands that may have got their start on past Ozzfests (see "Ozzy Shows Nü Influences On Upcoming LP").
Before festival headliners Black Sabbath took the stage for their 90-minute set, fans were treated to a preview of the video game Black Skies, in which players assume the role of the Ozzman himself in three incarnations, each representing a different phase of his career, according to a spokesperson for Virtus Entertainment. His Black Sabbath era is marked by a demonic dark master, while his '80s solo career is exemplified by the beast that graces the cover of 1983's Bark at the Moon. The '90s, family-man Ozzy is depicted as a noble, angelic character. Players use their Ozzy avatars to control one of 24 winged beasts in scenarios derived from Ozzy/Sabbath songs such as "Steal Away (The Night)," "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath," "The Ultimate Sin" and "Planet Caravan." Osbourne recorded new versions of "Crazy Train," "War Pigs," "Paranoid," "No More Tears" and "See You on the Other Side" for the game's soundtrack, along with the title track, "Black Skies." The game, designed for the PC and PlayStation 2 platforms, is scheduled for a fall release. It currently occupies a tent in Ozzfest's Village of the Damned vendor concourse.
During Sabbath's set at the Ozzfest kickoff, Ozzy, bassist Geezer Butler, guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward debuted a song, "Scary Dreams," that may appear on the first full album of new material from the band's original lineup since 1978's appropriately titled Never Say Die (see "Black Sabbath Working On New Album," and click HERE for photos from the Ozzfest 2001 tour kickoff).
The band is expected to begin recording the LP after Ozzfest wraps August 12 in Holmdel, New Jersey. A release date has yet to be set.
