[kj] OT: Iron Maiden Egged by Sharon Osbourne.

[Alexander Smith]

I know there are some `Maiden fans on this list. I'm one. If you're  
not, well that's fine.  But read on....
Cheers,
Alex  in NYC

As many of you now know, Sharon Osbourne and assorted hangers-on  
dramatically and deliberately sabotaged Iron Maiden's final performance  
on the Ozzfest on Saturday 20th August in Los Angeles. There is an  
inital statement from the band on Iron Maiden's website  
www.ironmaiden.com but as a result of further developments Iron Maiden  
will respond to Sharon and co's inflammatory and upsetting behaviour  
later today.

In the meantime for a full, frank and unbiased report of the events of  
Saturday night I'd like to refer you to this eye-witness, backstage  
account posted on the heavy metal website Blabbermouth.net by a manager  
of a fellow band playing the festival, who was disgusted by what  
transpired. Having also been in attendance that night I can vouch for  
the truth of this testimony.

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/ 
news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=40739

Blabbermouth.net
The manager of a well-known heavy metal band (*NOT* IRON MAIDEN) who  
attended this past weekend's Ozzfest show at the Hyundai Pavillion in  
Devore, California has submitted the following first-hand account of  
the evening that will surely go down as one of the most shameful  
moments in recent rock history (NOTE: at his request, the author's  
identity is being protected by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):

"Saturday night's Ozzfest at the Hyundai Pavillion near Los Angeles was  
a debacle on so many levels, I am still in shock as I write this. As a  
fan of many of the bands [Saturday] night, one can only hope this was  
an isolated incident, but sadly, it most likely wasn't. As many of you  
have heard already, co-headliners and metal legends IRON MAIDEN were  
pelted with eggs, bottle caps, beer cups, spit on, had people from the  
Ozzfest camp talking over the PA during their set, had 'Eddie' delayed  
from his onstage entrance, had members of the [BLACK LABEL SOCIETY]  
entourage rush the stage with American flags, and had the PA  
intentionally turned off over six times, all by the OSBOURNE CAMP.

"While it's still unclear as to the exact reasons why the terrorizing  
started (rumors abounded as to why, with everything from Bruce calling  
out Ozzy in the U.K. rock magazine Kerrang! on the widely known fact  
that Ozzy uses a teleprompter, to various vague references said on  
stage about a 'reality show' at an Ozzfest stop in Detroit), one thing  
was very clear: The whole thing stunk, and left me, and nearly all of  
the 40,000+ heavy metal fans in attendance angered and disappointed.  
Not that behind the scenes bickering or magazine trash-talking is  
anything new to rock fans, but the shocking lack of professionalism at  
one of the largest stops in North America in front of 40,000+  
spectators, at the hand of the Osbournes was nothing short of  
disgusting.

"It all began early in the afternoon, when many side stage bands were  
openly approached in clear view of everyone backstage by Sharon and  
Kelly Osbourne to 'join them in throwing eggs at IRON MAIDEN this  
evening.' All the bands were encouraged to rally the other side-stage  
bands to do so. Members and/or friends of the hardcore band BURY YOUR  
DEAD were seen actively trying to encourage other side-stage bands to  
'join in the fun.' Thankfully, many side stage bands angrily declined.

"Later that evening, as IRON MAIDEN came on stage, their intro was  
interrupted by [BLACK LABEL SOCIETY] hanger-on and biker wannabe Big  
Dave, who was at the soundboard loudly chanting 'Ozzy, Ozzy' over the  
PA. MAIDEN opened their set and the entire band was pelted from the  
front row with eggs, beer, beer cups, spit, and various other objects  
by an Ozzfest-credentialed, bandana-wearing, Osbourne entourage. IRON  
MAIDEN, ever the professionals, continued through their set, and by the  
time they launched into their second song, 'The Trooper', Bruce changed  
into a civil war-era, red coat and began waving a Union Jack - British  
flag. Then, someone in, or associated with, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY tried  
to rush the stage waving and American Flag with the words 'Don't fuck  
with Ozzy' scrawled across his bare chest. He was tackled and beaten by  
MAIDEN crew and promptly thrown off stage.

"As 'The Trooper' ended, frontman Bruce Dickinson, with characteristic  
spunk, launched into a scathing attack on the people terrorizing his  
band, calling them 'a sorry excuse for an Ozzy Osbourne fan,' and  
wondering aloud how, 'three dozen eggs could get snuck into the front  
row of Ozzfest by people with Ozzfest laminates?' Though he never named  
names, all in attendance could understand who he was referring to.  
Nicko McBrain ran up to the front asking Bruce to hold on while he  
cleaned egg off his drums. He then stated the the next song wouldn't be  
heard on 'Your local cocksucking corporate radio station, wouldn't be  
seen on MTV anymore, and sure as hell wouldn't be played on a fucking  
reality TV show,' met by a huge roar from the crowd.

"During the song 'Hallowed Be Thy Name', Bruce, after only the first  
two lines, stopped singing and ran to the front row, firing back at his  
terrorizers, saying 'That asswipe right there, with the curly hair, the  
fucking glasses, and Ozzfest laminate throw his fucking ass out of here  
right now. It's gonna take more than eggs to stop IRON MAIDEN, and if  
it wasn't for a lawsuit, I'd rip your fucking head off right now, you  
piece of shit!!!!' He had the various attackers ejected and continued  
with a blistering version of the song until right before the big sing  
long at the end, the PA was INTENTIONALLY cut off. When it came back,  
Bruce launched into another scathing attack saying that they were  
supposed to play a shorter set than normal today, and only play 55  
minutes, but IRON MAIDEN can't drive 55, or play 55, and were going to  
play our whole fucking set tonight.

"The band endured six more 'PA cuts,' including having the power to  
their amps turned off at one point. When the PA would come back on,  
they would simply launch into the next IRON MAIDEN classic, never  
missing a beat. Frankly, with every PA cut, the band just got meaner  
and meaner, playing each new song with an anger and a fire that was at  
times, simply astonishing to watch. Bruce began the introduction to  
IRON MAIDEN with a speech about 'Your constitution has something about  
'We The People.' Well let me tell you, the only reason we are up here  
tolerating this bullshit, is because of you people. You have been  
amazing Glen Helen, and there are A LOT of IRON MAIDEN fans here  
tonight,' eliciting a huge roar from the crowd. He continued, 'It's  
gonna take more than eggs to stop IRON MAIDEN, NOTHING is going to come  
between us and our fans, and it will be death before dishonor, this is  
'Iron fucking Maiden',' which was greeted by a thunderous applause.  
During 'Iron Maiden', longtime MAIDEN mascot Eddie was purposely  
delayed from making his entrance, making a brief appearance at the end,  
and one could only wonder as to how. As the band closed there set with  
a furious version of 'Sanctuary', the PA was again cut only to have Big  
Dave repeatedly chant 'Ozzy' over the PA, while the band tried to say  
goodbye to their fans. The now-furious crowd angrily drowned him out  
with chants of 'MAIDEN, MAIDEN.'

"Then, not 10 seconds after MAIDEN left the stage, Sharon Osbourne  
walked on stage and predictably, tried to give MAIDEN some fake,  
half-hearted praise about how they'd like to 'thank IRON MAIDEN,' and  
what a wonderful band IRON MAIDEN are, and how their crew were  
'fantastic,' then sneering, 'But Bruce Dickinson is a prick.' The  
entire crowd, now fed up with the entire affair, began loudly booing  
her, pelting her with beer cups, and yelling 'bitch.' She tried to  
carry on, adding that 'Bruce had disrespected Ozzfest,' only to be  
drowned out by an ocean of boos, and soaked with beer. She slammed the  
microphone down and stormed off stage. Many in the crowd, fed up with  
what they had just witnessed, especially considering that many had come  
solely for MAIDEN, and paid upwards of $150 to do so, left in droves.  
SABBATH played to maybe half the audience that was there prior, and  
seemed stagnate compared to the band preceding them. As a huge fan of  
SABBATH, I honestly couldn't stand to watch them.

"I've seen IRON MAIDEN probably 10 times in my life, and frankly this  
was the very best IRON MAIDEN show I've had the pleasure of witnessing.  
You DON'T want to fuck with IRON MAIDEN. The more the Osbournes tried  
to fuck with them, the better they got! IRON MAIDEN was on fucking  
overdrive! Considering the amount of terrorizing and intimidation that  
IRON MAIDEN had to deal with at the hands of the Osbournes and the  
other side stage and main stage bands participating, they were the  
consummate professionals. They had the crowd in the palms of their  
hands, and IRON MAIDEN and Bruce Dickinson proved beyond a shadow of a  
doubt why they are the greatest metal band on earth right now, and  
quite possibly, the classiest, too.

"The Osbournes are drunk with power. Shame on them, and shame on ANY of  
the bands that participated in the terrorizing and intimidation. It was  
disgusting display, that NO BAND should have had to endure, but  
especially a legend like IRON MAIDEN. That fact that it happened in  
front of 40,000+ people, at a Clear Channel-sponsored event, while  
Hyundai Pavilion Security turned a blind eye and let the Osbourne camp  
pelt one of the main headlining bands with eggs, beer, and spit, was  
simply inexcusable.

"I will proudly be attending next year's MAIDEN fest, and as much as I  
hate to say it, I can't bring myself to spend another dime on the  
Osbournes.

"Ozzfest, hang your head in shame." 
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