For Justin Roman, watching bands carry out traditional metallic songs at Ozzfest ’97 was an unforgettable expertise.
And never simply due to the riot.
Solely 14 years outdated on the time, Roman, who lives in Athens County, mentioned the performances got here to a “fairly wonderful” shut as varied musicians appeared on stage collectively at Polaris Amphitheater taking part in traditional Black Sabbath songs.
However when Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo introduced headliner Ozzy Osbourne wouldn’t be making it to the present in any case, issues obtained a bit of too wild.
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“Once we seen they’d lit the fence on fireplace, my dad mentioned we needed to go away,” Roman mentioned.
Followers vandalize Polaris Amphitheater after Ozzy would not present
Roman’s memorable live performance expertise was 27 years in the past Monday. That is when pandemonium broke out on the Polaris Amphitheater as a result of Osbourne did not present as much as his personal live performance.
On June 17, 1997, the heavy-metal legend was scheduled to carry out in Columbus alongside along with his band, Black Sabbath, as a part of the annual Ozzfest music pageant tour.
However Osbourne fell unwell after a live performance in New Jersey and wound up within the hospital.
In Columbus, followers had been knowledgeable that Osbourne can be late, and handled to performances from bands and musicians reminiscent of Pantera, Marilyn Manson, Kind O Unfavorable, Concern Manufacturing facility and Machine Head.
Based on Dispatch protection from that point, Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo broke the information at 9:25 p.m. that Osbourne wouldn’t be coming. Disappointment was widespread amongst the gang of roughly 18,000 folks.
Here is how former Dispatch pop music critic Invoice Eichenberger described the scene: “On its means out, the gang lit a minimum of three brush fires on Polaris property, smashed the field workplace home windows and tried to climb in, threw objects at workers (who rapidly exchanged their uniforms for road garments), tore down the picket fence across the facility, destroyed neighbors’ fences and bushes, and closely broken a minimum of one automobile within the parking zone.
“Columbus police known as in reinforcements, together with a helicopter to get folks to go away.”
Ozzy followers keep in mind an evening of pure chaos
Sam Natcher II remembers the helicopter.
Now 46 and dwelling in Stark County, Natcher was a teen having fun with his first Ozzfest. His recollections of the day embrace cops in riot gear, the illumination from the helicopter overhead and, in fact, the fires.
“We might see the glow from the fireplace from folks burning the fence on the way in which out,” he mentioned.
As chaos ensued, Natcher mentioned he vividly remembers a person swinging a 2×4 plank of wooden, which he suspects got here from a torn fence, whereas standing on prime of a flower field.
(Roman, for his half, snagged a bit of damaged fence as a memento.)
Folks had been spitting and throwing a lot grime, in keeping with Eric Forson, that it was virtually “raining sod.”
“A lot was happening ,” Forson, 51, of Urbana mentioned. “I had by no means seen something prefer it.”
Robert Beckman, 52, of Westerville, mentioned he remembers the gang had been “bizarre and stressed” all night time. When the riots started, he rapidly tried to get his pregnant girlfriend away from the scene.
“I simply keep in mind shielding her as a lot as I might so we might get out of there,” he mentioned.
Ozzy Osbourne’s return
A number of weeks later, Osbourne lastly made it to central Ohio for a July 1 make-up present.
Natcher was there and mentioned the singer referenced the occasions of June 17.
“He identified to the garden and one thing alongside the strains of, ‘How do you guys like that new fence I simply purchased?'”