Welcome to the LOUDEST DOT COM ON THE PLANET!
KNAC.COM News Reviews and More Watch The Latest Videos Buy KNAC T-shirts and More


Iron Maiden Manager's Official Statement Regarding Ozzfest Feud

By Newsferatu, Writer
Tuesday, August 23, 2005 @ 3:36 PM

"This was a premeditated and c

- advertisement -
- advertisement -
Iron Maiden manager, Rob Smallwood posted this statement on the Official Iron Maiden Website.

"Maiden are currently returning from America and preparing for UK festivals this weekend and don't wish to waste time giving Sharon Osbourne's statement the dignity of a reply. Considering the disgraceful nature of the events that occurred they feel it's a pretty dismal effort at self justification and they don't think Metal fans are at all gullible and that they will easily see through it. They want no more to do with this sorry incident and are very much looking forward to headlining Reading and Leeds Festivals this weekend.

I would however like to add my own comment on this.

In 30 years in this business and after attending hundreds of gigs I have never seen anything anywhere near as disgusting and unprofessional as what went on that night. I was standing on our sound desk out front as usual but ran to the stage as soon as the hail of missiles began and from then on watched from the front of the stage right next to Bruce's walkway. The scale, viciousness and concentration of the throwing made it obvious that this was a premeditated and co-ordinated attack. Assaulting musicians while performing by throwing bottle tops, lighters and eggs at them from just a few yards away is vile, dangerous, criminal and cowardly. It is incredible that Ozzfest security apparently did nothing about it - aren't they there to protect the bands too? Especially when the band is concentrating on a performance in front of 45,000 people and the missiles are coming out of the glare of the spotlights. And to spit at a band on stage is unforgivable.

Iron Maiden, like all the bands on Ozzfest, had to sign quite onerous legal documents part of which was promising not to throw anything into the audience, even wristbands!!! Ironic isn't it.

It is well documented on the web who was responsible for planning and participating in this attack and for musicians to join in this assault on other musicians is a shocking disgrace akin to treachery. You should all be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves.

We know who authorised the making of the 'ozzy - ozzy' chant tape the day before and how it was played secretly through the PA at the very beginning and end of our set.

We also know who continually turned off the power interrupting our set at crucial moments. It is a good thing that the power was turned back on before there was a riot as you could sense on stage a lot of the huge audience were getting totally pissed off at this continual onslaught on the band.

The great majority of the Ozzfest crew throughout the tour were terrific and we thank them. Those who participated or stood idly by and watched as this all went down should also be ashamed of themselves and l would certainly hope they never come near a tour with which we are involved.

There is little point in my commenting on the chap with the flag or their trying to hold up Eddie or Sharon's speech as the audience made their feelings very clear on each occasion.

And in the end what was all this about?? If l had any sort of problem or misunderstanding with a band working on a tour we were involved in l would go and talk to them or their manager - not wait until the end of a tour and assault and ambush them. Or was that really it?

I find it staggering that this ambush would take place in front of any audience, let alone in San Bernardino, the biggest audience of the tour. Didn't that audience merit any consideration? They pay an awful lot to be there in terms of prices for tickets, parking, food, beer etc. Surely if they spend this sort of money they deserve to watch the bands they paid to see be able to put in a full unhindered performance. Free of danger and intimidation. If I had paid I would ask for my money back!

And this audience really were outstanding, giving the band incredible support and many voting with their feet in disgust after the set and the speech, which to many was the final insult.

I have to say l was immensely proud of Maiden who stood up to it all and showed great courage and just got better and better through the adversity. Their heads never dropped, instead they went on the offensive. It was a truly memorable moment when Bruce went to the very front of the stage during Trooper - something which he never normally does as he is usually on the ramps - waving the flag whilst avoiding the hail of missiles and yelling 'This is a fucking British flag, and these colours don't fucking run!'. The imperturbable attitude and ability of the band shone through and in the end made this a truly remarkable rock and roll event, even if for all the wrong reasons.

We will have no more to say on this matter except that l do think the band deserve an apology from a number of people, and you know who you are."


 

 

 Recent News
EYE AM Launches New Music Video "Cryptomnesia"
PROPHECY FEST Announces Three New Bands For 2024 Edition
THE HELLACOPTERS Release New Video For "The Electric Index Eel (Revisited)"
SCOTT STAPP Reveals New Rock Anthem "Black Butterfly"
COBRA SPELL Share Third Single, Video For "Warrior From Hell"
SHE'S A BADASS: Women in Rock Shaping Feminism Book Coming
BAD MARRIAGE Release New Video "Dangerous"
GIRLSCHOOL Announces First Leg Of Final North American Tour
SKID ROW Drop New Video For "Resurrected"
SUICIDAL ANGELS Return With New Album Profane Prayer
BLIND GUARDIAN Announces "The God Machine" North American Tour
THE RODS Unleash "Shockwave" Music Video
COBRAKILL Ready New Album Serpent's Kiss
STEEL PANTHER Announce 2024 'On The Prowl' Tour Dates
ZAKK SABBATH Announce New Double Album Doomed Forever Forever Doomed
METALITE Share New Album Single, "Aurora"
LIONHEART Set For New Album, The Grace Of A Dragonfly
KING DIAMOND's No Presents For Christmas Reissued On Vinyl In New Colors
RAVAGE Release New Single "Manmade Ice Age"
ACE FREHLEY Returns With New Album 10,000 Volts
JUDICATOR Shares BLIND GUARDIAN Cover Song "The Curse Of Feanor"
HYPERSPACE METALFEST Announces 2024 Lineup
GOTUS Set to Release Self-Titled Debut Album
TYR Announces 2024 North American "Battle Ballads" Headline Tour
FIREWIND Release New Single "Come Undone", Announce U.S. Dates
EXTREME Announce 2024 'Thicker Than Blood' US Tour
TRIUMPH OF DEATH Share "Messiah" Video
LUTHARO Unveil New Album Chasing Euphoria
KOBRA PAIGE (KOBRA AND THE LOTUS) Releases "Under One Sun" Video
THE WARNING Announce 2024 European Tour
CROSSBONE SKULLY Unleash New Video, "I'm Unbreakable"
ARCH ENEMY, IN FLAMES Join For Co-Headline "Rising From The North" European Tour
FROM ASHES TO NEW Drop New Christmas Cover Video For "All I Want For Christmas Is You"
DIRTY HONEY Announces New "Can't Find The Brakes" UK/European Tour
AMARANTHE Unleash New Video For "Outer Dimensions"
Two New Metal Christmas Albums, A Very Metal Christmas And A Very Metal Christmas II, Set For Release
MILWAUKEE METAL FEST Announces First Wave Of Bands For 2024
SAXON Return With New Album, Hell, Fire And Damnation
MOLLY HATCHET Return With New Single "Firing Line"
STAIND Announces 2024 'The Tailgate Tour' With SEETHER
SLAYER's Show No Mercy Album Gets 2 Different Vinyl Versions For 40th Anniversary
WHITECHAPEL Set For New Live Album, Live In The Valley
ALESTORM Announces North American Headline "Tour Of The Dead Marauder"
JACK RUSSELL, TRACII GUNS Collaborate On New Project, RUSSELL/GUNS
TOOL Return To Europe For Spring Tour
LORD DYING Launch "The Endless Road Home" Video
STARSET Announce U.S. Spring Tour, 'Immersion: The Final Chapter'
XANDRIA Release "Your Stories I'll Remember" Video
U.D.O. Confirms Rescheduled 'Touchdown' US/Canada Tour
ATREYU Unveils The Beautiful Dark of Life Album
KILLINGTON PIT Release Second Single, Cover Of RAINBOW's "Kill The King"
SAMMY HAGAR, With MICHAEL ANTHONY, JASON BONHAM And JOE SATRIANI Announce 'The Best Of All Worlds' Tour
TOMORROW'S OUTLOOK Shares Video For "Silver Ghost"
JUDAS PRIEST Announce U.S. 'Invincible Shield Tour'
PANTERA Announce Second Leg Of North American Celebration Tour
THE RODS Set To Rattle The Cage With New Album
MINISTRY Release New Single "Just Stop Oil"
VEIL OF MAYA Announce 2024 US Headline Tour
LORD OF THE LOST Unveil New Covers Album Weapons Of Mass Seduction
STRIKER Share New Video For "Circle of Evil"
Two TRAPEZE Albums, Medusa And You Are The Music...We're Just The Band Set For New Vinyl Release
LILLIAN AXE's STEVE BLAZE Reveals 'The Blaze Method' Guitar Lessons
DAVID ELLEFSON Anounces Inaugural 'Bass Warrior Tour'
WICKED Unleash New Single "Lost In The Dark"
INSOMNIUM Drop New Single "Stained In Red"
WELCOME TO ROCKVILLE Announces 2024 Band Lineup
IRON MAIDEN, Z2 Comics Collaborate For New Piece Of Mind Book
JOE SATRIANI, STEVE VAI Join For Spring 2024 "The Satch-Vai Tour"
QUEENSRYCHE Announce 2024 'The Origins Tour'
MUNICIPAL WASTE Announce 'Brainsqueeze Tour 2024'
SPIRITBOX Release Three New Videos, "Ultraviolet", "Angel Eyes" And "Too Close/Too Late" From Latest The Fear Of Fear EP
SCORPIONS Announce "Love At First Sting Las Vegas" Residency
COBRA SPELL Unleash "The Devil Inside Of Me" Video
INFECTED RAIN Return With New Album Time
JETBOY Drop Cover Single Of BOZ SCAGGS' "Lido Shuffle"
AVATAR To Release Limited Edition 'Afterbirth' Liquid 'Blood-Filled' Version Of New Album Dance Devil Dance
SHADOWS FALL Announce 20th Anniversary The War Within Show
Disco-Metal Group MAKES MY BLOOD DANCE Release New Single"Knowin' it Without Knowin' Why"
OV SULFUR, MENTAL CRUELTY Join For North American "Beyond The Eternal Tour"
BRUCE DICKINSON Announces New Single, "Afterglow of Ragnarok"
THE VEER UNION, 2 SHADOWS Combine For New Single, Video "Marionette"
PUSCIFER, A PERFECT CIRCLE, PRIMUS Announce New, And Final, Additions To 2024 U.S. SESSANTA Tour
THUNDERMOTHER Return With New Single, Video, "I Left My License In The Future"
DOWNSHIFT Ready New Album One In The Chamber
DERISION CULT Releases Single "Slaves Rebuild"
TARJA Set For New Album Dark Christmas
INFERNO FESTIVAL NORWAY Confirms Full 2024 Lineup
KING DIAMOND Launches "Masquerade of Madness" Video
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, FIT FOR A KING Announce Second Leg Of 'Metalcore Dropouts Tour'
TWO MINUTES TO TULSA Festival Reveals 2024 Lineup
ALICE COOPER Launches "Dead Don't Dance" Video
SUPAFLY, Project Featuring RAY WEST Of SPREAD EAGLE, Release New Single "I'm Your Boogie Man"
WITHERFALL Premieres "Insidious" Video
SERENITY Drop New Video For "The End of Babylon"
CHILDREN OF BODOM Announce Concert Album A Chapter Called Children of Bodom (Final Show In Helsinki Ice Hall 2019)
HELLFEST Reveals First Acts For 2024 Edition
Guitarist MICK MARS Drops First New Solo Single "Loyal To The Lie"
CREED Announces 2024 'Summer Of '99' Tour
JOHN 5 Premieres New Instrumental Video "The Ghost"
GO AHEAD AND DIE Announce 'Unhealthy Mechanisms Tour 2024'
SKELETAL REMAINS Set For New Album Fragments Of The Ageless
CATTLE DECAPITATION Unleashes "Solastalgia" Video
LUCIFER Reveal New Album Lucifer V
WITHIN TEMPTATION Release New Video For "Ritual"
EBAY Auction Now Underway For A Spot On EDDIE TRUNK's Bowling Team
DGM Share New Video For "To The Core"
EXIT EDEN Unveil New Album Femmes Fatales
POP EVIL Drop New Video For "Skeletons"
EVERGREY Set To Release Anniversary Album
SATAN'S FALL Unleash New Video For "Afterglow"
LYNCH MOB Announce 'The Final Ride' Farewell Tour
FOZZY Release New Video For "Spotlight"
Melodic Black Metal Masters LENAX Drop New EP Purity
Drummer MIKE PORTNOY Returns To DREAM THEATER
IRON MAIDEN Announce 2024 'The Future Past' North American Dates
RIVERS OF NIHIL Release New Digital Single "Hellbirds"
MAGNUM Ready New Album Here Comes The Rain
BROTHER CANE Releases Two New Songs For 30th Anniversary
DIMMU BORGIR Unveil Covers Album Inspiratio Profanus
THE BLACK MOODS Enlist THE DOORS' Guitarist ROBBY KRIEGER, DIAMANTE For Cover Of "Roadhouse Blues"
ALLEGAEON Release New Track "Inhumation"
BAD OMENS Announce New + Rescheduled 2024 Dates
LUTHARO Are "Born To Ride" With New Video
ZAKK SABBATH Announce U.S. Winter Tour 2023/2024
LITTLE MISS NASTY Release "Bad Girls Romance" Video
KING KOBRA Return With New Single "Turn Up The Music"
DRAGONFORCE Unveil New Album, Warp Speed Warriors
LEATHERWOLF Unleash "Only The Wicked" Video
AMBER WILD, Featuring PAUL STANLEY's Son EVAN STANLEY, Release New Double A-Side Single "Breakout"//"Silver"
SVEN GALI Set For New Album Bombs And Battlescars



HOME | MAGAZINE | VIDS | STORE | HELP/POLICIES

©2023 KNAC.COM. All Rights Reserved.    Link to us    Advertise with us    Privacy policy
 Latest News