Why It’s Time for Ozzfest to Return: Honoring Ozzy Osbourne Through His Defining “Perry Mason” Performance

When Ozzy Osbourne unleashed “Perry Mason” at Ozzfest 1996, it wasn’t just another track on the setlist—it was the spark that lit the spirit of the festival itself. That October night in San Bernardino on October 26 has since become a defining memory, one of the earliest glimpses of Ozzfest’s furious energy and powerhouse lineup. With Robert Trujillo locking down the bass and Zakk Wylde tearing through guitar lines, the performance quickly earned legendary status among metal fans.

First introduced on Ozzmosis in 1995, “Perry Mason” marked Ozzy’s bold return after his short-lived “retirement.” With its theatrical riffs and his gravel-edged delivery, the song became an instant live staple. At Ozzfest, it transformed into an anthem, pulling tens of thousands into a single, roaring voice of rebellion.

Now, in the aftermath of Ozzy’s passing on July 22, 2025, that moment resonates even more deeply. It’s no longer just about remembering a show—it’s about revisiting a piece of living history, a time when the Prince of Darkness stood at the very front of a metal uprising. Hearing him thunder through that chorus today feels like a farewell gift to the community he created.

The case for Ozzfest’s revival: Ozzy didn’t simply headline Ozzfest—he invented it. Alongside Sharon Osbourne, after being turned away from Lollapalooza, he launched the festival in 1996 as a two-day gamble that soon became an annual, international force. It gave younger bands their shot, united generations of fans, and stayed raw and unfiltered in ways most modern tours fail to capture.

Reviving Ozzfest now would mean more than nostalgia—it would be a living tribute, a continuation of Ozzy’s mission. It could once again be the stage where songs like “Perry Mason” roar to life, honoring the man who built a home for outsiders and dreamers. It could also give the next wave of artists the very platform Ozzy would have offered them without hesitation.

Unlike the corporate-driven tours of today, Ozzfest was born out of grit and passion. Its history is woven with names like Sepultura, Slayer, and Danzig, alongside Ozzy himself. The same fire that drove those performances—especially his blistering “Perry Mason”—continues to ripple through metal culture worldwide.

In light of his passing, the return of Ozzfest would stand as both remembrance and rebirth. It could recapture the chaos, the sweat, and the shared communion of thousands answering Ozzy’s eternal question: “Who can we get on the case?”

If it came back, Ozzfest would remind the world that metal isn’t fading—it’s alive, evolving, and inclusive. It would honor the Prince of Darkness not by looking back, but by carrying forward the underground spirit he championed. His true legacy was never just his music, but the community he raised around it.

So when you revisit that raw 1996 clip of Ozzy belting out “Perry Mason,” don’t see it as just archival footage. See it as a call to build again, to gather, and to revive everything that made Ozzfest—and Ozzy himself—essential. The man may be gone, but the roar of his music and the community it forged can still shake the earth.