Why Ozzfest Should Return: Honoring Ozzy Osbourne’s Legacy and the Unforgettable “Perry Mason” Performance at Ozzfest 1996

When Ozzy Osbourne powered through “Perry Mason” at Ozzfest 1996, he wasn’t just playing a song—he was igniting an entire festival’s identity. That October performance—especially notable in San Bernardino on October 26—was one of the earliest showcases of Ozzfest’s blend of raw energy and heavy-hitting roster. With Robert Trujillo on bass and Zakk Wylde on guitar, the live version became legendary among metal fans.

Recorded the year before on Ozzmosis, “Perry Mason” represented a bold chapter in Ozzy’s career—a triumphant return after a short “retirement.” The track’s theatrical groove and Ozzy’s gravelly vocals instantly made it a live highlight. And at Ozzfest, the song became a rallying anthem, uniting festgoers in defiant, guitar-powered communion.

Now, in the wake of Ozzy’s death on July 22, 2025, that performance takes on new resonance. It’s more than nostalgia—it’s a time capsule from a moment when the Prince of Darkness stood at the forefront of a metal revolution. Hearing Ozzy belt that chorus now carries emotional weight, echoing not just a performance but a final gift to the community he built.

Why Ozzfest should return: Ozzy didn’t just perform at Ozzfest—he created it. Co-founded with Sharon Osbourne after rejection from Lollapalooza, Ozzfest launched in 1996 as a two-day event and grew into an annual, international festival running (with breaks) through 2018. It offered exposure to emerging metal acts, fostered community across generations, and remained raw and unfiltered—something sorely missing from today’s corporate tours.

Bringing Ozzfest back now would serve as both a tribute and a continuation of Ozzy’s legacy. It would be a space where “Perry Mason”, and countless other tracks, can be celebrated live, reminding fans of the unifying spirit its founder embodied. More than nostalgia, Ozzfest could be a platform for new artists to rise in the same ethos of rebellion and authenticity Ozzy championed.

Ozzfest wasn’t built on curation by committees—it was a festival rooted in passion. Its legacy includes supporting meteoric acts like Sepultura, Danzig, and Slayer alongside mainstream turns. That energy radiated from Ozzy’s live performances—most memorably “Perry Mason”—and it continues to inspire fans worldwide.

In the shadow of his passing, Ozzfest’s return would signal not just remembrance, but renewal. Let the festival once again host the chaos, the sweat, the communion of thousands who want to feel what Ozzy felt when he first shouted, “Who can we get on the case?” Resonance.

If staged again, Ozzfest would remind us: metal is alive, evolving, and inclusive. It would honor the Prince of Darkness by giving that valuable space to the underground, the innovators, the ones he’d have booked without hesitation. His legacy wasn’t just in his music—it was in the community he built.

So when you revisit that iconic 1996 clip of Ozzy screaming through “Perry Mason,” remember it’s more than historical footage—it’s a call to action. To rebuild, reunite, and revive everything that made Ozzy and Ozzfest essential. Because while the man may be gone, the music—and the spirit—can still thunder on.