Ozzfest’s return exceeds expectations

“It feels so good to be back home,” Ozzy Osbourne told the crowd Saturday night at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore. The Prince of Darkness, now 61, was clearly humbled by the massive response to this summer’s return of Ozzfest and the heavy turnout of mostly black-shirt-wearing, die-hard metal fans, especially after having recently taken time off from touring to ink his biography (I Am Ozzy) and put out his 10th solo album (Scream).

These rabid fans were ready for him and fell quickly under his spell once he appeared on stage, the vast majority of them head-banging, fist-pumping and obliging to the two dozen or so times Osbourne demanded: “Let me see your (bleepin’) hands!”

The crowd reacts to Ozzy Osbourne taking the stage Saturday night at the San Manuel Amphihteater in Devore.

Who: Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, Halford, DevilDriver, Nonpoint and more

Where: San Manuel Amphitheater, Devore

When: Aug. 14

An absolute madman on stage, Osbourne laughs maniacally, stomps up and down holding onto the microphone stand, waves his arms, blasts fans with a water canon and throws his head into buckets of water on the side of the stage. His odd yet calculated behavior only fuels the crowd more, and it’s obvious how much Osbourne relishes moments as he mumbles out “thank you,” “I love you” or “God bless” after every song.

Before opening his nearly two-hour set with “Bark at the Moon,” Osbourne showed that he still has a sense of humor with a video featuring him superimposed into scenes in popular movies (Twilight, The Hangover), TV shows (Jersey Shore) and music videos (dressed in drag, he parodied the Beyoncé character in Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” clip).

But what was most memorable was Osbourne’s stellar setlist, a good mix of old favorites (“I Don’t Know,” “Suicide Solution”), new stuff (“Let Me Hear You Scream”), a rarity (“Killer of Giants”) and some Black Sabbath (“Fairies Wear Boots”). His new band — drummer Tommy Clufetos, bassist Rob “Blasko” Nicholson and guitarist Gus G — was spectacular, and Osbourne was justifiably proud to single them out as they each soloed. Gus G definitely shreds, but Clufetos’ turn on the kit rivaled that of Mötley Crüe anchor Tommy Lee.

The still hard-rockin’ Crüe were the night’s co-headliners and dug the show out of the ditch Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford had thrown everyone into prior to its set. Halford’s performance was a little sleepy and slow — weird for a metal show. (As one fan put it: “This is like a metal lullaby.”) Halford was also met with some screaming hate, and the consensus of the crowd was clear: “Play some Priest, you (insert which ever terrible word you prefer here).” He did not.

Mötley Crüe, however, brought the party. “Kickstart My Heart,” “Wild Side” and “Shout at the Devil” had fans on their feet, hands in the air, roaring along to every lyric. During “Home Sweet Home,” with Lee at the piano, much of the audience brought out actual lighters — no fancy Zippo iPhone apps for these people, this was old-school. The Crüe started closing out with “Dr. Feelgood,” and it wouldn’t have been the same had they not ended with “Girls, Girls, Girls.” The ladies in the crowd were thankful to be recognized; some showed their gratitude by flashing us all.

Other main stage acts, DevilDriver and Nonpoint, were strong. The latter, appearing for the first time on the big stage at Ozzfest, got things stirring with a fast and furious set that included fan favorite “Bullet with a Name.” Unfortunately for Nonpoint, they were competing against Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society, the final act on the second stage, which drew a huge crowd and led to the craziest mosh pit of the day.

With the second stage over, DevilDriver reeled in stragglers and blasted them with heavy guitars. Vocalist Dez Fafara, a native Southern Californian born in Santa Barbara, shared in the same “it’s good to be home” sentiment as Ozzy and Mötley Crüe before going into “Clouds Over California.”

In a Soundcheck interview last week Osbourne contemplated the future of his summer fest, since last year it didn’t happen and in 2008 was reduced to a one-off bash in Dallas with Metallica. Other metal festivals — like Mayhem Festival, which took place at this same venue last month, and the coming Uproar Festival — have popped up instead, taking with them several artists who had been Ozzfest staples: Rob Zombie, Lamb of God, Hatebreed, Disturbed.

But with a response like Saturday’s, it’s got to be comforting to Ozzy & Co. to know that Ozzfest still resonates with the masses. Surely it could always have a home here.

Photo by Drew A. Kelley, for The Orange County Register.