Disappointments come in all sizes and shapes. But the one that hit me the hardest this week was one of massive proportions — the Ozzfest was canceled due to "unforeseen scheduling conflicts."
On the official Ozzfest Web site ozzfest.com, there is a post in the news section that the Sacramento, Calif., show has been pushed ahead one day from Sunday to Monday, because doctors have advised Ozzy Osbourne he should not perform consecutive shows, due to a recent illness.
The all-day metal extravaganza was supposed to take place on Tuesday at the USANA Amphitheatre in West Valley City. Gates were scheduled to open at 9 a.m. and the madness was supposed to begin at 10 a.m.
Not only was Osbourne's Black Sabbath going to be headlining, but Iron Maiden, Mudvayne, Shadows Fall, Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society and In Flames were also going to be playing.
And that was only the main stage lineup.
The second stage would have supported Rob Zombie, A Dozen Furies, the Haunted, Arch Enemy, the Black Dahlia Murder, Bury Your Dead, It Dies Today, Soilwork, Trivium, Gizmachi and Jada Pinkett-Smith's Wicked Wisdom.
I was ready to see every one of those bands — yes, even Wicked Wisdom. I was ready to get my concert T-shirts. I was ready to bask in the hot sun with a tray of nachos and hear the bands tear it up.
It was the concert of the year for me. When I first heard the show was coming I was stoked! There was no other show I was looking forward to more than Ozzfest.
After all, I had waited nine years for the production to come to town.
Ozzfest originated nearly a decade ago, a brainchild of the business savvy of Osbourne's wife, Sharon. It was a time when classic metal needed a shot of adrenaline to keep it alive. And Sharon Osbourne's idea was to meld classic metal with the new metal that was gaining a loyal following.
Back then, the lineup included classic acts Ozzy Osbourne, Slayer and Danzig, and recruited such newer metal names as Sepultura, Fear Factory, Biohazard, Neurosis, Earth Crisis, Powerman 5000, Coal Chamber and Cellophane.
For nearly 10 years Ozzfest has been one of the most successful music events in the business.
But it's not coming here.
The only way I can see Ozzfest 2005 is to catch a flight to Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida or Wisconsin. And I would if I could. If I had the funds for a plane ticket and time in my schedule, I'd be on a plane next week.
This is the second time Black Sabbath in its reunited form has canceled a Salt Lake Valley show. The first time was in 1999, a show that would have been in the Delta Center with Pantera and Incubus opening.
Too bad.
Ozzy's played here many times in the past. So have Iron Maiden and Rob Zombie. Even Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying, Black Dahlia Murder and In Flames.
But crying and complaining won't be enough to reschedule Ozzfest this year.
The people at the local booking agency United Concerts are pretty upset, too. They were looking forward to it.
So, since I'm not going to be able to see the band play "War Pigs," "Sweet Leaf," "Paranoid," "N.I.B.," "Symptom of the Universe," "Iron Man," "Children of the Grave," "Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath," "Sabbra Cadabra," "Never Say Die" and the rest of those classic metal anthems, I'm going to take that day and listen to the Black Sabbath "Reunion" CD. At least the songs will be in a live setting.
Heck, I'll even pull out my live Iron Maiden discs.
But, of course, it ain't going to be the same.
E-mail: scott@desnews.com