Ozzfest 2008 to Feature All-Star Tribute to Dimebag Darrell

Hard rocking music fans headed to this year’s Ozzfest will experience a special one-time only all-star tribute to fallen Pantera guitarist and Texas native “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott as part of the Saturday, August 9, one-day stadium spectacular at Dallas’ Pizza Hut Park.

The tribute to “Dimebag” Darrell will feature Abbott’s brother, Vinnie Paul (acting as musical director and playing drums), along with an array of prominent hard rockers. This not-to-be-missed performance will salute the acclaimed guitarist whose December 2004 murder while performing onstage at a Columbus, Ohio, club still has the hard rock/metal community reeling.

Artists already confirmed to honor “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott include Kerry King (Slayer), Jerry Cantrell and Mike Inez (Alice in Chains), King Diamond, Scott Ian and Charlie Benante (Anthrax), Kirk Hammet (Metallica), Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed/Kingdom of Sorrow), Chad Gray (Mudvayne/Hellyeah) and Bob Zilla (Damageplan/Hellyeah). These musicians will stand together onstage, following Hellyeah’s mainstage performance, to pay their respects to their fallen friend with a set including many Pantera classics.

“Dimebag’s” longtime partner Rita Haney--who has worked tirelessly to keep his spirit alive--organized the tribute along with the Ozzfest team. While this began as an Ozzfest idea, Rita aggressively pursued it and brought together the talent making this homage a reality.

“To have this event on the Mainstage at Ozzfest in Dallas is such a treat and an honor!” says Rita Haney. “When this tragedy originally happened, I saw the music community come together like I've never seen before. To have the name ‘Dimebag’ still, to this day, unite musicians to pay homage in such a respectful way, is very overwhelming! In Dime's vision, it's always been about a damn good time!"

“When we decided on Dallas as the site for this year’s Ozzfest, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to pay tribute to ‘Dimebag’ Darrell since it was his hometown,” said Sharon Osbourne. “’Dimebag’ was a part of our Ozzfest family and everyone in the metal community misses him dearly.”

Sponsored by Affliction Clothing, this year's Ozzfest stadium spectacular in the hard music-loving state of Texas will feature non-stop talent on three stages--the Ozzfest Main Stage, the Jagermeister Second Stage and the Monster Energy Texas Stage--as well as reliably twisted side attractions. The bill will also feature some of the hardest rocking bands--many of whom have been a part of the Ozzfest family and who will return to the Ozzfest stage in support of a festival which has opened the door for so many of today's hard rock and metal bands.

The full main stage lineup will spotlight performances by Metallica (in their Ozzfest debut), Ozzy Osbourne (in his only U.S. concert appearance through the end of 2008), Serj Tankian (System of a Down), Hellyeah, Jonathan Davis (Korn), Cavalera Conspiracy, Shadows Fall, Apocalyptica and In This Moment. Acts on The Jagermeister Second Stage include Sevendust, Devildriver, Kingdom of Sorrow, Soilent Green, Witchcraft and Goatwhore. The Monster Energy Texas Stage--"an homage to the many great metal bands that come from Texas," says Sharon Osbourne--will feature The Sword, Drowning Pool, Rigor Mortis, Within Chaos and The Destro.