Was anyone else as shocked as I was when I got wind of the grandfather of heavy metal festivals announcing it would be a free concert this year?

Probably, but the level of surprise and shock about a free OzzFest was enough to make me really want to take a closer look- is OzzFest really free this year???

Well, it looks like it may be in fact free; but the hoops you have to get through in order to see this year’s OzzFest may be enough for you to just wait for your favorite bands later in the fall when they go on tour. But as the OzzFest gears up for its 12th year of existence, some questions come up in my mind, and believe me, there are a lot of them this year. I am going to go through them point by point.

Here they are, so sit back and read... feel free to hold all your questions until the end of the presentation:

• Just who’s gonna be on OzzFest this year?: Other than namesake Ozzy Osbourne, we are not completely sure. Since it’s a Ozzy solo set, expect Ozzy guitarist Zakk Wylde, and his gang of musicians posing as bikers in Black Label Society to play with them. Vinnie Paul’s “Hellyeah” project has been rumored to have a spot, but an interview with Paul this week, Paul doesn’t see the festival being beneficial and may pass on it. Which brings up a good point…
• Who’s gonna play for free? Ozzy has enough money to play for free for years, but the other bands look at OzzFest for a big payday, so this year will work as about as well as TrimSpa worked out for former ex-Guess Jeans models. Younger bands looking to get exposure will have to gig on off days, in order to make money to continue touring. Not exactly the ideal situation, but the bands usually have no problem doing that anyways. But, there’s one big problem.
• Logistics: The up and coming bands won't have to dish out the $75,000 that has been the rumored going rate for a second stage band to play OzzFest each year. So, they don’t have to pay that, but they have to play these off-site shows, in order to make cash. One problem: Another rumor going down is that the bands have to sign a Sharon Osbourne agreement, prohibiting the bands from playing off-site gigs 150 miles or closer to the OzzFest venue. Yeah, that’s what any up and coming band wants to do; drive 3 to 4 hours to make 800 bucks. That barely covers gas and hotel rooms. That seems really fair, now doesn’t it?
• How is OzzFest going to keep running this year?: There are three solutions for that: Sponsors, Sponsors and yep, more sponsors. Everybody from Jagermeister to Vagasil (not confirmed, but rumored) are going to be sponsors, and will donate money to help keep the festival going this year. Which means the fan could hear commercials for dog food before Ozzy goes on. That sounds great, doesn’t it?
• And most of all: If Ozzy is the only big name on OzzFest; are you really want to go?: Osbourne is struggling to move around, let alone play in 25 cities this summer. I would rather see the Osbournes dish out $325,000 per show for a band like System of A Down (that was their going rate last year), or hell, even $225,000 a night for someone like Disturbed (rumored rate). Osbourne may play for free, but I’d rather pay to see a tight live band versus an old man trying to relive past glories.

I am sure there will be more questions running through my mind between now and July 7th, when the “free” OzzFest gets going this year. People are freaking out, thinking that water will be ten bucks because of the free prices. The venue sets the prices for the entire year (and not just one day); so you won't have to worry about that 19 dollar chicken sandwich.

OzzFest is announced for the previously mentioned 25 cities, but surprisingly, Detroit is not one of them as of yet. But they are rumored to be one of the last five slots not already announced.

Either way, this year’s OzzFest is going to be talked about, no matter how it goes down.