Ozzy Osbourne fans vandalized Polaris Amphitheatre 27 years ago when he wasn’t in attendance.

It’s been 27 years since Ozzy Osbourne shut down his concert in Columbus. Here’s what fans remember.

Written by Amani Bayo

June 17, 2024 07:55 PM

For Justin Roman, watching the band perform classic metal songs at Ozzfest ’97 was an unforgettable experience.

And not just because of the riots.

Roman, just 14 at the time, who lives in Athens County, said the performance came to a “pretty amazing” close when several musicians came together on stage at Polaris Amphitheatre to play classic Black Sabbath songs.

But when Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo announced that headliner Ozzy Osbourne wouldn’t be appearing at the show, things got a little rowdy.

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“When we saw that they had lit the fire, my dad said we had to get out of there,” Roman said.

Fans vandalize Polaris Amphitheatre when Ozzy didn’t show up
Roman’s memorable concert was 27 years ago Monday when chaos erupted at Polaris Amphitheatre because Osbourne didn’t show up for his concert.

On June 17, 1997, the heavy-metal legend was scheduled to perform in Columbus with his band, Black Sabbath, as part of the annual Ozzfest concert tour.

But after a concert in New Jersey, Osbourne fell ill and was hospitalized.

In Columbus, fans were informed that Osbourne would be late, and that there would be performances by bands and musicians such as Pantera, Marilyn Manson, Type O Negative, Fear Factory and Machine Head.

According to Dispatch coverage at the time, Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo broke the news at 9:25 p.m. that Osbourne would not be making an appearance. The crowd of about 18,000 was disappointed.

Here’s how former Dispatch pop music critic Bill Eichenberger described the scene: “On their way out, the crowd set at least three fires on the Polaris property, broke box office windows and threw things at employees trying to get in (who quickly exchanged their uniforms for street wear), ripped down the wooden fence surrounding the facility, destroyed neighbors’ fences and trees, and caused heavy damage to at least one car in the parking lot.”

“Columbus police called in additional security forces, including a helicopter, to evacuate people.”

Ozzie fans remember a night of pure chaos

Sam Nature remembers the second helicopter.

Now 46 and living in Stark County, Nature was a teenager enjoying her first Ozzfest. Her memories of that day include police officers in riot gear, lights from the helicopters and, of course, fire.

“We could see people lighting fences on our way out,” she said.

e.g. As the chaos began, Nachter said he saw a man swinging a 2×4 wooden plank, which he suspected came from a torn-down fence that stood over a flower box.

(Roman took a piece of the torn-down fence as a souvenir.)

People were spitting and throwing so much dirt that it was practically “raining silt,” according to Eric Forson.

“There was so much going on at once,” said Forson, 51, of Urbana. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Robert Beckman, 52, of Westerville, said he remembers the crowd being “freaky and restless” all night. He immediately tried to get his pregnant girlfriend away from the scene when the riot broke out.

“I remember trying to protect her as best I could so we could get out of there,” he said.

Ozzy Osbourne’s return

Weeks later, Osbourne finally arrived in central Ohio for a July 1 makeup show.

Nature was there, the singer said, referring to the June 17 incident.

“She pointed to the lawn and said, ‘How do you like that new fence I just bought?'”

ABayo@dispatch.com