TOOL, DEFTONES, SLASH, STONE SOUR Confirmed For OZZFEST JAPAN

Sharon Osbourne, in partnership with Japanese promoter Hayashi International Promotion (H.I.P.),recently confirmed the first-ever Ozzfest Japan. The two-day festival will debut Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12, 2013 at the Makuhari Messe Arena, just outside of Tokyo, and will feature headlining performances from BLACK SABBATH — featuring Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi — and SLIPKNOT. Newly confirmed for the event are TOOL, DEFTONES, SLASH and STONE SOUR.

"We are excited for the opportunity to bring Ozzfest to Japan for the first time ever," says Sharon Osbourne. “We've got the perfect combination of Western and Japanese bands. Ozzfest is also thrilled to be presenting BLACK SABBATH's first-ever performance in Japan."

The inaugural Ozzfest Japan lineup will be co-headlined by Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum rockers SLIPKNOT, who last performed in Japan in 2008. According to organizers, the festival will feature performances from a dynamic mix of international and domestic bands with the goal of establishing Ozzfest Japan as the leader in the Japanese rock festival market.

Despite Japan reigning as the second largest music market in the world, Ozzfest Japan 2013 will represent the first major international music festival to ever travel to the country.

"We are thrilled to open a new chapter for this legendary festival in Japan," H.I.P. President Massy Hayashi says of the significance of bringing Ozzfest to Japan. "I think it will be the perfect chance to bring together the very best international rock music and also give us a chance to show how far Japanese rock has come in recent years."

As of November 1, ticket prices are as follows: single-day tickets are JPY 14,000, weekend passes are JPY 27,000, weekend passes including an official festival t-shirt are JPY 30,000. All prices include consumption tax, box office commission and ticket printing fees.

Ozzfest, which began in 1996, has not been a traveling festival since 2007's "free" edition. The show morphed into a one-off event in Dallas in 2008, also featuring METALLICA, before taking 2009 off.

The 2010 U.S. Ozzfest played in just six cities, with OZZY OSBOURNE co-headlining with MÖTLEY CRÜE and the rest of the main stage filled out by HALFORD, the solo band of JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford, along with DEVILDRIVER and NONPOINT.

The aging festival faced increased competition in recent years from the annual Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem tour, as well as the Uproar festival.