In a brand new dialog with Child Huey and Chasta of San Francisco’s 107.7 The Bone, Chevelle drummer Sam Loeffler opened up a few chaotic chapter within the band’s historical past involving Ozzfest 2003 — and a heated monetary dispute with Ozzy Osbourne‘s spouse and supervisor, Sharon Osbourne.
Loeffler recounted how Chevelle had been confirmed to play Ozzfest’s most important stage that 12 months, alongside Marilyn Manson, Disturbed, Korn, and Ozzy Osbourne himself. However earlier than that trek started, the band was supplied a handful of sold-out help slots opening for Foo Fighters in Europe.
“Our agent known as and stated, ‘Foo Fighters is doing these 4 exhibits. They’re all offered out, however they want someone to open. Would you guys wanna do it?’ … Our file label calls supposedly Sharon and stated, ‘Hey, is it okay, since these guys are booked to do Ozzfest, is it okay in the event that they do these exhibits? It isn’t gonna have an effect on ticket gross sales.’ Ozzfest was all offered out. The Foo Fighters exhibits have been offered out. It did not have an effect on something. She’s, like, ‘Yeah, that is positive.’ They usually paid us $7,500 to do the 4 exhibits every, so it was 30 grand.”
Issues took a flip when Chevelle flew abroad. “We go to Europe and we’re in Europe, and our supervisor calls and says, ‘You bought kicked off Ozzfest for doing these Foo Fighters exhibits.’ And we’re, like, ‘What are you speaking about?’ … Apparently one way or the other it occurred the place, I do not know if she did not keep in mind that that they had talked to her about it or if when someone did speak to about her about it, it was another person that gave the message or no matter.”
In accordance with Loeffler, Sharon supplied a easy — if not brutal — resolution: “So our label man will get a maintain of Sharon, and he or she goes, ‘Effectively, how a lot cash did you make at Foo Fighters?’ [He was,] like, ‘Effectively, $30,000.’ So we have been getting paid 10 grand a present to do Ozzfest. … Sharon goes, ‘Pay me the $30,000 that you simply made at Foo Fighters and you may be again on the tour.’ Yeah, they did not pay us the final three exhibits [at Ozzfest], which was 30 grand. [Laughs]”
In the long run, the band, their agent, and their label every chipped in $10,000 to cowl Sharon‘s demand, which Loeffler now chalks as much as greater behind-the-scenes disputes between Osbourne‘s camp and their then-label, Epic Data: “In hindsight, I’d say that most likely there was some shit that we did not find out about that was happening between her and her individuals and possibly our label or one thing like that.
“Possibly it even got here down that we have been simply kind of collateral injury. However that is what really occurred. So, our agent paid 10 grand, our label paid 10 grand after which we paid 10 grand of the 30.”
Regardless of the ordeal, Loeffler appears to be like again on Ozzfest 2003 with humor: “[But] it was a extremely enjoyable tour. We received into a number of hassle. It was nice. Completely price it. Yeah.”
Enter your data under to get a each day replace with all of our headlines and obtain The Orchard Metallic publication.
