During a recent interview with Metal Hammer, Matt Heafy, singer and guitarist of Trivium, returned to a notable episode of the Ozzfest tour in 2005. That year, a controversy broke out between Bruce Dickinson, singer of Iron Maiden , and Sharon Osbourne, festival organizer and wife of the legendary Ozzy Osbourne. Trivium found himself unwillingly at the heart of this feud after refusing to participate in an attack on Dickinson, which caused him serious inconvenience.
Rising tension between Bruce Dickinson and Sharon Osbourne
It all started during Ozzfest 2005, a festival where Iron Maiden shared the bill with Black Sabbath. Bruce Dickinson, lead singer of Iron Maiden, did not mince his words on stage, criticizing the television series The Osbournes, in which Ozzy Osbourne appeared with his family. Sharon Osbourne, who didn’t appreciate the remarks, orchestrated a response against Dickinson during the final concert of the tour in Los Angeles.
Sharon allegedly incited around 20 people, including medical staff who had treated her during chemotherapy, to throw eggs at Bruce Dickinson during the Iron Maiden show. Power outages were also observed during their performance, disrupting the group’s set. Sharon Osbourne, in 2022, took responsibility for her actions in an interview, explaining: “If you don’t love someone, you leave. But you don’t stay, just to take the money and continue to criticize.”
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Trivium refuses to take sides
While on this same tour, Matt Heafy and his Trivium comrades were asked to take part in the attack on Dickinson. During the interview with Metal Hammer, Heafy recalled: “Some of the Ozzfest team asked us, ‘Do you want to throw eggs at Iron Maiden?’ We said, ‘Why the hell would we do that?’”
Not only did Trivium refuse this proposal, but the musicians also decided to clearly show their support for Iron Maiden. During several of their concerts, the band members wore Iron Maiden t-shirts on stage and even covered the classic The Trooper to pay tribute to their Metal heroes.
Daily intimidation
Refusing to follow Sharon Osbourne was not without consequences for Trivium. According to Matt Heafy, the group paid dearly for this decision, both financially and morally. They had already paid $30,000 to join the tour, covering the costs of renting a bus and hiring a technical crew. But the intimidation they received during the rest of Ozzfest made the experience even more difficult. Heafy says: “We were bullied like we were still in high school. The Ozzfest crew drove their golf carts right in front of our faces, spraying us with dust. Paolo [Gregoletto, bassiste] even almost got arrested at one of the concerts.”
These incidents left a lasting mark on Trivium. The band has never been invited back to Ozzfest since, except recently, conditionally. Heafy said: “We were recently told that if we apologized, maybe we could do the tour again one day.”
Support that pays
While the experience was traumatic at the time, Trivium ultimately benefited from its support of Iron Maiden. In a 2020 interview, Heafy revealed that Iron Maiden invited them to tour with them after these events, showing their appreciation for the group’s gesture.
“I don’t know if it’s because of what we did, but they liked The Crusade, our album at the time. It allowed us to understand who our true friends were and it made us stronger.”
Ozzfest on hold, but a possible return?
Ozzfest hasn’t taken place since 2018, but Sharon Osbourne hinted earlier this year that the festival could make a return in the future. If this were to come to fruition, it remains to be seen whether Trivium would participate again, especially after the conditions set for a possible return.
A European tour for Trivium and Bullet For My Valentine in 2025
This eventful episode past, Trivium continues to evolve on the international metal scene. In 2025, they will go on a European tour alongside Bullet For My Valentine to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their respective albums Ascendancy and The Poison. The Poisoned Ascendancy World Tour will stop in several countries, with dates planned in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg:
- February 5: Zurich, Switzerland – The Hall
- February 7: Paris, France – Le Zénith
- February 9: Antwerp, Belgium – Lotto Arena
- February 23: Luxembourg – Rockhal
This tour promises to be an unmissable event for fans of both groups, who will have the opportunity to rediscover live albums that marked the Metalcore scene in the 2000s.
With these statements, Matt Heafy reminds that Trivium’s journey has not always been easy, but that their choices have shaped them. This 2025 tour promises to be a comeback for the group, which continues to defend its values and musical influences.
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