Former Fear Factory frontman remembers hostile European tour with Ozzy

Following a brief hiatus from touring, Ozzy Osbourne resumed his career in 1996. Fear Factory was one of the opening acts on the tour, which was appropriately titled “The Retirement Sucks Tour”. Former Fear Factory frontman Burton C. Bell claimed in a recent interview with the Everblack podcast that the European Ozzy fans were so hostile against Fear Factory that they hurled coins at them, which Bell then used to purchase a beer.

Fear Factory had been opening for Ozzy already on his ‘Retirement Sucks’ tour, which was, like, ’96. And we did three months throughout the United States and Europe. And Europe was fucking tough, because we were the only opening band and all those people in Europe, they didn’t wanna see us. They just wanted to see Ozzy. So they were just literally standing there watching us. And I’m in the front singing, just [with my middle finger extended]. And after every one of our shows, they just threw shrapnel up — coins. And I collected enough coins to buy a beer. It was worth it. I got spat on a lot.

However, it wasn’t always this horrible. Bell also recalled a more favorable experience at Black Sabbath‘s first reunion in 1999, when Fear Factory opened for the band.

I remember the first time, very first Black Sabbath reunion, Fear Factory was the only opening band. It was ’99 in Birmingham at the NEC. And we were the only opening band. And I remember standing while Black Sabbath was playing. Henry Rollins was there, and I’m standing next to this tall dude. I’m, like, looking up. I’m, like, ‘It’s fucking Brian May. Holy fuck. I’m standing next to Brian May. Holy fuck.’