OZZY Fans Hated FEAR FACTORY So Much In 1996 They Accidentally Bought BURTON C. BELL A Beer

Ozzy Osbourne returned to touring in 1996 after a brief retirement from the road. The tour was aptly named The Retirement Sucks Tour and featured – among others – Fear Factory as one of the openers.

In a recent interview with the Everblack podcast, former Fear Factory vocalist Burton C. Bell said the European Ozzy fans hated Fear Factory so much that they threw coins at them… which Bell used to buy a beer. I guess throwing money at a band you hate is the equivalent of buying their records to burn ’em – you’re still giving them money.

“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.”

In the same interview, Bell also recalled a more positive experience when Fear Factory opened for Black Sabbath for their first reunion in 1999.

“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.’