 | Written by Timothy Cox Photography by Lilia Mattingly and Melaine Schweighardt (C) 2018 All rights reserved by www.metalmasterkingdom.com WELCOME TO ROCKVILLE 2018 @ Metropolitan Park Jacksonville, FL, USA April 27 + 28 + 29, 2018 Click here for our interviews with Texas Hippie Coalition, Butcher Babies, MDFK and Joyous Wolf. Another festival in the books, and more memories from it. Monster Energy’s 2018 Welcome To Rockville, produced by Danny Wimmer Presents hit Jacksonville, Florida with great anticipation and excitement. In its eighth year, the festival continues to deliver huge headline acts as it expanded the festival to its first three-day event. |
This year featured Ozzy Osbourne with Zakk Wylde on guitars, Avenged Sevenfold, Foo Fighters, Stone Sour, Queens Of The Stone Age, Andrew W.K., Butcher Babies, and Billy Idol. In customary fashion, it also offered fans a glimpse of new and upcoming bands such as MDFK, Joyous Wolf, The Fever 333, and Spirit Animal. Of course, the festival gave us some veteran bands that always rock on the smaller stages like Sevendust, Bullet For My Valentine, Clutch and The Used.
After hearing about this year’s line up, I was a little skeptical about Ozzy Osbourne performing due to his history of the throat related injuries and conditions affecting his vocals that have led him to cancel other tours and shows. This has nothing to do with his willingness, or desire to perform, it’s just a matter of fact. However, the 69-year-old godfather of heavy metal delivered an amazing show in true Ozzy fashion.
Supported by a fantastic stage production of lights and pyrotechnics. The group played flawlessly. To no surprise, and for those who have never seen Zakk Wylde play, his performance—undoubtedly unbelievable. Halfway through the band's performance, Zakk Wylde jumped off the stage, and performed in between, and on the crowd barricades. He stood there thrashing and wailing on his guitar combining different segments of songs (Miracle Man/Crazy Babies/Desire/Perry Mason) effortlessly into one massive guitar solo. When he finally finished, and returned to the stage, everyone in the crowd was in complete disbelief at what they had just witnessed. I at one point could not believe what just had occurred, and after knocking my senses back to reality, I was able to enjoy the rest of Ozzy’s performance.
With all the great action and excitement happening, there was some heartbreak, that doesn’t include the empty bank accounts from all the money spent on high priced food, drinks, and swag. During Avenged Sevenfold’s performance, Chris Martin, a 41-year-old father, was crowd surfing when he was thrown and dropped straight on his head during the bands performance. M. Shadows, the lead singer of the band saw what had happened and literally stopped the show for medical rescue. It was later made know that Mr. Martin suffered a broken neck and spinal injuries. Thanks to the constant updates from fans on the “Welcome To Rockville-Rockvillians” Facebook page, Martin is in good health, recovering, and looking forward to next year’s festival.
Thankfully the festival closed the last day on a great note with Billy Idol and the Foo Fighters bringing the fun to the crowd. A fun spirited and gleeful Idol rocked the crowd with all of his hits, and fans of all ages were singing along to his songs. By the time Foo Fighters were set to play, all the “rebel yell” excitement had carried over for the days’ main event—and this was definitely worth the wait. The Foo Fighters came out and brought all the fun that comes with them. Providing the crowd with a two-hour, 18 song set, that brought plenty of surprises along the way.
Two-thirds through their set, as the band began to cover John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth,” out comes Billy Idol to join in on the fun. As the crowd exploded, it just got better. As the very next song started, the Grease hit “You’re The One That I Want,” John Travolta came out on stage. It was a massive uproar of excitement and the Foo Fighters most certainly felt it from the crowd. And in typical fashion, Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters ended their set, and the festival, with “Everlong.” As everyone cheered for them finally, we all wanted much more, but we all hung our heads and simply proceeded to the exit.
Exhausted, sweaty, and our ears still ringing from rocking out for three straight days, this year’s Monster Energy’s 2018 Welcome To Rockville was a success. Just like all the “Rockvillians”, I am really looking forward to see what the lineup is for 2019.
After hearing about this year’s line up, I was a little skeptical about Ozzy Osbourne performing due to his history of the throat related injuries and conditions affecting his vocals that have led him to cancel other tours and shows. This has nothing to do with his willingness, or desire to perform, it’s just a matter of fact. However, the 69-year-old godfather of heavy metal delivered an amazing show in true Ozzy fashion.
Supported by a fantastic stage production of lights and pyrotechnics. The group played flawlessly. To no surprise, and for those who have never seen Zakk Wylde play, his performance—undoubtedly unbelievable. Halfway through the band's performance, Zakk Wylde jumped off the stage, and performed in between, and on the crowd barricades. He stood there thrashing and wailing on his guitar combining different segments of songs (Miracle Man/Crazy Babies/Desire/Perry Mason) effortlessly into one massive guitar solo. When he finally finished, and returned to the stage, everyone in the crowd was in complete disbelief at what they had just witnessed. I at one point could not believe what just had occurred, and after knocking my senses back to reality, I was able to enjoy the rest of Ozzy’s performance.
With all the great action and excitement happening, there was some heartbreak, that doesn’t include the empty bank accounts from all the money spent on high priced food, drinks, and swag. During Avenged Sevenfold’s performance, Chris Martin, a 41-year-old father, was crowd surfing when he was thrown and dropped straight on his head during the bands performance. M. Shadows, the lead singer of the band saw what had happened and literally stopped the show for medical rescue. It was later made know that Mr. Martin suffered a broken neck and spinal injuries. Thanks to the constant updates from fans on the “Welcome To Rockville-Rockvillians” Facebook page, Martin is in good health, recovering, and looking forward to next year’s festival.
Thankfully the festival closed the last day on a great note with Billy Idol and the Foo Fighters bringing the fun to the crowd. A fun spirited and gleeful Idol rocked the crowd with all of his hits, and fans of all ages were singing along to his songs. By the time Foo Fighters were set to play, all the “rebel yell” excitement had carried over for the days’ main event—and this was definitely worth the wait. The Foo Fighters came out and brought all the fun that comes with them. Providing the crowd with a two-hour, 18 song set, that brought plenty of surprises along the way.
Two-thirds through their set, as the band began to cover John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth,” out comes Billy Idol to join in on the fun. As the crowd exploded, it just got better. As the very next song started, the Grease hit “You’re The One That I Want,” John Travolta came out on stage. It was a massive uproar of excitement and the Foo Fighters most certainly felt it from the crowd. And in typical fashion, Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters ended their set, and the festival, with “Everlong.” As everyone cheered for them finally, we all wanted much more, but we all hung our heads and simply proceeded to the exit.
Exhausted, sweaty, and our ears still ringing from rocking out for three straight days, this year’s Monster Energy’s 2018 Welcome To Rockville was a success. Just like all the “Rockvillians”, I am really looking forward to see what the lineup is for 2019.
BILLY IDOL / BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
(C) 2018 All rights reserved by www.metalmasterkingdom.com
Photo credits: Melaine Schweighardt and Lilia Mattingly
(C) 2018 All rights reserved by www.metalmasterkingdom.com
Photo credits: Melaine Schweighardt and Lilia Mattingly
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BLACK VEIL BRIDES / BREAKING BENJAMIN
(C) 2018 All rights reserved by www.metalmasterkingdom.com
Photo credit: Melaine Schweighardt
(C) 2018 All rights reserved by www.metalmasterkingdom.com
Photo credit: Melaine Schweighardt
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BUTCHER BABIES / CLUTCH
(C) 2018 All rights reserved by www.metalmasterkingdom.com
Photo credit: Melaine Schweighardt
(C) 2018 All rights reserved by www.metalmasterkingdom.com
Photo credit: Melaine Schweighardt
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GRETA VAN FLEET / POP EVIL
(C) 2018 All rights reserved by www.metalmasterkingdom.com
Photo credits: Melaine Schweighardt and Lilia Mattingly
(C) 2018 All rights reserved by www.metalmasterkingdom.com
Photo credits: Melaine Schweighardt and Lilia Mattingly
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QUICKSAND / SEVENDUST
(C) 2018 All rights reserved by www.metalmasterkingdom.com
Photo credit: Melaine Schweighardt
(C) 2018 All rights reserved by www.metalmasterkingdom.com
Photo credit: Melaine Schweighardt
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STONE SOUR / STONE TEMPLE PILOTS
(C) 2018 All rights reserved by www.metalmasterkingdom.com
Photo credit: Melaine Schweighardt
(C) 2018 All rights reserved by www.metalmasterkingdom.com
Photo credit: Melaine Schweighardt
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THRICE / ASKING ALEXANDRIA
(C) 2018 All rights reserved by www.metalmasterkingdom.com
Photo credit: Lilia Mattingly
(C) 2018 All rights reserved by www.metalmasterkingdom.com
Photo credit: Lilia Mattingly
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