Tool at OzzFest 1998 Tour Reviews

Date: 0721


Review written by: JM (JMiller24@hotmail.com) Review posted on: 08/31/98 23:12:50 Of all of the bands at Ozz Fest, Tool had to be the best one. When they starrted into their first set, the mosh pit exploded from about 20 ft around to about 50-60 ft! They just kick ass and hope I'll get this chance again.

Review written by: sonofmaynard (thirdeye.com) Review posted on: 08/11/98 13:56:18 All I have to say is that what everyone tells you about being in their seat and seeing a monster sod fight can kiss my ass because I was right in the middle of it! It was fierce! My friend and I got off a couple of 5 foot by 5 foot sections a few times. It ruled. Tool is definately a show to see by themselves though. Just sit back and watch Danny Carey play some skins and you will nut yourself!!!

Review written by: jeni-sugar-t (janoli@aol.com) Review posted on: 08/11/98 02:13:14 This show was great! The highlights for me personally were Snot, L.O.A., and of course Tool. Tools set was seemingly short, but definately worth my 2 hour drive to Columbus. The grass-throwing was a little out of hand, but nothing could distract me from Tool's performance. This was my first Tool show, and I guarantee it definately wont be my last. P.S. thanks again to the guys behind me that were catching the sod before it hit me. You guys rule!!!

Review written by: Jim (jim@bucksatan.net) Review posted on: 08/10/98 07:08:25 It has been over a year and a half since the last time I saw Tool and I was totally anxious of seeing them again. I made sure not to read any reviews about them because I knew Tool would surprise me and boy did they ever. First of all their stage setup was a tad bit different than most bands. Danny's drum kit was on the left side and it just was one big musical line. Instead of where the drums used to be was this big cylinder which later turned out to be a movie screen. The most surprising part of their setup had to be how Maynard James Keenan was dressed. He came out dressed like a tv evangelist wearing a light blue suit, white dress shirt, white wig and carrying a bible. Maynard greeted the crowd and everyone cheered but he said "I can't hear you" so everyone cheered again. Almost half of the set was Opiate stuff including the opener Part of Me. This was really pleasing because before I had only heard Opiate live. Before Hush Maynard asked if anyone wanted to hear a joke? He then said "Knock Knock" "Who's There" "FUCK" "Fuck Who" "FUCK YOU!!!" It was classic. After that Maynard grabbed his bible and quoted from the Book of Mayhem, Chapter 1 Verse 3 followed by "now what jesus means here is that everyone needs to take off their clothes." Stinkfist played and then during the extended instrumental part Maynard does a little strip dance and ends up in just his boxers. After the song Maynard said to everyone "I see you all are still wearing your clothes. You must be sinners. You are all going to Hell." Nothing special happened after that until Ênema started and Maynard dedicated it to his boyfriend. "Chris something (I think), in the grey shirt running away in the front" Which was followed by "This song is about water sports." By this time the lawn started up their typical (happened last year) sod throwing. It didn't stop until Tool left the stage and even then it kept on going. Someone from Ozzfest / Tool filmed about a minute of it from off the stage on the right. Tool is never a dissapointment live.

Review written by: Bobo (dislove@hotmail.com) Review posted on: 08/06/98 19:43:56 Yeah, ozzfest was like 2 weeks ago but i just read the reviews here and there were a few things that didn't seem right. First of all, Coal Chamber is NOT a korn clone, the two bands have been around almost the same amount of time and both bands are evolving into two totally different groups if you listen to their new music. Yes, Megadeth sucks. We ALL know. but anyway. i saw tool before in Lewiston, ME and they were so much better then. They did kinda storm off the stage at Ozzfest because nobody was paying attention to them, everyone was watching the flying grass (which i admit was kinda cool). but someone said maynard flipped off the lawn during Hush, but there was no flying grass then so why would he? plus how could you tell who the fuck he was flipping off? by the way, System of a Down was by FAR the best band on the second stage. Life of Agony was alright but i got fucking sick of the lead singer yelling at the audience and telling us to jump around and raise our arms and shit. and did anyone else count how many times sevendust yelled "We're sevendust!!!!!"

Review written by: Layne Crouch (starcreator@earthlink.net) Review posted on: 08/03/98 01:51:09 You know it is weird when you go to see a band and when they come out you are just so amazed at what you see that you can't help but just STARE. Tool was better than any band their, it should be ToolFest 98. When Anemia was played the crowd went so nuts the sod on teh ground was torn to bits and thrown all over the arena. The thing that was so neat was they sound just liek teh record, which most bands just can't do.

Review written by: Sk (skippy@mrmicro.net) Review posted on: 07/28/98 15:40:47 TOOL kicked ASS . they were awesome at this ozzfest concert. although there most likely awesome at every ozzfest and non ozzfest concert!! when tool came out the crowd went nuts , everyone stood up . There wasnt one person in the whole place that wasnt standing ; then when they started singing aenema , all the people on the lawn went nuts , and started ripping grass and dirt out of the ground and throwing it at everyone. TOOL was better and more exciting than ozzy in my opinion . anyone here that hasnt seen tool yet , go see them , you wont be sorry .

Review written by: Renee (bonghit11@hotmail.com) Review posted on: 07/24/98 16:16:42 First off, I thought Ozz-fest basically kicked ass... Soulfly seemed to play forever and it got terribly boring but the rest of the bands were awesome. Tool just kicked all ass.. they were by far the best. I myself was in the mosh pit during anemia and jerk-off and I was in the middle of all the sod throwing.. I will admit it was awesome at first to see the crowd get so into it.. but after a while of getting pegged with little pieces of rock and dirt it got old and annoying.. Maynard seemed particularly pissed at this because at the end of it all he just stormed off stage..which in it's own sense sucked. I agree with some of the other reviews that Tool should go on tour with mainly themselves, I would really love to see a full length Tool concert.....bu t to all of those that listen to Tool's music... U Kick ASS !!!!

Review written by: thatoneguy (thatoneguy@hotmail.com) Review posted on: 07/24/98 14:15:55 i have no idea why everyone else thought the show was so great, it seemed to me that maynerd got pissed and stormed off after an extremely short set, it seemed like he got particulary pissed off at the lawn section, during hush his middle finger was aimed directly at the lawn area, and after Ênema he seemed more pissed than ever, finishing with a very quick jerk off, with the ending of fuck you up your fucking ass! i didnt hear any goodnight or anything, he just threw down the mike and stormed off, i would be pretty suprised if he did another ozzfest/lollapalooza type tour again, unless it was something silly like lillith fair/lezfest. anyway, the songs were all good but very short. and the show in toledo that was a non-ozz show was a million times better.

Review written by: Rob Howe (howerobe@pilot.msu.edu) Review posted on: 07/23/98 10:49:50 I drove 600 miles to see TOOL and I would havew to say that this was time in a car well spent. As much as I like these all day fests like Lallapalpoza I would really like for TOOL to stop playing them and tour mainly by themselves. My main reason for saying this is that their set list is always smaller than that of a TOOL only show. I saw TOOL at Wings Stadium last week (check out my review July 15th), by themseleves with the exception of the melvins, and the show was much longer and more personal. But what are you going to do? I guess seeing TOOL anywhere is pretty fucking cool. I paid 40 bucks for a ticket and TOOL played 8 songs, I guess paying 5 bucks a song isn'that bad of deal. I will say this about the flying sod, it really started kicking up during Aenima. Seeing that this song has themes pertaining to the end of the world as we know it I found the uprooting of the earth and sending flying through the air kinda fitting and entertaining. From where I was standing it seemed as if TOOL's energy was tearing up the lawn. It was like seeing the effects of a tornado without the funnel cloud. Crazy shit is bound to happen at a TOOL concert. Besides when a place charges $6 a beer and $6 for parking and $2 for a fucking glass of water and ,well you get the idea, they can afford to buy some new grass after Ozzfest moves on. All and all TOOL put on a great show And I'll definitly drive another 600 to see them again.

Review written by: Matt (Unearth381@aol.com) Review posted on: 07/23/98 10:03:05 Well after driving for hours in the sweltering heat to get to Columbus, I was really ready to hear Tool. After sitting through tons of Korn rip off bands and a neverending set by Megadeth, Tool finally took the stage. It was only around like 8:00 pm so it was still light out, which I thought would take away from the show. Maynard came out in a suit and a wig, you already know from the rest of the reviews, along with the rest of the band. The first song was Part Of Me, I really didn't think that they would play that one. I won't bore you with writting the rest of the set list, but iI will tell you that it was great. The band during the show seamed kinda tierd I guess. They really didn't move much, and talk to the crowd, but the music is so good that it speaks for its self. Then during Aenima the lawn people got the great idea of throwing sod. At first it was kinda cool, but then it got out of hand. It seemed as if Tool was upset about it, they didn't talk in between Aenima and Jerk Off, and when the show was over they left with a simple "goodnight." In all, I gave the show a flat A because it was a great show but seemed to lack a personal feeling. Check out my review of the Toledo show.

Review written by: Dave (raidr@choice.net) Review posted on: 07/23/98 00:36:05 What's up everyone.. this was my first OzzFest.. kicked ass. Tool played a great set. Their setlist was already mentioned so I won't bother posting it again. The crowd finally woke up a little bit towards the end of Tool. It was crazy. The sod shit was fucking nuts. Anyway, I won't bother mentioning anything people already talked about so I'll just talk a little about some of the other bands that played. Melvins: Second Stage openers. Sucked. (D) Kilgore: Pretty cool, good sound. (B) System of a Down: Best second stage, kicked ass. (A) Snot: One of the best. (B+) Incubus: Didn't see em. Life of Agony: Only saw a little, kick ass. (A-) Monster Voodoo Machine: Didn't see em. Motothead: Didn't see em. Ultraspank (1st Stage Opener): Cool band, good live. (B) Sevendust: Great live, as always. (A-) Coal Chamber: Good Setlist and performance. (B+) Soulfly: Kick ass, did some Sepultura. (A) Limp Bizkit: Fuckin great, got the crowd going. GREAT live, as always. (A+) Megadeth: Kick ass too, more people were into em. (A-) Tool: What can I say. (A+) Ozzy: Great shit, funny movies. Awesome show! (A+) Catch ya later.. -Raidr

Review written by: Woody (Mw13pw13) Review posted on: 07/22/98 07:12:46 Tool in Columbus! July 21,1998.....OZZFEST '98 This was my fourth time seeing Tool on this Aenima tour. Newport Music Hall in '96, Hara Arena in '97, Lallapallooza in '97 and now '98 Ozzfest. Here is the set list, saw it on the light guy's board: PART OF ME HUSH STINKFIST CRAWL AWAY SOBER EULOGY AENIMA JERK OFF They played for 55 minutes. Short and sweet, no bullshit. So it was extremly HOT day, like 92 or 93 degrees. Everybody dying!!! Ok, showtime was 8pm exactly. The Polaris Ampitheater was almost full. All of the lawn area was packed. Tool walked out and Maynard said " Hello , I don't hear you." Maynard spoke to the crowd more at this show than I've ever heard before. Danny wore a black t-shirt with Tool on the front, Maynard was in his grey suit with black tie and white curly wig, Adam was wearing a red t-shirt and black pants and Justin was shirtless with pants. Started off with Part Of Me. Crowd a little lame in the beginning. Hush sounded awesome! Maynard spoke to the crowd again and read from the bible. Said " God wants you to take off your clothes." They then played Stinkfist.....very cool. Now the crowd was getting into it more. Before Crawl Away, MJK said, " We were all sinners for not taking our clothes off." Of course by this time he was stripped down to his comfortable boxers. He did one knock knock joke with the crowd. The fuck you one. In the middle of the set he was leaning down to some guy in the front and was talking to him for a few seconds. Before they played either Eulogy or Aenima he said " I want to dedicate this song to my boyfriend." This was the guy that was down front. MJK said," there he goes trying to scurry away now." Now was the part of the show when the lawn got super rowdy. I was in the lower pavillion, safe from everything. The guys kicked into Aenima and the place went CRAZY!!! This was there best song I thought. Huge mosh pit got even bigger and tons and tons of sod started flying everywhere. People ripping it up and whipping it at each other and into the air. Then they started throwing it into the pavillion. One of my friends I saw at the end was telling me he was in the pit for a few minutes. He said any girl that got in and crowd surfed, got her top ripped off. Tits all over the place. One chick even took hers off voluntarily for them. Awesome I bet!!! Tool had some nice video's running during the set. Sober had the people lined up walking into each other going now where. And also there was a new one I hadn't seen of eye surgery being performed. Lots of trippy lights and images enhanced my viewing pleasure. They ended the show with Jerk Off. Lawn crowd still outrageous. Still throwing sod all over the place. Now it was coming into the lower part of the pavillion. They had to cover up the other bands sound gear it was so bad for a while. Anyway.....I thought it was a good performance. Justin had some trouble early in the set on Stinkfist. Looked like he needed another bass. Generally speaking it wasn't as good as Newport or Dayton but partly because those were their own 90 minutes shows. All in all I enjoyed it. Wished for Pushit, but oh well. Quick synopsis of Ozzfest: Limp Bizkit-- best crowd participation award, singer was out close to the lawn mosh pit. Sevendust--very very tight band, sound was great. Soulfly-- was honestly a let down. Same old shit. Incubus-- 311 ? Snot-- best band I saw on the 2nd stage. Megadeth--guitar band, lots of hair. Coal Chamber-- cool as hell, great opening intro tape. And last but not least, Motorhead-- Lemmy was Lemmy, sound was horrible, worst of all bands, honestly. But still it was the Iron Fist. Take care every body have a great summer.......peace Woody

Review written by: Master Reviewer (kjo@aol.com) Review posted on: 07/22/98 03:23:14 THIS SHOW WAS CANCEL DUE TO A BOMB THRET.....NO NEW'S ON WHEN IT WILL BE PLAYED..

Review written by: bryce (bryce@bgnet.bgsu.edu) Review posted on: 07/22/98 02:25:15 The concert was great!! I think I would have enjoyed it a little more if I was not constantly on the lookout for chunks of sod and dirt. It was fun anyway. The setlist was already posted, but I will add a few comments that Maynard made. He brought out his Bible and told the crowd to get out theirs, he said "I know that you brought them." He then quoted a verse from the Book of Mayhem, Chapter 1, Verse 3. He said that God punishes sinners by casting them out before their peers, or something like that . He then said that we all had to many clothes on and would go straight to HELL...unless we took some clothes off. Maynard also said "This is a song about water sports." before "aenema". That's about it. The show was great.

Review written by: wrench (nineinchwrench@hotmail.com) Review posted on: 07/22/98 00:59:29 the setlist: 1. part of me 2. hush 3. stinkfist 4. sober 5. crawl away 6. eulogy 7. Ênema 8. jerk-off highlights: maynard told a joke as follows: maynard: knock, knock crowd: who's there? maynard: fuck crowd: fuck who? tool then precedes with hush (which starts with fuck you!) during Ênema people in the back yard area went crazy and started throwing grass, dirt and cups everywhere. they went fucking crazy. notes: maynard came out in his preacher type of outfit (wig, suit) which he took off during the extended middle part of stinkfist. this is my second tool show and i thought it was one of the greatest things i have ever witnessed