PANTERA Ozzfest 2000 Diary Part 6 - Wrapup Page 2
by Madd Maxx Hammer

The next show on the tour was somewhere in Northern California. I was walking around outside the venue the day of the show and I ran into the original singer of the heavy metal group Exodus, Paul Baloff. He was looking real rough and was needing a ticket to get in. So I hooked him up. While talking with Baloff he told me Exodus has been back together for a few years. They have been touring and putting out albums. I remember seeing the original Exodus back in the mid-80's at a place called the Country Club in Reseda, California. At that show at the Country Club I talked with Baloff, however he did not remember our meeting. All he wanted was to get into the Ozzfest. His wish was granted. Phil of Pantera was sicker with no relief in site. Turns out Ozzy Osbourne was also sick. I mean real sick. Phil told me that the last time Pantera was on the Ozzfest in 1998, Ozzy got sick and cancelled some shows. That did not happen this time. Ozzy braved it.

Even though Phil was sick you would never know it to watch him on stage. Pantera leveled the crowds at each show. They are brutal live. I mean "brutal" in the positive sense.

The second Northern California show was in Sacramento and Phil was near death (not literally, so no rumors please!). The medics had to come out and tend to him. They hooked him to IV's and had him breathing mist and all kinds of remedies. It helped but still sick. Again the performance on stage was flawless regardless of the illness.

PANTERA Ozzfest 2000 Diary Part 6 - Wrapup Page 3