Features
Sabbath Headlining Rock am Ring
Black Sabbath is embarking on its very last world tour next year and German promoter MLK has managed to secure the band for its twin Rock am Ring and Rock im Park festivals, both of which take place June 3-5 next year.
Photo: John Davisson
MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa, Fla.
Black Sabbath looks back on an almost 50-year-long career. Both German festivals have quite some history to show as well. While it was Rock am Ring’s 30th anniversary last year, Rock im Park turned 20 in 2015.
The birthday party almost fell through though because of the dispute between MLK and Capricorn Nürburgring GmbH, the operators of Rock am Ring’s long-standing venue, the Nürburgring. After 29 years the festival had to move to the airfield in Mendig where it will take place for the second time in 2016.
Last year’s anniversary editions of Rock im Park and Rock am Ring attracted a total of 170,000 festivalgoers. While the premiere of Rock am Ring at the new location sold out (90,000 visitors), it failed to turn a profit. Marek Lieberberg, who has since joined Live Nation Germany, said back then that it is almost impossible working profitably at a new site in the first year.
Besides Black Sabbath the 2016 editions of Rock im Park and Rock am Ring will feature Red Hot Chili Peppers, Biffy Clyro, Major Lazer, Volbeat and Rudimental.