Columbus, OH's Rock on the Range has proved to be one of, if not the biggest U.S. rock festival of the year hosting over 100,00 rabid rock fans in Crew Stadium every May. It's almost like an unofficial kick-off to the spring/summer touring season as many tours typically converge at the three day festival.
Today, the lineup released a flyer with all the acts on the bill:
If you just want the text-version of the lineup:
Linkin Park
Slipknot
Judas Priest
Godsmack
Marilyn Manson
Breaking Benjamin
Rise Against
Volbeat
Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators
Papa Roach
Halestorm
Of Mice & Men
Ministry
Anthrax
Tech N9ne
In This Moment
Hollywood Undead
Live
Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts
Yelawolf
In Flames
Motionless In White
Saxon
Rival Sons
Falling In Reverse
Apocalyptica
Hatebreed
Periphery
Nonpoint
BabyMetal
The Devil Wears Prada
Dillinger Escape Plan
We Are Harlot
Starset
New Medicine
Beartooth
You Me At Six
Young Guns
Dorothy
Crobot
Shaman’s Harvest
Like A Storm
Unlocking The Truth
Islander
Marmozets
Sabatron
Upon A Burning Body
From Ashes To New
Red Son Rising
and Santa Cruz
More bands and comedians are expected to be announced but the real news for those of us who aren't in the immediate Columbus, OH area is that all of these bands will likely be on the road during this time. Columbus isn't exactly an easy town to fly in and out of so it wouldn't make sense for most of these bands to just do a one-off.
That means bands like Slipknot and Judas Priest will be touring this spring, possibly together? That would be a pretty crazy bill. Or maybe Slipknot will continue taking out 90s alt-metal acts like they did with Korn this past fall and then the bill would be Slipknot and Marilyn Manson for this spring. That certainly makes sense and seems like a great sell for fans of both.
Babymetal will also be playing the fest, so will they be actively touring, or just doing a few festival stops? We know Volbeat and Anthrax are touring together, adding to our theory. Some other bands that stick out on the bill are In Flames, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Periphery. Imagine if that was a tour? Or maybe Judas Priest, In Flames and Sabaton? That seems like a fun bill, plus Priest and In Flames share a label. Hatebreed is also on there and I could see them touring with Upon A Burining Body.
This is all obviously speculation. What tour packages would you see come out of this tour? Tickets are available at Rockontherange.com.
