System Of A Down To Headline Ozzfest 2002

NEW YORK (Top40 Charts) - System of a Down will be headlining the main stage at this year's Ozzfest.

"We're headlining it right before Ozzy," said bassist Shavo Odadjian backstage on the Sydney leg of the Big Day Out festival on Saturday (Jan. 26), which marked the start of the L.A.-based band's world tour.

"This is our third year on the Ozzfest," he continues. "The first year we played we were on the second stage, and we got recognized, you know? We played in '99 again, we played the main stage, first band. Now it's 2002 and we're doing it, and we're headlining the main stage. So that's pretty psychotic the cycle that life takes you to. And we're also doing Castle Donington [in the U.K.] this year."

In other SOAD news, expect a live DVD later in the year, which may be titled Down In Japan, a play on -- and homage to -- Deep Purple's classic live album, Made in Japan, according to Odadjian.

As previously reported, the band kicks off a U.S. tour on Feb. 14 in Las Vegas, and the band has been nominated for its first GRAMMY Award for Best Metal Performance for "Chop Suey!"