Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne announced in a press conference on Tuesday that this year�s Ozzfest will be completely free.

"It's free to get in, but we're charging you to get out," the festival's namesake rocker deadpanned after spray-painting the word "Free" on an Ozzfest banner.

"Everybody has been so good to us over the years, and year after year ticket prices get higher and higher and higher," Osbourne's wife and Ozzfest co-founder, Sharon, explained. "And we just thought we can't keep on raising ticket prices because there is not that much money out there anymore. Hey, kids can go online and download music, why not go to a show for free too? What the heck? Ozzy's got a new record coming out this year, he'll be touring the whole year. There is plenty of time to make money."

So far, only Ozzy as the headliner has been confirmed, the rest of the lineup will be announced in the next couple of weeks. None of the bands will be paid but they will take a cut of merchandise sales.

The event will rely on sponsorship to fund it, with J�germeister confirmed as sponsors at the press conference.

Ozzfest will launch in Los Angeles on July 7. in order to obtain the free tickets, fans must visit the tour's Web site to find links that will direct them to special sponsor sites where tickets can be secured.

"To see the crowd, it's just magic, man, and I love them," Ozzy said. "I'm not one of these rock and rollers that go, 'They are privileged to see me.' I'm privileged to see them. Because without them � this is why we are doing it for free � without them, none of us have got a chance."