Day two of Rocklahoma (ROK) apparently was never destined to happen. ROK is part of a series of multi-day Hard Rock and Heavy Metal music festivals planned by AEG and billed as the World’s Loudest Month from late April to early June. This tenth edition of Rocklahoma features a healthy dose of AEG’s emerging Active Rock talent mixed with Traditional Heavy Metal bands of the ROK legacy. It is located in northeast Oklahoma, an area infamous for volatile weather in America regularly wreaking havoc on outdoor activities. It’s very Rock ‘n’ Roll.
First, the tragic passing of Chris Cornell led to Soundgarden cancelling the headlining performance. Next, severe thunderstorms developed. Lightning within miles forced the evacuation of 30,000 fans from the festival grounds to the parking lots and campgrounds. While everyone waited for the storm to pass, high wind and driving rain moved in. Ultimately, ROK cancelled the show when the severe storm cells continued to develop … as they tend to do in Oklahoma … in May.
Zakk Sabbath highlighted the scheduled line-up with The Cult, Diamond Head, Suicidal Tendencies, Stone Sour and Live also on tap. Zakk Sabbath was the only artist who took the stage this night at 6 p.m. Taking the stage to a recording of Black Sabbath’s “Black Sabbath” with its tolling bell, booms of thunder, and the sound of rain was prophetic. The band tore into their set like they were racing the clock. Fans rocked to five songs before the ROK staff advised fans to evacuate the grounds at 6:20 p.m. To the band’s credit, they soldiered on even as the fans were leaving. Highlights included the set’s opening song “Supernaut” and a crushing take of “Children Of The Grave”.
Once outside the grounds fans waited in the parking lots, in the campsites, and queued in vehicles at the gate for the next four hours hoping the weather would clear allowing the show to go on. Ultimately, ROK cancelled the show at 10:15 p.m. The day three forecast is for Rock with no chance of thunderstorms.
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