Ozzfest [ tickets ] fans have spoken: They like free tickets. The hard-rock festival's free-ticket giveaway went over like gangbusters, with 428,000 passes distributed over four days.

According to organizers, the feat set the record for the largest number of free tickets distributed in the US in the history of the concert business.

Concert-promotions giant Live Nation performed the massive giveaway through its website and various sponsor sites. Beginning June 8, fans entered exclusive codes to obtain tickets to one of the 24 Ozzfest [ tickets ] dates. More than 228,000 passes were distributed June 12 alone, with the last one given away just after midnight, according to organizers.

"Together, we have pulled off the ultimate gift for music fans this summer, a free Ozzfest," Live Nation Global Digital President Bryan Perez said in a statement. "Through LiveNation.com, we connected Ozzfest with nearly half a million music fans to create an exciting moment for the live music business and we couldn't be happier with the results."

This year, the 12th annual installment of Ozzfest will find Ozzy Osbourne [ tickets ] on the main stage alongside Static X, Lamb of God [ tickets ] and Finnish band Lordi. The second stage will feature headliner Hatebreed [ tickets ] with Behemoth, Mondo Generator, Nile, Ankla, Circus Diablo, The Showdown, 3 Inches of Blood, Daath, Chthonic and In This Moment.

The hard-rock extravaganza, dubbed "Freefest" by tour organizers, will kick off July 12 in Auburn, WA, and hit US amphitheaters from coast to coast through August. Dates are listed below.

Osbourne, who surprised fans last year with a handful of second-stage performances, is returning to the headlining slot with a new album under his belt. "Black Rain," the rocker's first set of new material in six years, debuted at No. 3 on The Billboard 200 last month.