DEVORE, Calif. -- Thousands of rock fans staked out campsites near the massive US '83 Festival stage today, but only about a fourth of the tickets were sold in advance and the computer whiz staging the event is resigned to losing money again.
'It's going to be a significant loss,' Steven Wozniak said Thursday after analyzing the advance-ticket tally. Wozniak lost $4 million last Labor Day at his first US Festival.
Promoters of the three-day Memorial Day event said less than 250,000 of the 900,000 available tickets had been sold so far and the event has been plagued by charges of greed and racism and fears of heat and smog as well as last-minute lineup changes.
San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies, meanwhile, said about a thousand campers -- many from eastern states -- had already arrived at Glen Helen Regional Park to reserve the choicest spots in camping areas surrounding the big, green amphitheater in a mountain pass 60 miles east of Los Angeles.
Temperatures in the 90s were predicted for today's crowd, which was expected to swell to more than 100,000 by nightfall. They won't be allowed into the concert site until Saturday, however, when a new wave bash will feature The Clash, Stray Cats and Men at Work.
Sunday's concert, by far the biggest draw for advance tickets, has a heavy metal lineup with Van Halen, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne and Motley Crue.
The Memorial Day headliner is David Bowie, making his first U.S. concert appearance in five years, who will follow such rock stars as Stevie Nicks and Joe Walsh and groups like U-2, Berlin and the Pretenders.
Walsh was moved to Monday to replace John Cougar, who got knocked off the program this week after he refused to permit the usage of video footage from his performance in any upcoming film, cable or video cassette projects the US '83 promoters might put together.
Spokesman Mason Buck said there would not be any other announced changes, but noted the possibility of surprise appearances by performers associated with scheduled artists.
He refused to confirm rumors that Bruce Springsteen would appear with Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul or that Walsh or Miss Nicks would be joined by members of the now-disbanded Eagles or Fleetwood Mac.
'There's a lot of possibilities for friends of the artists to appear,' he added, 'but if they do it will be a surprise for everyone there. That's part of what makes a festival fun.'
The scheduled performers, secured for an estimated $18 million, will entertain the audience from a 432-foot stage surrounded by huge screens and a sound system blasting out 400,000 watts.
Wozniak, who made a fortune with his Apple Computer company and reportedly lost $4 million at his first festival over Labor Day, is expected to spend most of the weekend with a few friends on an island in a fenced-off lake behind the stage.
He will return the next weekend for a fourth concert, featuring country stars Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Alabama.
The event also features a technology fair, although only about 45 firms -- a third as many as last year -- will be on hand to display the latest in computer technology.
Most conspicuous by its absence will be Apple Computer, the firm Wozniak founded before retiring at 31. Marlene Wightman, trade show manager for Apple, said she wasn't able to work the US Festival into her schedule of shows.
