RAPID CITY - Elton John was oh, so close to coming to Rapid City.

The legendary pop star, who recently announced the opening stops on his U.S. tour later this month would be in Bozeman, Missoula and Casper, had been in negotiations with the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center for months.

But a date conflict couldn't be resolved, so Sir Elton will be playing in Sioux Falls instead.

"AEG (Elton John's management group) were asking for a hold on Oct. 7 and were unwilling to move off that date," said Brian Maliske, general manager of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. "We have the Black Hills Pow Wow on Oct. 5-7, and they couldn't reroute their tour."

Maliske was certain an Elton John concert "would have sold clean," a sure sellout of more than 7,000 seats. And Rapid City is where the Rocket Man wanted to play, according to Maliske.

"(A Sioux Falls newspaper) made it sound like Sioux Falls stole the Elton John show from Rapid City," Maliske explained. "But AEG made it clear they were only going to make one stop in the state and we were their first choice.

"It still doesn't take the sting away."

The negotiations for an Elton John concert were broken off three weeks ago when the date conflict couldn't be resolved, according to Maliske, but AEG had another offer for Rapid City - Ozzy Osbourne and Rob Zombie.

Maliske signed the agreement with AEG on Thursday afternoon to bring the two metal rockers to Rapid City on Nov. 6. Tickets for the show go on sale Sept. 15.

Ozzy Osbourne's 40-show American tour will be in support of his latest album, "Black Rain," which is his first new material in six years.

What: Ozzy Osbourne and Rob Zombie concert

When: Tuesday, Nov. 6

Where: Rushmore Plaza Civic Center

Tickets: $49.75 and $69.75. Tickets go on sale Sept. 15 at the civic center box office, online at www.gotmine.com or by calling 1-800-gotmine.