Elton John, Yungblud and more remember Ozzy Osbourne: ‘You were the greatest of all time’
The legend of the heavy metal mainstay Black Sabbath died on July 22 at the age of 76
By Larisha Paul
Praise for Ozzy Osbourne and the legacy he established through the heavy metal mainstay Black Sabbath, as well as his later turn as an open collaborator and music industry legend, is pouring in following the musician’s death at the age of 76. Throughout his career, Osbourne shared the stage and the studio with genre- and generation-spanning collaborators, including Slash, Elton John, Motörhead, and Madonna, as well as Busta Rhymes, Yungblud, and Post Malone. Both his range and influence were expansive, heavily rooted in blazing a trail, leading the adventure, and living to tell the tale. Such sentiments were echoed across the music industry as news of his death began to spread.
“Sad to hear Ozzy died today,” Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready shared in a tribute on Instagram. “When I was in high school I discovered Sabbath. ‘War Pigs’ was terrifying and mesmerizing at the same time. It was Ozzy’s voice that took me away to a dark universe. A great escape. Then when The ‘Blizzard of Ozz’ record came out I was instantly a fan. Randy Rhoads was an influence on me to play lead guitar. Luckily I got to play on the song ‘Immortal’ on the last record. Thanks for the music, Ozzy it makes our journey in life better.”
“Didn’t think you would leave so soon,” the musician Yungblud, who recently developed a close mentorship with the late artist, wrote on Instagram. “The last time we met you were so full of life and your laugh filled up the room. But as it is written with legends, they seem to know the things that we don’t.” Yungblud shared the tribute beneath a carousel of images, including a recent shot from a meeting during which he gifted Osbourne a chain, the same way the had done for him before.
“I will never forget you – you will be in every single note I sing and with me every single time I walk on stage. Your cross around my neck is the most precious thing I own,” the singer continued. “You asked me once if there was anything you could do for me and as I said then and as I will say now for all of us the music was enough. You took us on your adventure – an adventure that started it all. I am truly heartbroken. You were the greatest of all time.”
Yungblud took the stage at Back to the Beginning, the expansive charity concert during which Osbourne delivered his final live performance. The musician delivered a striking cover of the Black Sabbath ballad ‘Changes.’ “God bless Black Sabbath and God bless Ozzy Osbourne,” Yungblud said in his dedication on stage before unleashing one of the most regarded performances of the event.
John shared an old photo with Osbourne on Instagram, writing: “So sad to hear the news of @ozzyosbourne passing away. He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods – a true legend. He was also one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. I will miss him dearly. To Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love.”
Fellow musicians Billie Joe Armstrong and Jack White summed up their reactions in more compact statements, writing, “No words. We love you Ozzy” and “He made it,” respectively. “Long Live The Oz,” Questlove shared. “Rest In Melody.” On an Instagram Story, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello added, “God bless you, Ozzy.” Lenny Kravitz shared his “love and condolences to the Osbourne family” in a post of his own.
Billy Idol, who joined Jelly Roll and Tool frontman Maynard Keena in inducting the Prince of Darkness into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in October 2024, paid tribute to Osbourne in the caption of a post remembering that night.
“I’m so glad that I could be part of his solo induction into the @rockhall last October that I got to honor his achievements in the light of his passing,” Idol wrote. “Here I am pictured with @ozzyosbourne @stevestevens on that night last October. I saw Black Sabbath one month before the first album came out at Worthing town hall in 1968. I was right at the front & his tassels were touching me! Ozzy embodied the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll, and he performed right to the end as we all saw most recently at the back to the beginning concert. My condolences to Sharon Jack Kelly, and the whole family. My heart goes out to you.”
Duran Duran, fellow Brits who hail from Osbourne’s hometown of Birmingham, reacted to the loss on Instagram, sharing the musician’s 1984 mugshot. “What can you say about Ozzy? Whatever it is, it’s in a Brummie accent,” they wrote. “Hard to imagine a world without him, Ozzy brought so much joy, humour and raw power to the world, in a life of many chapters. Ozzy was a cat who had way more than nine lives. Thanks for the ride Ozzy, love from the other Brummies.”
Eagles’ Joe Walsh remembered Osbourne in a post that praised him as “a fine gentleman, father, husband and friend with a legacy that will never be denied,” adding, “But for me – above all – a gentle soul. Our deepest condolences to Sharon and the family. May @ozzyosbourne RIP, the Prince of Darkness!”
Osbourne’s family confirmed his death in a statement on Tuesday afternoon, writing: “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”