Yungblud’s Heartfelt Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne: A Tale of Respect, Legacy, and Rock and Roll

In the world of rock and roll, where personas often overshadow the people behind them, genuine connections between artists of different generations are rare and precious. Such was the relationship between Dominic Harrison, better known as Yungblud, and the legendary Ozzy Osbourne. During a recent appearance on Jack Osbourne’s “Trying Not To Die” podcast, Yungblud revealed the emotional backstory to his tribute performance for the late rock icon at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. What unfolded wasn’t just a performance, but a deeply personal homage that bridged generations and honored the spirit of rock itself. “I just loved your dad,” the 28-year-old singer confessed to Jack Osbourne, his voice carrying the weight of admiration and loss. “I’m going to channel him. I’m going to do his ‘hahas’ and I’m going to do his hands. I’m going to do his eyes and I’m going to wear his cross and I’m going to just fing do it, because what the f else are we going to do?” This raw determination to honor Ozzy in the most authentic way possible speaks volumes about the connection Yungblud felt with the Prince of Darkness, a connection that transcended the typical fan-idol relationship.

Perhaps the most touching revelation from the podcast was Yungblud’s confession about the night before the performance. Unable to sleep due to the pressure of properly honoring such an iconic figure, Yungblud did something profoundly human – he texted Ozzy. “I couldn’t f***ing sleep. So I text your old man. I text him the night before. It didn’t go through,” he shared with Jack. The message was simple yet powerful: “Tomorrow I just want [you] to know wherever you are, I love you and I’ll give it everything I got.” This moment, sending a text to someone who had passed away two months prior, captures the peculiar grief that comes with losing someone whose presence feels eternal. It’s a modern expression of an age-old human impulse – to reach across the divide between the living and the dead, to ensure those we’ve lost know they’re remembered, honored, and loved. The text may not have reached Ozzy’s phone, but in sharing this story, Yungblud delivered his message to the Osbourne family and to millions of fans who continue to mourn the rock legend.

The tribute performance itself was a remarkable coming together of rock royalty. Just two months after Ozzy’s death at age 76, Yungblud took to the VMAs stage alongside Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and guitarist Nuno Bettencourt to perform a medley of Ozzy’s greatest hits. Jack Osbourne introduced the tribute through a prerecorded video message, saying, “I wish we could be there as you celebrate my dad’s amazing musical journey. It would make him incredibly happy to see these great musicians carry on his legacy and help inspire the next generation of rockers.” The performance began with Yungblud’s rendition of “Crazy Train,” followed by “Changes” – a song he had been performing every night on stage since Ozzy’s death that summer. Tyler and Perry then joined Yungblud for “Mama, I’m Coming Home” to complete the tribute. What made this performance special wasn’t just the caliber of musicians involved, but the genuine emotion that pulsed through every note, every gesture, every moment on stage. Yungblud wasn’t merely performing Ozzy’s songs; he was channeling the spirit of a man who had fundamentally shaped his understanding of what rock music could be.

The podcast conversation also touched on criticisms of the VMAs performance from The Darkness’ Dan and Justin Hawkins, who had dismissed Yungblud as a poser – a critique that cuts to the heart of ongoing debates about authenticity in rock music. Yungblud’s response was both passionate and insightful: “People forget, and I think rock music has suffered for a while, because people forget that rock is dictated by the people. The people are what makes something rock and roll.” He continued, “As far as I’m concerned, the people fing loved [the performance]. We got to put your fing dad’s face in front of another 100 million people that night, and keep that legacy alive and keep that idea alive.” This perspective challenges the gatekeeping that often plagues rock culture, reminding us that rock and roll has always been about connection rather than exclusion – about reaching people, moving them, giving them a voice. In defending his tribute to Ozzy, Yungblud wasn’t just defending his performance; he was defending the inclusive spirit that has always made rock music a refuge for the misfits and the dreamers.

The bond between Yungblud and the Osbourne family began when Ozzy and his wife Sharon appeared in Yungblud’s 2022 music video for “The Funeral.” What started as a professional collaboration (initially, Yungblud had reached out to Kelly Osbourne, who passed the opportunity along to her parents) evolved into a genuine friendship that crossed generational lines. Jack Osbourne acknowledged this connection with visible emotion during the podcast: “As a family, we’ve talked about this. You’ve been so graceful over the last two months. You were so much more involved. And we’ve respected that you’ve respected that.” Using Yungblud’s real name to emphasize the personal nature of their conversation, Jack added, “Dom meant something to my dad. My dad meant something to Dom.” These words reveal the true nature of rock and roll at its best – not just as music, but as a community that connects people across time, space, and circumstances. The relationship between Yungblud and Ozzy Osbourne wasn’t just about a younger artist looking up to a legend; it was about mutual respect between two individuals who recognized in each other a shared passion for music that defies boundaries and expectations.

In a world that often feels increasingly disconnected, stories like this remind us of the power of music to create meaningful bonds between people who might otherwise never have crossed paths. Yungblud’s tribute to Ozzy Osbourne wasn’t just a performance at an awards show; it was a testament to the enduring legacy of a rock icon and the very human connections that music makes possible. The text that didn’t go through, the sleepless night before the performance, the determination to channel Ozzy’s spirit on stage – these elements speak to the deeply personal nature of grief and remembrance. As Jack Osbourne said, his father would have been happy to see “these great musicians carry on his legacy and help inspire the next generation of rockers.” In honoring Ozzy Osbourne, Yungblud did more than pay tribute to a fallen hero; he demonstrated what it means to carry forward the torch of rock and roll with authenticity, passion, and heart. And perhaps that’s the greatest tribute anyone could offer to the Prince of Darkness – not just to celebrate what he did, but to embody the spirit that made him a legend in the first place.