Lady Gaga pays poignant tribute to Ozzy Osbourne at San Francisco show
During her concert in San Francisco on July 22nd, hours after Ozzy Osbourne‘s passing was announced, Lady Gaga honoured the late Black Sabbath frontman.
At the show, which took place at the Chase Center in the Californian city, Gaga closed her performance by blasting Osbourne’s solo hit ‘Crazy Train’ through the arena’s speakers as the entire cast and crew from her tour show took their bows.
Additionally, during the concert, Gaga, at one stage, wore an Ozzy Osbourne t-shirt, in another act of honouring the late metal pioneer.
No cause of death has been revealed for Osbourne, and his family has asked for privacy at this present time.
In a statement, the Osbourne family said: “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.”
In addition to Gaga honouring Osbourne in San Francisco, Coldplay covered Black Sabbath’s ‘Changes’ in Nashville, Alice Cooper led his crowd through a chant of Osbourne’s name in Cardiff, and Ghost dedicated their Madison Square Garden concert to the late rock legend.
Gaga has previously spoken about her love of Black Sabbath, once saying in a Reddit AMA in 2011, “I’m actually also a metal dudette, worked at a metal bar for years, and was a go-go dancer at rockn’roll clubs. Last night when I got my tattoo of the monster paw, I was listening to Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Metallica, AC/DC, Judas Priest.”
She also named ‘Black Sabbath’ by Black Sabbath as her favourite metal song, which appeared on their eponymous debut album in 1969, exclaiming, “I need to write a song called ‘LADY GAGA’ its the most metal thing you can do!”
Another musical titan to honour Osbourne is Elton John, who wrote on Instagram: “So sad to hear the news of Ozzy Osbourne passing away. He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods – a true legend.”
Elton, who collaborated with Osbourne in 2020, continued, “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.”
Osbourne took to the stage for the final time earlier this month at Back to the Beginning at Villa Park in Birmingham. In addition to performing a solo set, he reunited with Black Sabbath’s Bill Ward, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler for the first time in more than 20 years, as well as raising almost $200 million for charity in the process.
While his health issues forced him to perform from a throne, the show was a rock spectacular in his hometown that gave Osbourne the grand farewell he deserved.
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