Ghost recently dedicated their sold-out performance at Madison Square Garden in New York to legendary Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, who sadly passed away at the age of 76. The news of his death was confirmed on July 22, with his family stating that he was “surrounded by love” in his final moments.
This tribute comes just weeks after Osbourne headlined the ‘Back To The Beginning’ concert at Villa Park in Birmingham, where he reunited with bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward for the first time since 2005. During this memorable event, Osbourne expressed gratitude to the fans, stating, “Your support has allowed us to live an amazing lifestyle, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
In a heartfelt moment during their own concert, Ghost frontman Tobias Forge, also known as Papa Perpetua, took a break seven songs into the set to acknowledge Ozzy’s profound influence on music. Before launching into “The Future Is A Foreign Place,” he addressed the crowd: “Good evening, New York City! How are you? We’re dedicating tonight’s show to the memory of Ozzy Osbourne.” The audience responded with chants of “Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!” as Forge continued, “For being the Prince of Darkness, he gave us so much light. We’ll carry that forward through this time of darkness.”
The passing of Ozzy comes less than three weeks after his final performance, both as a solo artist and with Black Sabbath. The ‘Back To The Beginning’ event featured numerous tributes to him, including performances by Metallica, Pantera, and Slayer, all paying homage to the iconic band.
Forge had previously participated in the ‘Back To The Beginning’ concert, performing Osbourne’s classic “Bark At The Moon,” and has spoken about Ozzy and Black Sabbath’s immense influence on his own work.
Since Ozzy’s death, former Black Sabbath members have also shared their heartfelt tributes. Tony Iommi expressed his disbelief and sorrow, saying, “I just can’t believe it! My dear friend Ozzy has passed away. There won’t ever be another like him.” Drummer Bill Ward reflected on their shared memories, while bassist Geezer Butler thanked Ozzy for their time together.
The outpouring of love and support since Ozzy’s passing highlights his lasting impact on rock music and the generations of artists he has inspired.
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