Wolfgang Van Halen and his band, Mammoth, paid heartfelt tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne with a cover of his iconic 1991 hit, “Mama I’m Coming Home,” during a recent performance. You can watch the tribute in the footage below.
The legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and solo artist passed away on Tuesday, July 22, at the age of 76. His death followed a powerful final appearance at Black Sabbath’s “Back To The Beginning” show in Birmingham just weeks earlier on July 5. This memorable event was live-streamed globally, with plans for a cinema release scheduled for next year.
In a statement about Osbourne’s passing, his family expressed profound sorrow, saying, “With more sadness than mere words can convey, we report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was surrounded by love and family.” They requested privacy during this difficult time.
Following the announcement, Mammoth spontaneously performed the tribute during a concert in Hartford, Connecticut, where they were opening for Creed and Daughtry. “It really sucks that we live in a world without Ozzy Osbourne,” Van Halen remarked. “We found out right before our soundcheck, and I felt we had to do something more than just mention it. We’ve rehearsed this a few times, but bear with us and sing along.”
Check out their emotional performance below:
Osbourne’s emotional rendition of “Mama, I’m Coming Home” at the “Back To The Beginning” show was a highlight of the night. Vocal coach and content creator Dimitris Barmpas later shared a version showcasing Osbourne’s isolated vocals, which many fans have circulated in tribute.
Wolfgang was meant to join Osbourne and Black Sabbath for this monumental performance, but he had to withdraw due to prior commitments with Creed.
Numerous artists, including Coldplay, Alice Cooper, Ghost, and Gojira, have dedicated performances to Osbourne in recent days, while fans are sharing memories of his final live appearances.
Tributes from all corners of the music world have poured in, including heartfelt messages from Osbourne’s former bandmates Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler. Ward recalled, “So glad we got to do it one last time in Aston. Love you.”
Other notable musicians, like Elton John, Yungblud, and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, have also expressed their condolences.
Social media users have taken to platforms to share humorous moments featuring Osbourne from his beloved 2000s reality show, The Osbournes. Gamers, too, fondly remember his iconic PlayStation advertisement.
In a quirky tribute, The Alamo Cenotaph recalled the time Osbourne famously urinated on the monument while wearing Sharon’s dress in the early ’80s.
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