The 2025 MTV VMAs delivered a poignant tribute to Ozzy Osbourne on Sunday night, bringing together an impressive lineup of musicians to honour the heavy metal legend who passed away in July.
The all-star performance at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, featured Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry alongside Yungblud and Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt in a medley spanning Ozzy’s most celebrated songs.
The tribute commenced with a heartfelt video message from Ozzy’s son Jack and his grandchildren, setting an emotional tone for the evening’s homage. “I know for sure it would make him incredibly happy to see these great musicians carry on his legacy,” Jack stated before the family shouted Ozzy’s famous rallying cry: “Let’s go crazy!”
Keyboardist Adam Wakeman, who had accompanied Ozzy both during his Black Sabbath years and solo career, led the musical tribute. The performance opened with Yungblud’s commanding shout of “All aboard,” launching into the iconic “Crazy Train”. Bettencourt demonstrated his technical prowess on guitar, faithfully recreating Randy Rhoads’ intricate solo work that defined the original song.
The tribute’s emotional centrepiece arrived when Wakeman transitioned to piano for Black Sabbath’s “Changes”. Yungblud delivered a particularly intense vocal performance, showcasing his ability to channel Ozzy’s raw energy while maintaining his own distinctive style. The performance concluded with the country-influenced opening of “Mama, I’m Coming Home”, featuring Bettencourt on acoustic guitar before Tyler and Perry emerged for the finale.
This VMAs tribute held additional significance as many of the performers had recently shared the stage with Ozzy at his final concert. Yungblud had performed “Changes” at Ozzy’s ‘Back to the Beginning’ farewell show just weeks before the metal icon’s death on July 22nd. Bettencourt had been part of Tom Morello’s All-Stars backing band for that Birmingham performance, while Tyler contributed vocals to Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith tracks at the same event.
The tribute also marked a rare public reunion between Aerosmith’s Tyler and Perry. The legendary duo hadn’t officially performed together since their farewell tour was cancelled in 2023 due to Tyler’s vocal issues. While Aerosmith did reunite briefly for a California wildfire benefit show earlier this year, the band have remained silent on plans for any makeup farewell dates.
Osbourne’s connection to MTV extended beyond his musical contributions, as his family’s reality show The Osbournes helped revitalise the network during the early 2000s.
