“This One’s for Ozzy” — Hours After Learning of Osbourne’s Death, Wolfgang Van Halen Delivers Emotional Tribute and Shares the Rock Icon’s Final Words With a Stunned Crowd

On July 22, 2025, the music world was rocked by the sudden passing of Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary Black Sabbath frontman and solo icon, at age 76. Just hours later, in Hartford, Connecticut, Wolfgang Van Halen, son of guitar virtuoso Eddie Van Halen, took the stage with his band Mammoth at the XFINITY Theatre, delivering a raw, emotional tribute that left the audience in tears. Performing a cover of Osbourne’s 1991 ballad “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” Wolfgang shared the rock icon’s final words from his farewell concert, silencing the stunned crowd and sparking a wave of tributes across X. The moment, captured in viral videos, has been hailed as a poignant farewell to the Prince of Darkness.

The news of Osbourne’s death broke early that morning, with his family announcing, “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love.” No cause was specified, though Osbourne had battled Parkinson’s disease since 2019 and injuries from a 2019 fall. His passing came weeks after his final performance at Black Sabbath’s “Back to the Beginning” concert on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, where he reunited with bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward for the first time in 20 years.

Wolfgang, touring with Creed, learned of Osbourne’s death during soundcheck. Visibly shaken, he addressed the Hartford crowd, his voice breaking: “That fking sucks that we are in a world that doesn’t have Ozzy Osbourne anymore. And it was right before we went on soundcheck that we found out. And I thought, ‘Well, we have to do something. Just mentioning it isn’t enough.’” He dedicated “Mama, I’m Coming Home” to Osbourne, admitting, “We’ve played through this maybe three times, so please bear with us and sing the fk along with us.” The performance, raw and unpolished, was a gut-punch, with Wolfgang’s guitar solo on his EVH SA-126 Special channeling the spirit of both his father and Osbourne.

Mid-performance, Wolfgang shared Osbourne’s final words from the Villa Park concert, where, seated on a bat-adorned throne, Ozzy told 42,000 fans: “You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” The crowd in Hartford fell silent, some wiping tears as Wolfgang added, “That was Ozzy—always giving everything to his fans, even at the end.” The moment, shared on X, garnered millions of views, with users posting, “Wolfgang’s tribute broke my heart. Ozzy’s spirit was there.”

Osbourne’s connection to the Van Halen family runs deep. In 1978, Van Halen opened for Black Sabbath, and Ozzy later praised Eddie Van Halen’s revolutionary guitar work, writing in 2020, “I could sit and watch Eddie Van Halen play guitar all day. He made it look so easy.” Wolfgang, who performed “Crazy Train” at Osbourne’s 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, called the experience an honor, saying, “I got the request from Ozzy. You don’t say, ‘Yeah, no.’ You say, ‘I’ll do what I can, sir.’” Though scheduled to join Osbourne’s farewell concert, Wolfgang withdrew due to tour conflicts, making his Hartford tribute a personal redemption.

The “Back to the Beginning” concert, attended by 40,000 and livestreamed to 5.8 million, featured Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and others, with Osbourne’s emotional “Mama, I’m Coming Home” a highlight. His sister, Jean Powell, recalled his final text about the crowds on Lodge Road, their childhood street, underscoring the homecoming’s weight. Tributes poured in from Elton John, who called Osbourne “a dear friend and a true legend,” and Metallica, who credited him with transforming their career. Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi wrote, “I just can’t believe it! My dear friend Ozzy has passed away only weeks after our show at Villa Park.”

Wolfgang’s tribute resonated beyond the stage. Fans on X shared clips, with one writing, “Wolfgang carried Ozzy’s fire tonight. This is how you honor a legend.” The cover, fueled by grief and reverence, highlighted Osbourne’s influence on heavy metal, from Black Sabbath’s 1970 debut to solo hits like “Crazy Train.” His larger-than-life persona, seen in The Osbournes and infamous antics like biting a bat’s head, cemented his cultural impact.

The Hartford moment has sparked calls for Mammoth’s cover to be released as a single, with proceeds for Parkinson’s research. Music analyst Laura Chen noted, “Wolfgang’s tribute wasn’t just a performance—it was a passing of the torch.” As fans mourn, Osbourne’s legacy endures, with his final concert set for a 2026 cinema release, Back to the Beginning: Ozzy’s Final Bow. For now, Wolfgang’s words—“Love you, Ozzy”—echo across a grieving music world, a fitting farewell to a rock god whose fire still burns.