Yungblud delivered a deeply emotional tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne during his concert at Birmingham's Utilita Arena on Thursday, 23 April. The 28-year-old musician, born Dominic Harrison, paused his set to honor the Black Sabbath icon, who passed away on 22 July 2025.
A Touching Dedication
As the opening notes of Black Sabbath's 'Changes' filled the arena, Yungblud addressed the crowd: "You won't mind if I dedicate this next song to a friend of mine in the sky tonight Birmingham! This next song goes out to Mr Ozzy Osbourne!" The singer struggled to contain his emotions, admitting, "I have been sh****** myself for days to play this in Birmingham tonight."
He continued: "Thank you so much for everything. I will never take this for granted. I love you man. I love Birmingham and I promise I will come back here every year until the day I die."
A Bond Beyond Music
Yungblud's connection with Ozzy, who was born in Aston, Birmingham, went beyond a typical mentorship. The two developed a close friendship, with Ozzy serving as both a mentor and a dear friend. Their bond was evident when Yungblud performed 'Changes' at the Back to the Beginning show at Villa Park in July 2025, a performance that later earned him his first Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance at the 2026 ceremony.
The pair also exchanged meaningful gifts. Backstage at the Villa Park gig, Yungblud gave Ozzy a cross necklace, which the Brummie rockstar called "so f****** cool." This was in return for a gold cross Ozzy had given Yungblud in 2022 during the video shoot for 'The Funeral', telling him: "I hope it brings you luck."
Crowd Reaction
The audience at the Utilita Arena responded with overwhelming emotion, screaming as the first chords of 'Changes' began and chanting "Ozzy! Ozzy!" throughout the performance. The tribute clearly resonated with the Birmingham crowd, who shared in Yungblud's heartfelt homage to the Prince of Darkness.
Keeping the Memory Alive
Since Ozzy's passing, his legacy has been upheld by his family—Sharon, Kelly, and Jack Osbourne—and by friends like Yungblud. Before his gig, Yungblud was spotted 'tucked away' at a local pub in the city, reflecting his deep connection to Birmingham and its rock heritage.
