YUNGBLUD has built a reputation on raw energy, fearless emotion, and an unwavering love for the icons who came before him. Among those icons, none meant more to him than Ozzy Osbourne — and, in the final years of Ozzy’s life, the feeling was mutual.
Their connection wasn’t about age, genre, or fame. It was about soul. Chaos. Truth. And above all, a shared understanding of what rock music is really about: being unapologetically real.
A Moment That Defined a Bond
That connection came into full view on July 5, 2025, during Black Sabbath’s farewell concert, Back to the Beginning, held in their hometown of Birmingham. In one of the night’s most emotional moments, YUNGBLUD took the stage to perform “Changes” — a deeply personal track Ozzy had first sung decades earlier.
Joined by rock veterans like Nuno Bettencourt and Frank Bello, YUNGBLUD delivered the ballad with fire in his voice and tears in his eyes. The performance earned a standing ovation — and backstage, a visibly moved Ozzy said, “I couldn’t have done it better myself.”
A Cross, a Promise, and a Legacy
Before the show, YUNGBLUD gifted Ozzy a custom gold-and-diamond cross — a heartfelt thank-you and a mirror to the silver cross Ozzy had given him back in 2022. But this wasn’t just a sentimental exchange. These crosses symbolized something far greater: legacy, resilience, and passing the torch from one generation of rebels to the next.
Just two weeks later, on July 22, Ozzy Osbourne passed away.
As the world grieved, YUNGBLUD shared a deeply emotional tribute:
“You’ll be in every single note I sing… Your cross around my neck is the most precious thing I own.”
He also made a vow to perform “Changes” at every concert from now on — a living tribute to the man who helped shape his path.
Carrying the Flame Forward
It’s clear that YUNGBLUD isn’t just honoring Ozzy’s memory — he’s living it. His emotional vulnerability, rebellious energy, and devotion to authenticity have earned him comparisons to the Prince of Darkness himself. But YUNGBLUD isn’t trying to be Ozzy — he’s channeling what made Ozzy timeless.
The crosses they exchanged may have been made of gold and silver, but the connection they forged was built on something stronger: truth, love, and the unrelenting power of music.
A New Voice for Rock’s Soul
Whether or not YUNGBLUD is Ozzy’s “successor” in the traditional sense doesn’t really matter. What matters is that, through his voice, his fire, and his promise, a piece of Ozzy still lives on.
And as long as YUNGBLUD keeps singing, that legacy will never fade.
