In a moment no one saw coming, Johnny Depp took the stage at London’s O2 Arena on July 25 to honor the late Ozzy Osbourne — and gave fans a tribute they’ll never forget. Just three days after the Prince of Darkness passed away, the Hollywood star and musician joined Alice Cooper for a roaring performance that turned grief into rock ’n’ roll glory.
A Night of Shock and Power: “Paranoid” Lives On
Alice Cooper, 77, was already bringing high voltage to the stage, wearing an Ozzy T-shirt and channeling his signature theatrical energy during the sold-out co-headliner with Judas Priest. But midway through Black Sabbath’s iconic “Paranoid,” the energy shifted.
Suddenly, out walked Johnny Depp — guitar in hand, eyes fierce — and the crowd erupted.
Together, Depp and Cooper delivered a raw, thunderous rendition of the classic hit, igniting an emotional wave through the arena. By the song’s end, Cooper raised his fist, and the crowd responded in unison:
“Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!”
It wasn’t just a chant — it was a farewell. Loud, chaotic, and full of love.
A Bond Beyond the Stage
Depp and Cooper’s history runs deep. Since 2012, they’ve performed together as part of the supergroup Hollywood Vampires, alongside Joe Perry (Aerosmith) and Tommy Henriksen. The group is known for paying tribute to fallen rock legends — but this time, it was personal.
Just before stepping onstage, Cooper received the devastating news of Ozzy’s passing.
“Even when you know it’s coming, it hits hard,” Cooper said. “He was more than a musician — he was a character, a true original.”
One Last Song, One Last Salute
After the storm of “Paranoid,” Depp stayed onstage to help close the night with School’s Out — Cooper’s own rock anthem. He was joined by original Alice Cooper bandmates Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith, and Michael Bruce. The performance felt less like a concert and more like a living tribute to decades of rebellion, friendship, and survival.
Originally meant to celebrate Cooper’s new album The Revenge of Alice Cooper, the night shifted into something much deeper — a shared moment of grief and joy for the rock community.
Remembering Ozzy: A Legend to the End
Ozzy Osbourne, 76, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones. He had been battling Parkinson’s disease for years and had just recently taken the stage one last time in his hometown of Birmingham.
Tributes have since flooded in from all corners of music and entertainment — including Elton John, Gene Simmons, Yungblud, Jason Momoa, and now, through music and memory, Johnny Depp and Alice Cooper.
“Ozzy was a lifer,” Cooper said. “Some guys were born to rock until the end. Ozzy was one of them.”
The Final Bow
Johnny Depp’s surprise appearance wasn’t just a musical moment — it was a symbolic passing of the torch, a salute between brothers of the stage. For one night, London didn’t just witness a concert. They lived through a piece of rock history.
And in the echo of the final chords, one name rose above all: Ozzy
