Yungblud will join the members of Aerosmith for a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne at the MTV VMAs this weekend.
- READ MORE: Ozzy Osbourne, 1948-2025: culture-smashing revolutionary that redefined rock and reality TV
The 42nd Video Music Awards are taking place in the UBS Arena in Long Island, New York on Sunday night (September 7), and a portion of the show will pay tribute to the late Black Sabbath frontman, who passed away in July at the age of 76.
Yungblud will join forces with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, as well as Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt during the ceremony for a medley of Osbourne’s greatest hits.
The VMAs will be broadcast live on CBS and MTV from 8pm ET in the US, while UK viewers will be able to watch it on Comedy Central and MTV at 9pm on Monday night (September 8).
Yungblud was a part of the ‘Back To The Beginning’ Black Sabbath farewell show in Birmingham in July, an event that took on extra poignancy when Osbourne died less than three weeks later. Yungblud led a supergroup that also included Bettencourt, as well as II from Sleep Token and Adam Wakeman of Ozzy Osbourne’s solo band.
They performed the Sabbath ballad ‘Changes’, and after Osbourne’s death, Yungblud vowed to play the song at every show “for the rest of my life”, adding: ““To sing this song for you at an event surrounded by legends inspired by you to a crowd who loved you was truly my life’s greatest honour.”
Yungblud also posted an emotional tribute to Osbourne, saying: “You have been my North Star for everything for as long as I can remember from when I was misunderstood as a child to the way people thought I was just a little ‘too much’ or ‘strange’ in my life and career.”
He later spoke to NME about the impact that Ozzy has had on his career. “Ozzy was a character in my life who was a reflection of everything I went through,” he said. “I was always a bit over the top. I was always seen to be a bit crazy. I was always seen to be a bit loud, but when some people saw that as a negative, Ozzy would provide me with the hope that there was an avenue for someone like me in the world.
“From such a young age, he really inspired me. Then, to know him as a friend towards the end, to know his heart, and to know Sharon Osbourne… I really started to understand that they did things their way. It’s always been inspirational because, for me, the biggest enemy to any artist or anything is the phrase, ‘This is just how it’s done’. That’s a cop out. ‘This is how it’s done’ was once an innovative idea that got stale.
“All I care about are the people outside, and I want to make this the most magical adventure for them, and something that we’re gonna have together. [Ozzy’s death] is still raw at the minute. It’s been a very weird couple of weeks. But losing someone I admired and got to know really made me think about the idea of legacy and connection with people. All that matters is the connection with them.”
Yungblud also broke down in tears during a performance of ‘Changes’ in the US recently, while Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler described one of his shows as the “best” he’d seen in years.
Elsewhere at the VMAs, Lady Gaga will be performing there for the first time in five years, joining the likes of Sabrina Carpenter, J Balvin and Busta Rhymes. Check out the full list of VMAs nominations here.
