In a powerful and poignant “passing of the torch” moment, the Swedish theatrical rock band Ghost dedicated their sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night to the memory of Ozzy Osbourne. Just hours after the world learned of the rock icon’s passing at age 76, frontman Tobias Forge led the arena in a heartfelt tribute to the man who pioneered the very aesthetic Ghost now carries into the modern era.
The tribute was made all the more significant by Forge’s direct participation in Osbourne‘s final chapter just weeks earlier. On July 5, Forge was one of the many rock luminaries who performed at “Back To The Beginning,” Ozzy‘s farewell show in Birmingham, England, where he sang a rendition of Osbourne’s classic solo hit, “Bark At The Moon.”
On Tuesday night in New York, that recent memory hung heavy in the air. Pausing the show before the song “The Future Is A Foreign Land,” Forge, performing as his current character Papa V Perpetua, addressed the packed arena.
“We’re going to dedicate tonight’s show to the memory of the life and laughter of Ozzy Osbourne,” he announced to a roar of applause and thunderous chants of “Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!”
He continued: “For being the Prince Of Darkness, he sure gave us a lot of light, so we’re gonna tap into that tonight and carry it forward through a time of darkness.”
Forge has long cited both Ozzy and Black Sabbath as foundational influences. In past interviews, he spoke of growing up in the ’80s when Ozzy‘s solo work was a dominant force, with albums like Bark At The Moon and Diary Of A Madman having a “phenomenal impact” on him. He also held a deep appreciation for what he called Sabbath‘s more “proggy” and “mournful” side. “When I think about them, I think about keyboards and I think about big mournful ballads,” he once explained. “Those were the deep things… they were so much more than that.”
As the metal world continues to mourn a founding father, Ghost‘s tribute at “The World’s Most Famous Arena” served as a powerful testament to Ozzy Osbourne‘s enduring legacy, underscoring how the “light” he gave to generations of musicians like Tobias Forge will continue to be carried forward for years to come.
Ghost July 22 Setlist:
- “Peacefield“
- “Lachryma“
- “Spirit“
- “Per Aspera ad Inferi“
- “Elizabeth“
- “Call Me Little Sunshine“
- “The Future Is a Foreign Land” (dedicated show to Ozzy Osbourne before playing)
- “Devil Church“
- “Cirice“
- “Darkness at the Heart of My Love“
- “Satanized“
- “Ritual“
- “Umbra“
- “Year Zero“
- “He Is“
- “Rats“
- “Kiss the Go-Goat“
- “Mummy Dust“
- “Monstrance Clock“
Encore:
- “Mary on a Cross“
- “Dance Macabre“
- “Square Hammer“
Video credit: https://www.youtube.com/@im_ghostified
