The global metal community is reeling from the news of Ozzy Osbourne’s death. The iconic Black Sabbath vocalist and solo trailblazer passed away on Tuesday, July 22, at 76, surrounded by his family. Among the many tributes flooding in, fellow British heavy metal legends Judas Priest have offered a heartfelt message in honor of the “Prince of Darkness.”
Judas Priest released a statement via their social media channels, expressing their profound grief: “Our hearts are broken like millions around the world. Words can’t express the love and loss we are all feeling. Sharon, may God surround you and your beautiful family with love, peace and light. Ozzy, you will never leave us — your music is eternal. God blesses you now more than ever after you blessed us all through your magnificent life. Rob, Glenn, Ian, Richie & Scott.”
Osbourne‘s family officially announced his passing, stating: “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.” While a specific cause of death was not disclosed, Osbourne had publicly battled numerous health challenges in recent years, including Parkinson’s disease and severe injuries sustained from a fall in late 2019.
Earlier this month, Judas Priest showed their admiration for Black Sabbath by releasing a studio cover of the classic Sabbath song “War Pigs.” This release came just ahead of the “Back To The Beginning” concert on July 5 in Birmingham, an event that marked the final live performance of Black Sabbath‘s original lineup.
Despite their deep ties to Black Sabbath and Birmingham, Judas Priest was unable to participate in the “Back To The Beginning” event. This was due to a prior commitment to perform at Scorpions‘ massive 60th-anniversary concert in Hannover, Germany, on the very same day.
Judas Priest singer Rob Halford had previously expressed his significant disappointment at missing the historic Black Sabbath concert. In a May interview with Metal Hammer, Halford stated he was “absolutely gutted” by the scheduling conflict. He recounted receiving a phone call from Ozzy Osbourne‘s wife and manager, Sharon Osbourne: “‘Robbie, I know you’ve got this gig with Scorpions, but could you consider coming over to do a thing with Ozzy and the guys. He’d love to see you.'” Halford explained that attempting to fulfill both engagements would have been “dangerous” due to logistical complexities, even with a private plane, citing potential “technical” issues or adverse weather conditions.
Although no current Judas Priest member could be present at Villa Park, Halford noted that founding Priest guitarist K.K. Downing was scheduled to attend, representing “the spirit of the band” at the momentous Black Sabbath farewell.
