Kerry King has paid tribute to the legendary Ozzy Osbourne with a powerful live rendition of Black Sabbath’s “Wicked World” during his ongoing solo band’s European tour. Just one week after the Prince of Darkness passed away, King and his newly formed group included the classic Sabbath track in their setlist, honoring one of heavy metal’s true pioneers.
The tribute took place during the band’s July 29 performance at ZOOM Frankfurt in Germany, and again the following night (July 30) at Simm City in Vienna, Austria. The lineup for King’s solo band features a roster of metal veterans: vocalist Mark Osegueda (Death Angel), guitarist Phil Demmel (Machine Head, Vio-Lence), bassist Kyle Sanders (Hellyeah), and drummer Paul Bostaph (Slayer, Testament, Exodus).
This wasn’t King’s first time performing “Wicked World” this month. Earlier in July, on the 5th, King appeared with Slayer for a special performance at Black Sabbath’s “Back To The Beginning” charity event. That night, Slayer reunited for a six-song set, opening with “Disciple” and “War Ensemble” before playing the same Sabbath cover. The night concluded with an explosive run through “South Of Heaven,” “Raining Blood,” and “Angel Of Death.”
Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and a pioneer of heavy metal, passed away on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76. His death marked the end of an era for the metal world, as fans and fellow musicians mourned the loss of a true icon whose voice, persona, and influence shaped generations. Known as the “Prince of Darkness,” Ozzy‘s contributions to music extended far beyond his groundbreaking work with Sabbath, cementing him as a cultural figurehead through his solo career and larger-than-life presence.
Writer and extreme metal devotee, Ialdagorth has spent over a decade covering the darkest corners of heavy music. A black metal lifer, he spends his free time wandering the Carpathian Mountains, likely humming blast beats to the trees.
