NEED TO KNOW
- Ozzy Osbourne’s tribute performance at the MTV VMAs featured Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Yungblud and Nuno Bettencourt
- Together, they sang “Crazy Train,” “Changes” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home”
- Osbourne died on July 22 at age 76
Ozzy Osbourne’s life and legacy were honored at the MTV VMAs.
In a rocking tribute performance for the late Black Sabbath frontman, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Yungblud and Nuno Bettencourt took the stage at the awards show on Sunday, Sept. 7 to sing a medley of his greatest hits.
The performance opened with Yungblud, 28, singing “Crazy Train” and “Changes” with Bettencourt on guitar.
Then, the Aerosmith members came out to sing “Mama, I’m Coming Home” and Yungblud joined in on vocals.
After the performance, the group shared a sweet embrace and Yungblud yelled out, “Ozzy forever man!”
Speaking with PEOPLE on the red carpet ahead of the show, Bettencourt, 58, told PEOPLE his “15-year-old self couldn’t “believe” he would be performing a tribute for the late rocker.
“We’re gonna blow the roof off the place and I think the fans are gonna be pleased. Maybe a few tears at the end,” he said.
Osbourne died at age 76 on July 22. Days before, he held his final concert with Black Sabbath at Villa Park in Birmingham, England. Tyler, Yungblud and Bettencourt were in attendance.
After his death, fellow musicians wrote touching tributes for the star, including Aerosmith.
“We’re heartbroken to hear about the passing of our brother in rock, Ozzy Osbourne. A voice that changed music forever,” they wrote on Instagram.
“From Black Sabbath to his solo work, Ozzy redefined what it meant to be heavy. He did it all with heart, grit, and that wild spirit only he could bring,” continued the statement. “Our love goes out to Sharon, his family, his band, and the millions around the world who felt his fire.”
As for Yungblud, Osbourne and his wife Sharon previously appeared in his “The Funeral” music video in 2022. He also gave Osbourne a custom necklace before the final show and vowed to play Black Sabbath’s “Changes” each night “for the rest of my life” following his death.
Click here to see all of PEOPLE’s MTV VMAs coverage.
Bettencourt performed with Osbourne at the show, and his band Extreme honored him with a medley of his hits at a concert in Zürich last month.
The 2025 MTV VMAs, hosted by LL Cool J, also featured performances from Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Sombr, Alex Warren, J Balvin featuring DJ Snake, Post Malone, Doja Cat, Jelly Roll, Conan Gray and Tate McRae, among others.
The 2025 MTV VMAs air live from New York’s UBS Arena on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and MTV. The ceremony will also stream on Paramount+.
Read the full article here