How do you induct the Prince of Darkness into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? With an all-star celebration. On Saturday night, Billy Idol, Jelly Roll, and Tool frontman Maynard Keenan gathered to sing songs from throughout Ozzy Osbourne‘s solo career.
The tribute started with Crazy Train, with Wolfgang Van Halen playing a ripping solo as Keenan took on the vocals. Jelly stepped up next, singing Ozzy’s iconic power ballad “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” Zakk Wylde finished off the song with a predictably impressive solo as his own, as Billy Idol then took center stage for “No More Tears.”
The whole tribute took place as Ozzy sat in approval on his gigantic bat throne.
Earlier this month, the Rock Hall announced all the musicians who would participate in Osbourne’s musical tribute, which followed Jack Black’s speech inducting the artist as a solo artist and Osbourne’s acceptance speech. At the time, Osbourne, who has been recovering from injuries in recent years, was not listed as one of the performers and did not answer questions about whether or not he’d perform.
Osbourne told Rolling Stone he was excited to hear each of the vocalists sing his songs, calling Idol “a rock icon” and Keenan “a creative force.” He was especially excited to hear Jelly Roll. “Who doesn’t love Jelly Roll?” he says. “His voice is soulful, pure, and dirty. I’m so honored that someone would do this for me who I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting.”
He was similarly excited about the guitarists who would be playing his songs. Osbourne, who is known for his great ear for guitar talent, explained he was looking for “individuality, having your own sound, and [how] the guitar is your voice” in guitarists. The guitarists at the Rock Hall delivered those qualities with aplomb. They included Zakk Wylde, who has been Osbourne’s right-hand man for most of the past 40 years, record producer Andrew Watt, who helmed Osbourne’s last two albums and played guitar on them, Steve Stevens, who plays in Billy Idol’s band, and Wolfgang Van Halen. (Watt also served as music director for the performance.)
The rhythm section supporting the performance was a class act, including bassist Robert Trujillo, who joined Metallica after several years in Osbourne’s band, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, who played drums on Osbourne’s last two records. “You honestly couldn’t get a better rhythm section than Robert Trujillo and Chad Smith,” Osbourne told Rolling Stone.
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The induction marked the second time the Rock Hall inducted Osbourne. The institution recognized him in 2006 as a member of Black Sabbath; Metallica performed “Hole in the Sky” and “Iron Man” in their honor that year. He was eligible for nomination as a solo artist that year but wasn’t nominated officially until this year. He was voted in immediately.
“I don’t know what to think,” Osbourne said earlier in October. “I’m still in shock that I’m getting inducted for a second time. But at the same time, I’m very excited.”
