Ozzy Osbourne has left us, as the legendary singer and songwriter died on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025 at the age of 76. As part of the progenitors of metal, Black Sabbath, Osbourne helped to shape an entire genre of music, and without his work, we here in the nu world don't have the music we love. As such, tributes have spread all over social media from prominent figures in the nu metal scene.
This is by no means a complete list, as memories and homages continue to pour in in the hours and days following the news, but as this is a developing story, more will come.
Nu metal originators Korn have paid homage to Ozzy, remembering their numerous firsts that were shared with Ozzy and Sharon. Guitarist Brian "Head" Welch offered up his gratitude on his own socials, hoping that Ozzy reunites with his first guitar player Randy Rhoads in the great beyond.
Korn had to cancel on the 1998 Ozzfest, but would play the UK and Israel legs of 2010's Ozzfest, as well as the Japan leg of the 2015 tour.
Ozzy took us on our very first big arena tour. He and Sharon presented us with our first gold record. He taught us so much about the music industry, and we looked up to him. We love you forever, our Prince of Darkness. Thank you for all of the unforgettable memories and for… pic.twitter.com/oxtWkuU7ra
— Korn (@Korn) July 22, 2025
Chevelle acknowledged Ozzfest's impact on their early years, as they made back-to-back appearances at the 2002 and 2003 tours.
Ozzy and Ozzfest were a huge help and a big bump in our career back in 2002 and 2003.
— Chevelle (@ChevelleInc) July 22, 2025
Thanks Ozzy for so many years of great music and inspiration. You will be missed. pic.twitter.com/HbotDPUKWf
Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine kept his public tribute brief, though his work as the musical director for the "Back to the Beginning" show which served as Ozzy's final performance speaks volumes on its own. Morello's supergroup Prophets of Rage played the 2017 Ozzfest Meets Knotfest.
Though he received a less-than-favorable reaction at "Back to the Beginning," David Draiman of Disturbed remembered Ozzy as a teacher, "a father to us all," and a friend. Disturbed was on Ozzfest six different times, including four straight years from 2000 to 2003.
Flavor Flav of Public Enemy posted photos of himself with Ozzy past and present, while also remembering Ozzy's solo induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year.
Man,,, real heart broken over the passing of OZZY OSBOURNE,,, we go way back and it was a real honor to watch him get inducted into the @rockhall last year. Sending my love and prayers to Sharon and his kids and whole family. RIP 🤍 pic.twitter.com/YVKpAz6FKg
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) July 22, 2025
Daron Malakian of System of a Down and Scars on Broadway posted a shot of himself and Ozzy that was part of a larger group photo for Ozzfest 1998, back when Malakian "was still a kid." System of a Down played Ozzfest several different times.
If you can see my face and my eyes in this pic you can see that I felt like I was in a dream. That’s because as a kid Ozzy was such a big deal for me he actually appeared in my dreams. I was only 22 or 23 yrs old when this pic was taken, so I was still a kid. pic.twitter.com/tApCNVvBHk
— Daron Malakian (@daronmalakian) July 22, 2025
Ice-T of Body Count gives the nod to Ozzy and Black Sabbath as "the Creators of Heavy Metal," and there's no argument from us on the matter. Body Count played the most recent Ozzfest in 2018.
If you can see my face and my eyes in this pic you can see that I felt like I was in a dream. That’s because as a kid Ozzy was such a big deal for me he actually appeared in my dreams. I was only 22 or 23 yrs old when this pic was taken, so I was still a kid. pic.twitter.com/tApCNVvBHk
— Daron Malakian (@daronmalakian) July 22, 2025
The surviving members of Static-X shared a classic photo of the band with the late Wayne Static and Ozzy. They played Ozzfest in 1999, 2000, and 2007, with the last of those appearances featuring guitarist John 5.
As you may all know, today we lost not only a legend, but a pioneer in what became modern heavy music.
— Static-X (@OfficialStaticX) July 23, 2025
To Sharon and Ozzy’s children, his family, loved ones, friends, and bandmates, our prayers and thoughts are with you. May the Prince of Darkness RIP.
-Tony, Ken, and Koichi pic.twitter.com/QmA5gIdLzf
Diamond Rowe of Tetrarch penned a heartfelt letter, shouting out The Osbournes reality show, the song "Perry Mason," and the inspiration Ozzy gave her throughout her career and life.
Machine Head learned of Ozzy's death a mere 20 minutes before their first show of their current European tour in Linz, Austria, and called an audible. They opened the performance with "Diary of a Madman," a staple of their show for nearly all of their tenure, before launching into "War Pigs" and "Children of the Grave."
