Johnny Depp Pays Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne During Concert Surprise
Johnny Depp is paying tribute to one of his rock icons.
The actor surprised fans by joining Alice Cooper mid-concert during Cooper's July 25 show at London's O2 Arena to honor Ozzy Osbourne three days after the Black Sabbath legend's family announced his death at age 76.
In a video posted to YouTube, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor joined Cooper and his band mid-song as they rocked out to Black Sabbath's "Paranoid," with Depp expertly playing the bass guitar as fans cheered with excitement.
"Here's for Ozzy," Cooper—who was wearing an Osbourne fan T-shirt for the performance—chanted to the crowd.
Earlier that day, Cooper shared his fondest memories of The Osbournes alum—who battled Parkinson's disease in the years leading up to his passing—while reflecting on decades of being peers in the heavy metal scene.
"I was on my way to the stage when I heard about [his death]," Cooper said in an interview with Planet Rock on July 25. "And I went, 'Oh, that's not right.' He just did this. And I saw him. He was signing well. But when it finally hit, it was just one of those, 'Yeah.' Even though you know it's coming. What a shock to the system."
"At the end of the show, I just said, 'Everybody, let's say goodnight to Ozzy,'" he added. "And everybody just [chanted], 'Ozzy, Ozzy.' He was a very beloved character in rock."
Depp and Cooper aren't the only musicians who were deeply affected by the rock icon's death.
Yungblud (real name Dominic Harrison) vowed to play "Changes"—Black Sabbath's 1972 hit that Yungblud covered during Ozzy's final concert earlier this year—every night for the rest of his life as tribute.
"I’m trying to compute the last couple days and honestly I’m absolutely f--king shattered," Yungblud wrote on Instagram July 24. "You have been my North Star for everything for as long as I can remember from when I was misunderstood as a child to the way people thought I was just a little 'too much' or 'strange' in my life and career."
The 27-year-old continued, "I promise you with all my heart I will try my best and make it my life’s journey to keep the sprit that you started and what you have taught me alive. I will give it my best shot."
As for how Osbourne's family is coping with his passing, daughter Kelly Osbourne shared a touching tribute on her Instagram Story July 24 that simply included the heart-wrenching lyrics to "Changes."
"I feel unhappy,” the 40-year-old wrote. “I am so sad. I lost the best friend I ever had."
Keep reading to look back at Ozzy Osbourne's life in photos.
Before being known as Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Tommy Iommi performed under the name Earth.
The heavy metal band members were ready to rock as they posed for this shot.
Ozzy, born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England, in 1948, struggled with school early on. It was his passion for music that ultimately helped him move forward.
“I left school with a little more education than when I first started going,” he told The Associated Press in 2010. “Because of my dyslexia, I couldn’t learn. So, I was teased a lot by one of my sister about not bing able to read. It’s very shameful.”
“If it wasn’t for The Beatles turning me onto music in a big way, I don’t know what I would have done,” he continued. “Music has been the main thing that got me out of the area, the place I was born.”
In 1968, he and his friends formed Black Sabbath, inspired by the film of the same name, with their self-titled debut album earning major commercial success. In 1971, he married his first wife Thelma Riley, with whom he shared kids Jessica Osbourne, Louis Osbourne and Elliot Kingsley.
The “Paranoid” singer, donning shiny pants embellished with a snake, embraced the crowd during the band’s set at the California Jam music festival.
Black Sabbath walked the streets of London in style.
The band performed at the iconic Hammersmith Odeon—now named the Eventim Apollo—in London.
Tony, Ozzy, Geezer and Bill were all smiles as they showed off their silver recording certification for Technical Ecstasy.
Ozzy was happy to sink his teeth into a macabre photo shoot. He was fired from Black Sabbath the year before due to his struggles with alcohol and drug abuse.
"Money would be the alcohol and the drugs and I behaved badly,” he said in his documentary Biography: The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne of that time. "That was one of the lowest points of my life.”
Ozzy—as a solo artist—took the stage at Madison Square Garden for his Diary of a Madman tour, just two days after he infamously bit into a dead bat that was thrown onto the stage, which he believed was fake.
"I just thought it was a rubber bat," Ozzy said in the documentary, "and I just put it in my mouth and crunched down. I just f--king bit into it, you know, being the f--king clown that I am [and was like], 'Oh no! It's real.'"
Later that year, he married his manager, Sharon Arden.
The “Iron Man” singer, donning his iconic dark eyeliner, posed with a cigarette before a performance in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Ozzy and Sharon welcomed their first child together, Aimee Osbourne.
Ozzy and Motlëy Crüe’s Vince Neil posed after performing for their Bark at the Moon tour. Ozzy and Sharon welcomed their daughter Kelly Osbourne.
Ozzy and Sharon, who tied the knot in 1982, were in paradise as they vacationed in Brazil. They also welcomed their son, Jack Osbourne.
Posing for pics before a performance in Chicago on July 13, 1986.
Ozzy at home with Sharon and their kids Kelly, Jack and Aimee.
The British star showcased his '80s rockstar hair for this portrait in his garden in May 1988.
In August 1989, Ozzy's band performed at the Moscow Music Peace Festival in Russia.
The singer proved he was a style icon as he posed in round-rimmed sunglasses and a black and red theatrical military-inspired ensemble.
Black Sabbath made its mark as the band members left their handprints at the Rock Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.
Ozzy sang his heart out at Terminal 1 in Munich, Germany.
A portrait of the Osbourne family at their luxury home in Beverly Hills.
Black Sabbath proved their bond was forever as they celebrated 30 years as a band. Ozzy had rejoined one year earlier.
In 1999, the rocker attended the unveiling of the Ozzy Osbourne Action Figure at McFarlane Toy Showroom in New York City.
The Grammy-winner rocked his signature black leather style at the 2000 Grammy Awards.
Ozzy and Sharon’s lives were on full display for the past year as they starred in their reality TV show The Osbournes from 2002 until 2005.
Kelly proved she was daddy’s little girl as she attended Black Sabbath’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Ozzy performed at the Gods of Metal Festival in Milan, Italy.
Ozzy and Sharon attended the premiere of Amy at ArcLight Cinemas in Los Angeles.
One year later, Ozzy and Sharon had taken a break after the latter had cheated on his wife. The couple ultimately reconciled, with Ozzy sharing on Good Morning America that they were “back on track again.”
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer had emphasized that Sharon was, in fact, the One.
"She's the only one I've ever loved in my life," he said of his wife during his documentary. "I mean, she's my soulmate."
The rock legend was glowing as he announced his No More Tours II: Final World Tour during a press conference.
Ozzy looked back at his star-studded life, realizing that he had done a lot during his 50-year career.
"I never thought I'd make it this far," he told Rolling Stone in 2018 while reflecting on his career. "I don't understand why I'm alive still after the hell-raising days. I guess whoever the man is upstairs, if there even is one, wants me to stick around."
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