Oasis Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne at First Concert Since His Death
Jaden Patel here. Yes, nothing says collective therapy like cranking up a few power chords in front of tens of thousands of people who are all pretending they are not crying.
Oasis took the stage at Manchester Park on June 10 for their first live performance since the passing of rock icon Ozzy Osbourne on April 27. The Gallagher brothers paused mid-set to dedicate an acoustic rendition of ‘Mama, I’m Coming Home’ to the Prince of Darkness. People Magazine noted that Noel Gallagher’s voice cracked as he said, ‘This one’s for you, Ozzy. Thanks for the silence before the storm,’ while Rolling Stone reported that Liam’s trademark sneer softened into a genuine smile as the crowd raised beer cups in salute.
Fans at the sold-out venue described a scene that felt half concert, half vigil. According to BBC News, bruised voices echoed through the arena as thousands of voices joined the chorus. Security cameras even caught a few tearful headbangers, which is either a new Olympic sport or just British understatement gone wild.
In true Oasis fashion, the tribute wasn’t all solemnity. Noel tossed his guitar pick into the crowd with a shrug, quipping, ‘If Ozzy can survive bat-biting stunts, I can survive stage dive number 237.’ Liam chipped in, offering a beer to a fan who shouted ‘Ozzy!’—a moment Rolling Stone called ‘the most generous gesture in rock history, excluding guitar riffs.’
The significance of the tribute reaches beyond one song. Oasis has cited Ozzy Osbourne as a pivotal influence since their early days in Manchester. Backstage pass photos from a 2003 Ozzfest appearance, first shared by People Magazine, show a young Noel gawking at Ozzy’s platform boots and Liam trying on a leather jacket. That youthful awe came full circle on Saturday night, as the brothers paid respect to the man who menaced heavy metal and made it mainstream.
Setlist staples like ‘Wonderwall’ and ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ bookended the tribute with trademark Oasis swagger. Yet the solemn chords of ‘Mama, I’m Coming Home’ reminded everyone why rock concerts sometimes double as memorial services. Camera operators from BBC News captured the Gallagher brothers exchanging a brief, wordless glance—a silent admission that some musical debts are paid in tears.
Beyond the emotional centerpiece, journalists observed that the band’s energy felt restorative. According to Rolling Stone, the crowd erupted into applause after every chorus, treating the night less like a eulogy and more like a communal heartbeat. The cheers drowned out any suggestion that rock grief must be quiet or polite.
So that is how you salute a legend with a few chords, a couple of anecdotes, and a whole lot of British dry humor. The Gallagher brothers left the stage under a shower of confetti and raised fists, proving that even in mourning, rock stars never lose their flair for theatrics.
And there you have it. Tune in next time when someone else tries to make a ballad out of chaos.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Rolling Stone, BBC News
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
