DISTURBED Pay Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne With Black Sabbath Cover at Sturgis Rally

Disturbed paid tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne on Tuesday night (August 5) with a performance of Black Sabbath’s iconic track “Paranoid” during their set at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota.

Earlier today, the band shared footage of the cover along with a message that read:

“Ozzy Osbourne isn’t just the Godfather of Metal. He was the father to many of us, he was someone that we could look up to, he was an idol, he was someone that inspired us. Last night marked two weeks since he left us. Thanks for sharing this moment with us, Sturgis.”

Back in March, frontman David Draiman appeared on ‘Whiplash’, the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie, and shared some personal reflections about touring with Ozzy Osbourne over the years.

“So much. Ozzy is the godfather of metal. He’s like a father to all of us. I love the man. I love his family. I couldn’t have more reverence for any human being on this planet. I think that one of the times that definitely stays in my mind that taught me that sometimes you just need to find the strength to push through was one particular Ozzfest — I think it was our third one — and Ozzy wasn’t feeling so well that day. He was having a little bit of difficulty. And I remember Zakk [Wylde] and Sharon [Osbourne] coming over to me, asking me if I would be willing to take over the set. And I’m, like, ‘No. They want Ozzy. They don’t want me.’ I’m, like, ‘I haven’t rehearsed.’ I said to her, ‘I haven’t rehearsed. I don’t know all the songs by heart.’ And she’s, like, ‘Well, there’s a goddamn teleprompter on the stage. Just read the words.’ I’m, like, ‘Yeah, well, it’s not that simple.’ And then Ozzy had retreated back into his little vocal area, his little draped off area, and he was gargling and using a spray and trying to get himself clear. And he took a few more minutes and then he came back out and he started belting it out, and it’s like he pushed through whatever frog was in his throat, and his face lit up, and the energy immediately changed. And he ended up not only finishing the set, but I think playing an additional 15 or 20 minutes, and it was inspiring — it really was.”

Speaking about his appearance at the ‘Back To The Beginning’ charity concert in Birmingham, UK — which marked the final appearance of Black Sabbath‘s original lineup and Ozzy’s last solo performance — Draiman said:

“The man has been through so much. The man has done so much, and between Ozzy, Sabbath, you’re talking about the most seminal frontman and the most seminal band for hard rock and heavy metal in existence. I couldn’t be more honored. I couldn’t be more humbled to be a part of it. And I’m going to be like a kid in a candy store that day. It’s very, very surreal for me.”

In an interview with Billboard earlier this year, Draiman added:

“Elated to be part of it, humbled and honored. It’s the most seminal frontman and band for hard rock and heavy metal. The second record I ever bought, right after KISS ‘Destroyer’, was [Sabbath’s] ‘We Sold Our Soul For Rock ‘N’ Roll’. I love Ozzy. I love the Osbourne family. They’ve been so supportive, such a huge part of we’ve become who we’ve become. We could not have done it without them, so I’m intensely grateful. We all are. I hope that I can just do my little part to pay tribute to their legacy.”

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