OPETH Pay Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne With Live Cover of Black Sabbath’s “Solitude”

Swedish progressive metal legends Opeth honored the late Ozzy Osbourne with a heartfelt tribute during their set at Beyond The Gates festival in Bergen, Norway this past Friday, August 1st. The band performed a live rendition of Black Sabbath’s melancholic classic “Solitude”, originally released on their 1971 album Master of Reality.

Following Osbourne’s passing on July 22nd, Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt took to social media to share a deeply personal tribute to the man he credits as one of his earliest and most profound influences:

“So that dreadful day finally came. John Michael Osbourne has left us, and it’s so incredibly hard to accept it. Even if I have braced myself for this inevitable fact since the 80’s it just feels completely unreal.

He was like an ancient oak tree to me. A listed tree that people would visit and marvel at.

Ozzy came into my life in the late 70’s/early 80’s (I can’t remember exactly, I admit) when I heard ‘Iron Man’ on a cassette player in Sörskogen/Huddinge/Stockholm. I was just a child, and that voice in the beginning scared the living daylights out of me. Black Sabbath was my introduction to heavy rock/metal and has remained a lifelong companion since.”

He continued:

“If it wasn’t for Ozzy and Black Sabbath, my interest in music (as a whole) wouldn’t have taken off as it did. I became obsessed with them, and I suppose I still am.”

“The closest engagement I had with him was when he shuffled past me at an award show and kinda bumped into me. I remember thinking, ‘this might become my only Ozzy story.’ He felt that illuminated and untouchable just walking past.”

“There’s so much to be said about his musical wealth which he showered on the world of music, but I’d only repeat what countless others have already said. All I know is that the world is a lesser place without him around.”

Åkerfeldt concluded with:

“The beacon that was Ozzy Osbourne has gone dark and silent. Luckily, his music remains for our eternal enjoyment, and for that I am so grateful. Our warmest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.”

You can watch OPETH’s full tribute performance of “Solitude” below.

Do you love independent bands, or are you in one? The Mosh Network is not just a rock/metal news website, but it doubles as an independent band directory, designed so that visitors can browse independent bands by not just subgenre, but location as well. It’s perfect to keep your finger on the pulse of your area’s hottest and newest bands or if you’re in a band, it’s a great way to find bands to network with! Click the banner below and start discovering bands all over the world, now!