The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony reached legendary status with a show-stopping, career-spanning tribute to the one and only Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne, honored for his groundbreaking solo career. The night erupted as Metallica—James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo, and Lars Ulrich—tore into “Crazy Train,” with Hetfield perfectly capturing Ozzy’s signature howl while Hammett shredded Randy Rhoads’ iconic solo, complete with pyro blasts that lit up the stage.
The crowd roared as Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello took over, delivering a mind-bending, wah-drenched performance of “Bark at the Moon,” his fingers flying across the fretboard in a tribute to Jake E. Lee’s underrated virtuosity. Then, in a surprise twist, Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl—dressed in a flowing black robe reminiscent of Ozzy’s Diary of a Madman era—pounded the drums before grabbing the mic for a powerhouse rendition of “Mr. Crowley,” with the original song’s haunting keyboard intro played live by none other than former Ozzy keyboardist Don Airey.
The emotional core of the night came when Zakk Wylde, Ozzy’s longtime guitarist and spiritual heir, emerged with his signature bullseye Les Paul for a soul-stirring, extended solo during “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” his fingers bending notes with such raw emotion that even Sharon Osbourne was seen wiping away tears in the front row. Just when the crowd thought it couldn’t get any bigger, Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler—wearing a “No More Tours” shirt in a cheeky nod to Ozzy’s final tour—joined the all-star ensemble for a crushing, downtuned finale of “Paranoid,” with Grohl back on drums, Morello and Wylde trading solos, and Hetfield growling the backing vocals.
As the final chord rang out, Ozzy—dressed in a sequined jacket with a cane in hand (but still full of mischief)—shuffled onstage, flashing his trademark grin before quipping, “Not bad for a bloke who was supposed to be dead 40 years ago!” He thanked his family, fans, and fellow musicians, adding, “This is why rock ‘n’ roll will never die—because of nights like this!” The tribute was a perfect storm of nostalgia, virtuosity, and pure heavy metal glory, leaving no doubt that Ozzy’s legacy as the godfather of shock rock is forever etched in history.