Nuno Bettencourt channels Randy Rhoads for Yungblud’s Ozzy Osbourne tribute
Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt brought the unmistakable spirit of Randy Rhoads to life during Yungblud’s emotional tribute to Ozzy Osbourne at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards this past Sunday (7 September).
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The show, held at New York’s UBS Arena, came less than two months after Osbourne’s passing at the age of 76. A video introduction from Ozzy’s son Jack and his family set the tone, recalling his legacy before Yungblud launched into Ozzy’s solo hit Crazy Train.
Backed by Bettencourt, whose fiery solos echoed Rhoads’ iconic playing, Yungblud channelled the raw energy of Osbourne’s 1980 solo debut. The tribute then shifted gears with a moving performance of Black Sabbath’s Changes, before Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry joined in for a rousing rendition of Mama, I’m Coming Home.
YUNGBLUD and Steven Tyler pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne at the #VMAs pic.twitter.com/JmmFcfUZdn
— Variety (@Variety) September 8, 2025
The performance closed with Yungblud shouting “Ozzy forever, man!”, followed by archival footage of Osbourne himself bidding fans goodnight.
Watch the full tribute below.
This was not the first time Yungblud and Bettencourt had honoured Osbourne together. Back in July, they performed at Black Sabbath’s Back to the Beginning farewell concert in Birmingham, an event that took on extra weight given Osbourne’s passing just weeks later.
Joined by Sleep Token’s II and longtime Ozzy collaborator Adam Wakeman, the group delivered a heartfelt rendition of Changes.
After Osbourne’s death, Yungblud vowed to play the song “every night for the rest of my life”.
“To sing this song for you at an event surrounded by legends inspired by you to a crowd who loved you was truly my life’s greatest honour,” he said at the time.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
