Since yesterday, metal and rock fans, musicians and former bandmates paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, the frontman of heavy metal founders Black Sabbath, who passed away at the age of 76.
Black Sabbath have "lost our brother", said the band's co-founder Tony Iommi.
Bassist Terence "Geezer" Butler remembered their final gig and drummer Bill Ward shared a photo of them together.
Osbourne, known for energetic and controversial live shows, inspired a generation of musicians.
"It's impossible to put into words what Ozzy Osbourne has meant to Metallica," the band said in a statement on X. "Hero, icon, pioneer, inspiration, mentor, and, most of all, friend are a few that come to mind."
Chris dedicating tonight's show to Ozzy Osbourne 🤍#ColdplayNashville • nickm61 pic.twitter.com/PGstIWxw7S
— ColdplayXtra (@coldplayxtra) July 23, 2025
Henry Rollins, former frontman of hardcore band Black Flag, said it was "rare that somebody can be so synonymous" with a specific musical genre.
"But if you want to talk about heavy metal, first up it's Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. Everyone else comes after."
American rock band Aerosmith, whose main vocalist participated in Osbourne last performance, called him "our brother in rock", sending their love to "the millions around the world who felt his fire".
Less than three weeks ago, the self-styled "prince of darkness" performed in Birmingham supported by many of the musicians he had inspired, including Metallica and Guns 'n' Roses.
Billy Corgan, lead singer of The Smashing Pumpkins - one of the many bands that performed alongside them - said: "Some of the biggest musical artists in the world travelled from all over the world to be there literally to celebrate the legacy of this band.
"It's one of the greatest musical moments of my life," added Corgan, during his interview with BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight.
"For him to have been that close to death on July 5 and still get up there and perform like he promised... Wow! That puts him in a category of his own," Sammy Hagar, the lead vocalist of Van Halen who also played at the farewell concert for Osbourne, wrote on Instagram.
AC/DC posted that Osbourne's death was a "great loss to all that loved him", while Kiss bassist Gene Simmons told NBC News that behind the outgoing stage persona was a "loving father" and "dedicated husband".
Elton John posted on Instagram: "So sad to hear the news of Ozzy Osbourne passing away.
"He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods - a true legend.
"He was also one of the funniest people I've ever met. I will miss him dearly. To Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love."
Foo Fighters wrote that "Rock and Roll would not be as loud or as fun" without Osbourne; while Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant said he had "truly changed the planet of rock".
Variety magazine's senior entertainment editor Jem Aswad recalled the first time he met Osbourne, he was "nervous" to meet the prince of darkness.
"It was just this sort of really bizarre scene," Aswad told the BBC.
Meanwhile, fans gathered at the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, where they laid flowers on the star dedicated to Osbourne.
Black Sabbath were pioneers in the heavy metal genre of music, writing classic tracks like Paranoid, War Pigs and Iron Man.
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