Rock legend Rod Stewart caused a stir at his concert last week when he paid tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne using AI-generated imagery. During an August 1 show in Alpharetta, Georgia – part of Stewart’s ongoing One Last Time tour – the singer dedicated his classic song “Forever Young” to Osbourne, who died on July 22 at age 76. Partway through the performance, the video screens transitioned from real photos of the Black Sabbath frontman to a series of surreal, AI-created scenes depicting Osbourne in a heavenly setting. The virtual Ozzy was shown smiling and posing alongside other departed music legends including Prince, Tina Turner, Freddie Mercury, Bob Marley, Kurt Cobain, George Michael and Amy Winehouse, all gathered on cloud-like backdrops. Stewart even included a few more controversial late figures, such as Michael Jackson and rapper XXXTentacion, in the digital montage.
The unexpected tribute left many in the audience bewildered. Some fans shared clips and reactions on social media, calling the AI visuals “bizarre” and debating whether the gesture was touching or in poor taste. At a prior concert days earlier, Stewart himself acknowledged the dark fates of the icons he was honoring. “Very sad. A lot of those people died ’cause of drugs… I’m still here, though!” he quipped on stage, eliciting a mix of laughter and groans. Reps for Stewart and Osbourne’s family have not commented on the AI tribute. Stewart, 78, was a close friend of Ozzy’s and had posted a heartfelt goodbye on Instagram upon news of his death, writing, “Bye bye Ozzy. I’ll see you up there—later rather than sooner.” His tour continues through the fall, so it remains to be seen if the polarizing homage will appear again at future shows.
