Iconic 70s rock band comes out of retirement for ‘perfect’ Ozzy Osbourne tribute at VMAs
'Perfect tribute.'
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Previous Page Next PageThe spirit of Ozzy Osbourne was well and truly honoured at last night’s 2025 MTV Video Music Awards in New York.
The Black Sabbath hitmaker, who died in July aged 76, was honoured with a special medley tribute performance at the UBS Arena, which was introduced by a video message from his son Jack and his children.
Rocker Yungblud joined Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, together with Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, to perform hits including Crazy Train, Changes and Mama, I’m Coming Home.
It was a relief for Aerosmith fans to see the 77-year-old frontman back in action, after a vocal injury – which includes a fractured larynx and damaged vocal cords – marked the end of his touring days.
The Don’t Want to Miss a Thing hitmaker’s voice did manage to hit those high notes in I’m Coming Home, as he rocked out wearing a dark loose-fitted shirt and his hair down, singing the lyrics alongside 28-year-old Yungblud.
Steven Tyler and Joe Perry gave it all in New York last night (Picture: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for MTV) Yungblud led the tribute medley and was joined on stage by the Aerosmith rockers (Picture: Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images) The tribute has been called perfect by fans (Picture: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for MTV)Fans raved at the scenes – which will go down in VMAs history – as @bobbyseelye92 wrote on YouTube: ‘Coolest thing to happen on VMAs in the last 25 years.’
‘Now THAT was a proper tribute,’ said @carminecaligiuri, while @patiymuchoflowcrew said: ‘EVERYTHING about this performance, Steven’s voice and spirit still giving it all, also YB pulling out all the cards, and the way you can see Steven getting emotional at the very end when he flicks his hand and covers his face with it.
‘Respect, perfect tribute, perfect soulful, fiery performance all those involved!!’
Having damaged his vocal cords during Aerosmith’s Peace Out tour in 2023, Steven has since made the odd rare appearance on stage like when he performed at the Jam for Janie Grammys Viewing Party at the beginning of February
Quickly after though, former Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum shut down any thoughts of a possible musical comeback.
