Alice Cooper paid heartfelt tribute to Ozzy Osbourne during a recent performance at London’s O2 Arena, just days after the legendary Black Sabbath frontman’s death at the age of 76. The rock icon honoured Osbourne with a powerful rendition of the classic 1970 hit Paranoid, bringing long-time friend and collaborator Johnny Depp on stage midway through the performance to join in on guitar.
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Wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with Osbourne’s image, Cooper raised his fist in a final salute as the song came to a close. The moment was part of a sold-out show with Judas Priest, timed to coincide with the release of The Revenge of Alice Cooper, the first album from the original Alice Cooper band in over five decades. Depp remained on stage for one final number, performing the iconic School’s Out alongside original bandmates Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith, and Michael Bruce.
The tribute carried added poignancy given Cooper and Depp’s longstanding friendship and musical partnership. Together, they’ve performed since 2012 in the supergroup Hollywood Vampires, which also includes Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and guitarist Tommy Henriksen. Their shared history brought further emotional weight to the evening’s performance.
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Speaking with Planet Rock the week prior, Cooper expressed his sorrow over Osbourne’s passing. “I was on my way to the stage when I heard,” he recalled. “And I went, ‘Oh, that’s not right. He just did this. And I saw him. He was singing well.’ Even when you know it’s coming, it’s still a shock to the system.”
