Ozzy Osbourne’s Home Soccer Club Pays Tribute at Villa Park With ‘Crazy Train’ Walk-Out and Moment of Silence

The home team paid tribute to their favorite son on Saturday (Aug. 16) when the Aston Villa Football Club remembered Ozzy Osbourne while hosting their Premier League opener against Newcastle United at Villa Park. The home team honored the late rocker by having both teams walk out to a version of Ozzy’s solo hit “Crazy Train” that was recorded at the all-star July 5 Back to the Beginning event at which the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame icon performed with his Black Sabbath mates and solo for the last time before his death two weeks later at 76 on July 22.

The team also played a recording of the Osbourne ballad “Mama I’m Coming Home” during the match and played a video montage of Osbourne on the big screen, including an image in which the metal icon peered out with a comically maniacal look with his hands extended as the slogan “Up the Villa” surrounded his head.

Birmingham native Osbourne was a lifelong fan of the team — which is why he chose their home pitch at Villa Park for his final concert — and the band that performed at his public funeral on July 30, the Bostin Brass Band, was on hand in the stadium to play a series of Ozzy’s solo and Sabbath hits in the stadium’s fan zone during the game. Attendees could also visit the club store to sign a condolence, with the official matchday program also paying homage to Osbourne, with an illustration of a figure resembling the rocker walking up the steps to the stadium wearing a No. 9 jersey with the name “Ozzy” across the back.

Ahead of the game, the team wrote a note honoring Ozzy and laying out its plans. “Aston Villa Football Club will remember world-renowned rockstar and Villan, Ozzy Osbourne, ahead of Saturday’s Premier League opener against Newcastle United at Villa Park. Ozzy, who grew up in Aston, sadly passed away in July aged 76, having always held a special connection to the club and the community he came from,” read the statement.

“At the beginning of last month, the Prince of Darkness headlined the unforgettable Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park. He took to the stage for the final time with an all-star lineup of rock legends, including his iconic band Black Sabbath. At our first home game since his passing, the club will come together to pay tribute to Ozzy and his legacy in several ways. A video tribute will be shown on the big screens immediately following the players’ warmup, while the teams will walkout to a backdrop of Ozzy’s live ‘Crazy Train’ performance from Back to the Beginning.”

It noted that a mural was also commissioned for the external wall of the beloved Hotle Put that reads “Ozzy Forever” and features an image of Osbourne in a similar pose as the one seen inside the stadium in the tribute video, hands extended, moth open, sly smile on his face.

“We have also kept a little piece of history in the Fan Zone Bar which was used as the exclusive artist backstage area for Back to the Beginning. Parts of the original branding and carved trees are there for fans to see, touch, take photos and remember the night Ozzy celebrated where it all started,” the team statement continued. “In the Villa Store, our book of condolences is open for supporters to add their messages which will be then presented to Ozzy’s family. Aston Villa is proud to remember Ozzy Osbourne, a music legend, and his connection to our club.”

Watch the tributes below.