Dan Hawkins , guitarist for The Darkness , criticized the tribute to Ozzy Osbourne at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) that took place last Sunday, the 7th, at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, calling the artists a "bunch of idiots".
The performance featured Yungblud , Nuno Bettencourt , guitarist of Extreme , and Adam Wakeman , keyboardist of Black Sabbath , playing Ozzy's "Crazy Train" and Black Sabbath's "Changes." Following that, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith joined in to sing "Mama, I'm Coming Home."
Dan Hawkins used his Instagram account last Monday, a day after the tribute, to criticize the performance. The musician wrote: “Another nail in the coffin of rock n' roll. Cynical, nauseating and, most importantly, bullshit. It disgusts me to see how people exploit this bullshit to boost their careers.”
However, some followers suggest that the criticism was directed at pop artist Ariana Grande , who appears in the video Hawkins posted. The guitarist received some criticism in the comments section, with one follower writing: “I hope you’re talking about Ariana and not the performance. If so, what the hell?”
Another user said: “I don’t understand what makes you so angry. All these guys performed with and for Ozzy at the Back To The Beginning and are his friends […] The VMAs wanted to honor Ozzy and his legacy! I love you, man, but I don’t understand!”
Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne
The 2025 edition of the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) was marked by a moving tribute to Ozzy Osbourne , led by Steven Tyler , Joe Perry , Nuno Bettencourt , and YUNGBLUD .
The supergroup delivered a thrilling seven-minute performance blending the classics “Crazy Train,” “Changes,” and “Mama, I'm Coming Home” as a tribute to the eternal Prince of Darkness, who passed away at the end of July at the age of 76 due to a heart attack and acute myocardial infarction .
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