In one of the most powerful send-offs in rock history, Queen guitarist Brian May and Black Sabbath co-founder Tony Iommi made a surprise appearance at Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral, delivering a thunderous, soul-stirring performance of “Paranoid” — the song that helped define a genre and launch a legend.
Held at London’s historic Royal Albert Hall, the service had already seen emotional tributes from friends, family, and music royalty. But when the lights dimmed, a single spotlight hit the stage, and two guitar gods emerged with weathered Les Pauls in hand — the crowd rose to their feet before a single note was played.
What followed was raw, electrifying, and unforgettable.
“Paranoid” Like You’ve Never Heard It Before
With Tony Iommi playing the iconic opening riff and Brian May weaving in haunting harmonics, the two legends unleashed a blistering but deeply emotional version of “Paranoid,” one of Black Sabbath’s most enduring anthems.
There was no Ozzy on vocals this time — and there didn’t need to be. The guitars spoke for him.
The performance was both a celebration and a cry of pain, echoing with loss, fury, and love. The final notes rang out over a stunned audience, many holding candles or photos of Ozzy through the decades.
As the feedback faded, the room was silent.
And then Brian May stepped forward.
Brian May’s Words: “The Sky’s Louder Now…”
Fighting back tears, Brian looked down at Sharon Osbourne, who sat clutching a small cross necklace, tears silently streaming down her face.
He raised his mic and said:
“There will never be another voice like Ozzy’s… but tonight, the sky’s louder than ever. Somewhere up there, he’s still screaming into the stars… and we’re all just lucky we got to hear him while he was here.”
There was no applause — only the sound of sobs. Even lifelong rockers like Geezer Butler and James Hetfield were visibly moved, heads bowed, overcome by the weight of the moment.
A Final Riff for the Prince of Darkness
Ozzy Osbourne, the man who co-created heavy metal with his brothers in Black Sabbath, had always joked that he wanted to go out “with one last loud f***ing bang.” And he got it — not with chaos, but with pure reverence from the men who knew him best.
Brian May and Tony Iommi, longtime friends and collaborators, hadn’t shared a stage together in years. But for Ozzy, they did. And their guitars wept, roared, and remembered — just as he would’ve wanted.
Sharon Osbourne’s Silent Tribute
After the performance, Sharon remained seated, gently touching the side of Ozzy’s coffin, wrapped in black leather and adorned with silver crosses.
She later whispered to a friend, according to one source:
“He would’ve loved this. Brian. Tony. ‘Paranoid’… That was his heaven.”
A Goodbye Carved in Stone and Sound
As mourners left the venue, many stopped to reflect at a black marble plaque set just outside, etched with Ozzy’s words:
“I’m not afraid of dying. I’m afraid of being forgotten.”
Thanks to moments like this — and friends like May and Iommi — that fear never stood a chance.
Rest in power, Ozzy. The riffs haven’t stopped — they’ve just moved to a louder stage.
