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Rod Stewart has recently been paying tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne during his US concerts. He uses simple video images and a song dedication each night. But now the tribute includes a surprising and strange AI video. The AI video has drawn mixed reactions from fans and the music world alike.
Rod Stewart first expressed sadness when Ozzy died on July 22, 2025, at age 76. He wrote on social media:
"Bye bye Ozzy. Sleep well, my friend. I’ll see you up there – later rather than sooner."
Rod Stewart began dedicating his 1988 song “Forever Young” to Ozzy at his concerts. That song played with a simple photo of Ozzy on the screen behind him. That changed recently when an AI video was added.
What is in Rod Stewart's AI Video tribute?
The AI video by Rod Stewart shows Ozzy Osbourne taking selfies in heaven with famous dead musicians. The list includes Prince, Tina Turner, Freddie Mercury, Kurt Cobain, Bob Marley, Amy Winehouse, XXXTentacion, and others. In the video, they appear together with a selfie stick.
This surprise part first appeared at a show in Atlanta on August 1 during his “One Last Time” tour. Fans recorded it and shared it online. The addition of figures like XXXTentacion and Michael Jackson raised eyebrows because their legacies remain controversial. Some fans found the video disrespectful. They called it “cringe,” “odd,” or “deeply disrespectful.”
Mixed reaction from fans and media
Some fans like the creativity. They think it is a new way to honor Ozzy and remember other music artists, too. They like the visual idea of legends together in heaven.
One user, @ashuntyi, commented on Instagram saying,
"Am I missing something? I don’t understand how this is disrespectful?"
Another user @thethirdarrow commented on Instagram saying,
"Being buried with my selfie stick like a modern day pharaoh so I can join in"
Others strongly dislike it. They feel the video is tacky and insensitive. They worry the AI's faces look odd. This uneven art style has been called “AI slop” in the media. TechRadar, for example, described the effect as uncanny and pointed out factual mistakes like calling his band “Black Sabbat” instead of “Black Sabbath.”
A user @peterlanee commented on X,
"So Rod Stewart has been on tour dedicating Forever Young to Ozzy… and now he’s showing the AI generated video of him in heaven taking selfies with all these dead artists… I’ve seen some shitty AI visuals in concerts but this is a new low."
Another user, @annahotdogs, commented on Instagram saying,
"This is a crime that should be prosecuted to the fullest extent"
Some fans also felt that using “Forever Young” by Alphaville as background music was odd. They said Ozzy had more fitting songs in his catalog.
Why did Rod Stewart play the AI video tribute?
Rod Stewart had a long career and knew Ozzy. They were both icons in rock music. Stewart has been paying tribute with his song every night since Ozzy died. Now the AI video adds a visual tribute too.
He likely hopes to add emotion and creativity to his shows. The AI video is meant to make fans remember Ozzy Osbourne and other stars in a novel way. But some feel it oversteps a respectful tone.
The music world responded when Ozzy died. Many musicians posted public messages. Names include Elton John, Alice Cooper, members of Metallica, and others. They expressed grief and shared memories. Public memorials also emerged. Thousands filed through Birmingham streets to leave flowers. A public funeral procession honored Ozzy’s life.
There have also been petitions to rename a stage at Download Festival and Birmingham Airport after Ozzy. One petition reached over 57,000 signatures.
Rod Stewart’s tribute began as a simple, heartfelt gesture. It was a nightly dedication of “Forever Young” with an image or photo of Ozzy. Now the show includes a bold AI video. That has led to mixed feelings. Some fans admire the creativity and feel the video brings attention to Ozzy’s legacy in a new way. Others see it as strange or disturbing. They say it may disrespect Ozzy’s memory.
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