Producing the perfect ending to his legendary career, Ozzy Osbourne looked out at a crowd of thousands in Birmingham. Bringing together the original lineup of Black Sabbath for one last concert, the Prince of Darkness sadly passed away a few weeks later. Becoming an iconic moment in heavy metal, countless tributes poured in from artists, celebrities, and fans. Holding such a special place in the music industry, Ozzy received recognition as System of a Down recently remembered the icon with a performance of “Snowblind.”
Videos by American Songwriter
On Wednesday, System of a Down traveled to East Rutherford, New Jersey, to perform at MetLife Stadium. With fans packing the venue to see the band, they received a special treat when Daron Malakian expressed his love for Ozzy. Besides being a fan, it seemed he helped launch their career. “When we first started out, they put us on the road and we toured. And New York [and] New Jersey are some of the first places we toured in the United States.”
Daron Malakian Remembers Ozzy Osbourne Appearing In His Dreams
Always grateful for that opportunity, Malakian promised, “There was one tour that never did more for System of a Down: the Ozzfest. We did a few Ozzfests. Some of you are old enough that you were there. Some of you weren’t even born yet.” He added, “I wanna thank Ozzy Osbourne. We wanna thank Ozzy Osbourne.”
Having performed the song in the past, the night carried a different mood since Ozzy passed away. But thanks to System of a Down and fans, Ozzy’s legacy will never diminish. And speaking of fans, they cherished the moment, chanting the icon’s name over and over.
As for the video, it received high praise, with one fan suggesting it was one of their favorite covers. Another person simply added, “Beautiful.”
Outside of the performance, Malakian discussed the impact Black Sabbath had on his life and career. In the past, he explained, “First riff I ever learned was ‘Iron Man’ when I was a kid, and I was obsessed with Ozzy Osbourne when I was six or seven years old — just obsessed. He’d appear in my dreams having dinner with my parents and me when I was a kid.”
For Malakian, the fans, and the entire rock community, the performance was less about grief and more about gratitude for the legend who made it all possible.
(Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
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