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Justin Bieber remembers Ozzy Osbourne with a nostalgic snap of himself posing alongside the legend in his teens, years before his death. The Black Sabbath Frontman passed away this week following a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. His passing took the world by surprise as just weeks prior, he gave a groundbreaking farewell performance alongside his band in Birmingham, the city where they first performed as a band about five decades ago.
Since his demise, several high-profile figures and celebrities have turned to social media to pay tribute to the lost gem. The latest A-lister joining this list is Justin Bieber, who has a sweetly notable history with Ozzy.
Justin Bieber Ties Swag Album to Ozzy Osbourne Following His Death
On Saturday, the 31-year-old took to his Instagram account to share a string of photos from a listening party for his latest album, Swag. The snaps, captured at the party held at the Los Angeles Bird Streets Club on Friday night, featured various shots of the Baby crooner and his wife packing on the PDA in the company of their close pals and notable celebrities. However, tucked away in the last slide was an unexpected snap of Justin Bieber as a teenager, posing alongside Ozzy Osbourne in a robotic outfit. The photo caught fans by surprise, leaving them reminiscing about the significance of that moment. One wrote,
“Last pic hit me really hard 😭.”
Another commented,
“So glad we acknowledged the Prince of darkness, I❤️🙌 I just feel like Ozzy Osbourne has had such a huge impact on the industry just music alone and I just appreciate that Justin sees it 🔥.”
Another fan wrote, “Justin’s music sucks in Ozzy’s eyes,” while a fifth joked, “It’s Bieber 6g fever,” referencing the now-iconic ad that united the duo. The snap taken in 2011 from behind the scenes of a Super Bowl commercial featured the two music greats and Ozzy’s wife, Sharon Osbourne. The commercial for Best Buy featured the Prince of Darkness’ talk show interview from the previous year, where he infamously blurted, “Who the f–k is Justin Bieber?” when asked if he listens to the Swag creator.
In the ad showcasing the brand’s new 5g mobile phone, Sharon Osbourne, appearing clueless, asked, “What’s 6g?” to which the Black Sabbath frontman responded, “What the f–k’s a Bieber?” Aside from uniting the Prince of Pop with the Prince of Darkness, the commercial served to bring together two musical realms, each with its unique fandom.
Osbourne Includes Bieber in Funeral Plans Years Before He Died
After that encounter, Ozzy Osbourne, who succumbed to the hands of death on Tuesday in Birmingham following an iconic career, became more aware of Justin Bieber and his song genre despite the generations and differences between them. The legend gave Bieber’s songs his nod of approval that same year while discussing his preferred funeral arrangements with The Sunday Times.
Speaking to the outlet in 2011, the crooner explained that he wanted his funeral to be “a time to say thanks,” rather than the typical atmosphere of sadness. On the types of song he preferred, he warmly flaunted his then newly-acquired knowledge of “a Bieber,” saying,
“I honestly don’t care what they play at my funeral; they can put on a medley of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle, and We Are the Diddymen if it makes ’em happy.”
He, however, noted that the one song he hoped would chime on that day was A Day in the Life, by the Beatles. Nearly two-and-a-half decades later, the music world has a chance to fulfill Osbourne’s dream funeral, complete with his favored playlist.
While Ozzy Osbourne’s family is yet to release details of his funeral arrangements following his death at 76, Justin Bieber has warmly acknowledged the legend in return with a nostalgic shot of them together, casting minds back to such beautiful times. Even better, he did so in connection with his latest album, Swag, a most notable “medley” of some of his most personal songs yet. For fans of Osbourne, this not only serves as a remarkable tribute to the lost gem, but also dedicates the 31-year-old’s latest album, Swag, to him in recognition of their most notable moment.
