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Watch Billy Idol and Jelly Roll sing Ozzy Osbourne's songs at the Rock Hall

Watch Billy Idol and Jelly Roll sing Ozzy Osbourne's songs at the Rock Hall

How are you doing? Induct the Prince of Darkness into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? With an all-star celebration. On Saturday evening, Billy Idol, Jelly Roll and Tool frontman Maynard Keenan gathered to sing songs from Ozzy Osbourne's solo career.

The tribute began with “Crazy Train,” with Wolfgang Van Halen playing a rousing solo while Keenan took over vocals. Jelly performed next, singing Ozzy's iconic power ballad “Mama, I'm Coming Home.” Zakk Wylde finished the song with an expectedly impressive solo as his own, while Billy Idol then took center stage on “No More Tears”.

The entire tribute took place while Ozzy sat appreciatively on his giant bat throne.

Earlier this month, the Rock Hall announced all the musicians who would take part in Osbourne's musical tribute, which followed Jack Black's speech introducing the artist as a solo artist and Osbourne's acceptance speech. At the time, Osbourne, who had been recovering from his injuries in recent years, was not listed as one of the performers and did not answer questions about whether or not he would appear.

Osbourne said Rolling Stone He was thrilled to hear each of the singers sing their songs, calling Idol “a rock icon” and Keenan “a creative force.” He was particularly excited to hear Jelly Roll. “Who doesn’t love jelly roll?” he says. “His voice is soulful, pure and dirty. I feel so honored that someone I’ve never met would do this for me.”

He was equally excited about the guitarists who would play his songs. Osbourne, who is known for his keen sense of guitar talent, said he looks for “individuality, a sound of your own and (how) the guitar is your voice” in guitarists. The Rock Hall guitarists delivered these qualities with confidence. They included Zakk Wylde, who has been Osbourne's right-hand man for most of the last 40 years, record producer Andrew Watt, who helmed and played guitar on Osbourne's last two albums, Steve Stevens, who plays in Billy Idol's band, and Wolfgang Van Halen. (Watt also served as the performance's music director.)

The rhythm section supporting the performance was a top-notch lineup, including bassist Robert Trujillo, who joined Metallica after several years in Osbourne's band, and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who played drums on Osbourne's last two records. “Honestly, there is no better rhythm section than Robert Trujillo and Chad Smith,” Osbourne said Rolling Stone.

On trend

The induction marked the second time the Rock Hall inducted Osbourne. The institution recognized him as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006; Metallica performed “Hole in the Sky” and “Iron Man” in their honor this year. This year he was eligible to be nominated as a solo artist, but was not officially nominated until this year. He was elected immediately.

“I don’t know what to think,” Osbourne said in early October. “I'm still in shock that I'm being accepted for the second time. But at the same time I’m very excited.”

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