Lita Ford's Heartfelt Ozzy Osbourne Tribute Proves Rock Legends Never Truly Die
In a moment that has rock fans around the world reaching for tissues, Lita Ford delivered the most poignant tribute to Ozzy Osbourne from the most meaningful place possible – right outside his hometown of Birmingham, England.
The former Runaways guitarist shared a touching Instagram post featuring a throwback photo from 1988, when she and Ozzy recorded their unforgettable duet "Close My Eyes Forever." Ford's caption captured the surreal nature of performing in Wolverhampton, just outside Birmingham, writing that their iconic ballad "takes on a whole different meaning now."
Ford's tribute wasn't just about mourning a legend – it was about celebrating the eternal power of rock music. Her message, "Great rock stars never die," resonated deeply with fans who flooded her comments with their own memories of the beloved duet that became Ozzy's first and only Top 10 hit.
The timing couldn't have been more emotionally charged. According to Rolling Stone, Ford was performing at K.K. Downing's club in Birmingham when she posted the tribute, preparing to deliver what would become her most wrenching live performance of "Close My Eyes Forever." The 66-year-old rocker admitted the performance would be "really emotional," especially surrounded by the beautiful stage set created in Ozzy's honor.
Their collaboration story reads like rock folklore. In 1987, after Sharon Osbourne dropped off a life-size gorilla as a housewarming gift, Ozzy stayed behind at Record One Studios in Los Angeles. By sunrise, the two had crafted something "bruised, delicate, and timeless" in a cramped room with just a keyboard and amp.Ford's relationship with Ozzy stretched back to her teenage years, when Black Sabbath provided the soundtrack to her musical awakening. She attended her first Black Sabbath concert in 1972 as a teenager, and even her parents became fans, with her mother regularly requesting she play "War Pigs."
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The guitarist's tribute perfectly encapsulated what makes rock music eternal: the bonds between artists transcend time, and the music they create together lives forever in the hearts of fans worldwide.
Lita Ford's Heartfelt Ozzy Osbourne Tribute Proves Rock Legends Never Truly Die first appeared on Parade on Jul 25, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
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