23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Lady Gaga honors Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Bennett at San Francisco concert
Lady Gaga paid tribute to heavy metal great Ozzy Osbourne on the first night of her San Francisco run this week.
In the city as part of The Mayhem Ball tour on Tuesday, July 22, the 39-year old pop superstar emerged from her dramatic proscenium theater stage piece at Chase Center wearing a black T-shirt featuring the Black Sabbath frontman. Osbourne, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member and reality TV pioneer, died earlier that day at age 76.
Gaga stormed the runway in the shirt with a leather coat sweeping around her as Osbourne's 1980 hit solo single 'Crazy Train' roared through the speakers. Though she made no mention of the late singer, his cultural imprint resonated throughout the show. Her Mayhem Ball production — merging gothic darkness with heavy-metal baroque flair — felt, in many ways, inspired by the Prince of Darkness himself with its reliance on black costuming and candelabras.
During her encore, Gaga also thanked San Francisco 'for taking care of Tony Bennett.' The ' I Left My Heart in San Francisco ' crooner collaborated with Gaga on the 2014 album 'Cheek to Cheek' and in 2021 on 'Love for Sale.' The pair, who toured together in 2014 and 2015, developed a well-known friendship, with Gaga helping him through performances in later years as he dealt with the effects of Alzheimer's disease.
This week marks two years since Bennett's death. The singer, who was diagnosed with the progressive brain disorder in 2016, died at age 96 on July 21, 2023.
Gaga's three-night stint at Chase Center continues Thursday, July 24, and Saturday, July 26.
