During Gojira’s concert in Istanbul on July 22, lead singer Joe Duplantier noticed a fan’s phone displaying the message “RIP OZZY.” As the band played “Backbone,” Duplantier was taken aback. “A fan held up his phone while we were playing. I thought, ‘What the hell? Please don’t — I’m working up here!’” he recalled.
After a quick chat with his manager, Duplantier shared the sad news with the audience. The band honored Ozzy Osbourne by performing “Flying Whales,” and thousands of phones lit up in tribute. “The reaction was insane: nobody said a word. I could see people crying,” Duplantier told Guitar World. Their planned cover of Black Sabbath’s “Under the Sun” felt even more significant that night.
The news hit the band hard. Just two weeks earlier, they had shared the stage with Ozzy at his final Back To The Beginning show. Duplantier had even spoken with the metal legend backstage that night.
Ozzy passed away at 76, surrounded by family. A private farewell was held in Buckinghamshire, attended by stars like Elton John and members of Metallica. Fans gathered in Birmingham on July 31 to pay their respects, leaving tokens of love for the Black Sabbath icon.
Tonight, Gojira will perform their last European show in Vilnius. They will kick off a new leg of their tour in Ottawa on September 17, continuing across America until October 4. For more details on their tour dates, stay tuned!
