Wolfgang Van Halen, the son of the late legendary Eddie Van Halen, was part of Ozzy Osbourne’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024, performing Ozzy’s solo songs with other special guests that night. He would originally be part of “Back To The Beginning”, which was Black Sabbath and Ozzy’s final show/festival, which happened last July 5. He explained to 106.7 FM Rockklassiker, that due to tour schedule he couldn’t make it to the event.
Wolfgang Van Halen laments missing Ozzy’s final show
“We had the flights purchased, the hotels ready to go. We also, obviously, have ‘The End’, (Mammoth’s third) album, we were planning on that release, but we hadn’t announced it yet. And then the rehearsal schedules moved. So, at that point, with how many people had bought hotels and, and everything, we literally couldn’t make it, after that schedule changed.”
“One, I had to rehearse for the Creed tour that I was about to go on (with Mammoth). And then two, even if we wanted to go out there, there was no way to get a hotel or a flight that quickly after it changed. So, we couldn’t do it, unfortunately. I was really happy I was able to do the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame thing for Ozzy, and I got to see him then. But yeah, I was very bummed about that. Sometimes things just sort of happen that way,” Wolfgang Van Halen said (Transcribed by Blabbermouth).
Ozzy and his late father were good friends and had the chance to meet in the late 70s when Van Halen was Black Sabbath’s opening act. Osbourne passed away at the age of 76, on July 22, only a few weeks after the band’s final performance.
His funeral service was held on July 31, right after Ozzy’s procession, which was livestreamed to the entire world. During the procession, the family stopped at the Black Sabbath Bridge in Birmingham to thank fans for their support and to give them a chance to say one final goodbye to the Sabbath frontman. The hearse also passed by his childhood home, where fans had left many messages and flowers.
According to The Sun, about 110 people attended Ozzy’s private funeral and among those were Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, James Hetfield, Elton John, Zakk Wylde, Rob Zombie, Marylin Manson, Yungblud.