Upon arriving at Hellfest, festival-goers discovered a new monumental figure at the entrance to the site: a seven-meter statue dedicated to Ozzy Osbourne. A powerful tribute to one of the greatest icons of heavy metal, who passed away in July 2025. With this installation, the Clisson festival permanently inscribes the singer in its landscape and celebrates an artist intimately linked to its history.
A permanent tribute to a founding figure of metal
Already home to the Lemmy Kilmister statue, Hellfest now welcomes a second legend of the genre. Created by artist Philippe Pasqua in bronze and granite, the artwork depicts Ozzy Osbourne with open arms, as if welcoming visitors to this 19th edition. An official unveiling was initially planned to bring together the artist and Sharon Osbourne, the singer's wife, but their absence led the organizers to cancel the scheduled ceremony. A stage tribute was nevertheless held during the evening.
Nicknamed the "Prince of Darkness," Ozzy Osbourne remains considered one of the major pioneers of heavy metal. Born near Birmingham in 1948, he rose to fame with Black Sabbath, a band founded in the late 1960s with Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, and Bill Ward. The albums Black Sabbath and ParanoidReleased in 1970, they helped define the codes of a musical genre that would have a lasting influence on several generations of artists.
A special relationship between Ozzy and Hellfest
The tribute also takes on its full meaning in view of the links maintained between the singer and the Loire festival. Ozzy Osbourne performed several times in Clisson in the 2010s: first solo in 2011, before returning as a replacement after the cancellation of Black Sabbath due to Tony Iommi's health problems, then with the band during their farewell tours in 2014 and 2016.
Among the festival-goers, the emotion was palpable. Many took advantage of their arrival to photograph the artwork or pose in front of it, some recalling memories of their first concerts or albums discovered thanks to the singer. Others paid tribute to the symbol of an artist who helped popularize metal far beyond his historical circle of fans. Now installed just a few meters from the other monuments on the site, Ozzy Osbourne will continue to watch over Hellfest, transformed into a permanent presence at the heart of this essential gathering for extreme music enthusiasts.
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