For Gojira frontman Joe Duplantier, the information of Ozzy Osbourne‘s demise got here at a second he might by no means have anticipated — and never by way of standard means.
Whereas the passing of the Prince of Darkness marked a seismic shift for rock and steel followers throughout the globe, Duplantier discovered about it in the course of doing what he does finest: performing stay. Talking lately with Guitar World, the French steel icon recalled the surreal means the second unfolded throughout a present in Istanbul.
“We have been taking part in in Istanbul,” Duplantier defined. “Three songs in, a fan put his telephone up as we have been taking part in ‘Spine.’ It mentioned, ‘RIP OZZY.’ I used to be like, ‘What the hell? Please do not – I am working up right here!'”
Shaken, he rushed to verify the information when given the prospect. “Then I questioned if it was actual. Once I bought the prospect, I rushed to the aspect, and my supervisor confirmed it was true.”
The magnitude of the loss instantly weighed on the band and the viewers. Somewhat than dramatize the second, Duplantier addressed the gang immediately. “I instructed the gang fairly straight. I did not need to make a gimmick out of it. The response was insane: no person mentioned a phrase. We performed ‘Flying Whales’ for Ozzy as everybody held up their lights. I might see individuals crying.”
Remarkably, Gojira had already deliberate a tribute of types earlier than realizing the information, with a canopy of Black Sabbath‘s “Below the Solar” set to look later within the efficiency. “We by no means do covers – however our plan had been to play Black Sabbath later within the set. How loopy is that? It was very highly effective,” Duplantier mirrored.
Since that evening, the expertise has left him reconnecting with the music that impressed him within the first place. “I have been having a revival, listening to all of the classics. Ozzy was such a personality. I will be in Birmingham quickly to take in all of the power there. I additionally need to purchase a black SG whereas I am over.”
The lack of Ozzy Osbourne indicators the top of an period, however by way of tributes like Gojira‘s and the numerous musicians carrying his affect ahead, the spirit of Sabbath‘s frontman continues to resonate.
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