Moscow will host a major international rock festival, where musicians and fans from around the world will gather to honor Ozzy Osbourne, the Black Sabbath frontman and heavy metal pioneer who passed away last month.
The self-described ‘Prince of Darkness’ died on July 22 after years of battling Parkinson’s disease and other ailments. His death came less than three weeks after a farewell reunion concert with Black Sabbath in his hometown of Birmingham which raised millions for local charities.
His legacy will be at the heart of Moscow’s Sandlerfest – a two-day progressive music event – where musicians and fans plan a collective tribute. The festival’s opening night on Saturday, August 30, at the All-Russian Exhibition Center (VDNKh) will feature a powerful dedication to the rocker.
Bringing together more than 150 music groups, the commemoration will open with a mass performance of ‘Mama I’m Coming Home,’ the ballad Ozzy dedicated to his wife Sharon, whom he often called his guardian angel. The program will also include fifteen minutes of silence, with rare documentary footage on a big screen. Each of his 76 years will be marked by the single strike of a gong.
Fans will also contribute to a memory book, tentatively titled ‘From Russia with Love: Music Unites,’ leaving reflections and messages in Osbourne’s honor. The book, featuring his iconic cross on the cover and a photo from his final public appearance on the back, will later be sent to the Osbourne Museum in Birmingham.
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Russia has long had a massive fan base for Osbourne and Black Sabbath, and the reaction to his passing has been deeply emotional, said Sandlerfest organizer and producer Igor Sandler. “He is truly loved in Russia. We’ve received countless letters, and fans here took his death very personally,” Sandler told news portal NSN.
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