Iron Maiden Breaks Silence On Ozzy Osbourne Passing After Fan Backlash

Iron Maiden has finally addressed the death of Ozzy Osbourne after fans criticized the band for staying silent. In a statement posted Wednesday (July 23), the British metal group offered condolences to Sharon Osbourne and the rest of Ozzy’s family, while acknowledging his role in shaping the genre.

“Everyone associated with Iron Maiden sends their sincere condolences to Sharon and the Osbourne family following the sad news of Ozzy’s passing. He helped shape heavy metal as we know it, and we’ll always be grateful to Black Sabbath for paving the way so many of us followed. Rest in peace, Ozzy Osbourne,” the post reads.

Fans weren’t happy. The band’s silence didn’t go unnoticed. While much of the rock world paid tribute, Maiden had posted a promo for their Trooper beer instead, leading to criticism from fans on social media. Some accused them of letting old grudges get in the way of a respectful goodbye.

That tension largely stems from the Ozzfest 2005 incident, when Sharon Osbourne responded to onstage remarks by Bruce Dickinson by orchestrating a not-so-subtle egg barrage mid-performance. Despite that, fans expected the band to rise above the history.

Comments flooded in. Instagram followers flooded the band’s comment section, pushing for a response. One user wrote, “Put the grudges aside. Show some love to the founder of metal.” Another said, “Hope you end the feud as a tribute to the legend Ozzy.”

Will they honor him on stage? Iron Maiden is scheduled to perform Wednesday (July 23) in Arnhem, Netherlands. Many are hoping the band will include a live tribute to Ozzy during the set, even if belated. No word yet on whether they’ll say or play anything onstage, but with pressure mounting, fans will be watching closely.

History of Tension

The relationship between Ozzy Osbourne and Iron Maiden hasn’t always been friendly.

Things hit a low point during Ozzfest 2005, when Iron Maiden was invited to perform. During the tour, Bruce Dickinson made comments criticizing reality TV and artists who relied on non-musical gimmicks. Many interpreted that as a jab at Ozzy and his MTV show, The Osbournes.

Sharon Osbourne didn’t take it lightly. At the final show of the tour, she allegedly sabotaged Maiden’s set. Fans threw eggs, the sound system cut out multiple times, and the stage crew was reportedly told to disrupt the performance. Sharon later admitted to orchestrating the chaos, calling Dickinson “a @#$%!” in public statements.

Cold distance after Ozzfest. After the incident, both sides kept their distance. Iron Maiden rarely mentioned Ozzy or Black Sabbath, and vice versa. No formal reconciliation ever happened, and the two acts never shared a stage again. While both bands are pillars of heavy metal, their paths rarely crossed in the decades that followed. Some fans chalked it up to creative differences, others to clashing egos.

Fans wanted closure. When Ozzy passed, many fans saw it as a chance to move on from old drama. Some hoped Iron Maiden would use the moment to offer a gesture of respect. The delayed response only fueled the conversation, making it one of the most talked-about silences in the rock world.

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