What If Ozzy Osbourne Had Joined the Freddie Mercury Tribute? Imagining the Prince of Darkness Singing Queen at Wembley in 1992
The 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium was one of the most emotional, star-studded rock events in history—a monumental farewell to Queen’s iconic frontman, benefiting AIDS awareness and uniting a who’s who of rock royalty. Among those gracing the stage was Tony Iommi, legendary guitarist of Black Sabbath, who performed guitar duties on a few numbers. But conspicuously absent was Sabbath’s frontman and metal pioneer, Ozzy Osbourne.
Ozzy’s absence sparked curiosity then, and even more so in hindsight. Reports at the time suggested he was facing health challenges, possibly related to exhaustion and his ongoing battle with substance abuse. Though there was no official statement detailing the reason, fans and insiders alike sensed that had Ozzy been well, he surely would have stood among the legends paying tribute to Freddie Mercury. After all, there was a strong mutual admiration between Queen and Black Sabbath—two towering bands from the same British rock lineage, each redefining the boundaries of music in their own way.
So it begs the question: if Ozzy Osbourne had been on that Wembley stage, what Queen song would he have sung?
One possibility, drenched in theatricality and heavy rhythm, is “We Will Rock You.” With its tribal stomp and chant-like vocal delivery, it’s easy to imagine Ozzy commanding the crowd with that iconic “buddy you’re a boy” verse, his unmistakable voice giving it a darker, edgier flavor. The song’s structure would have suited his stage persona—simple, powerful, and primal.
Another fitting candidate could be “I Want It All.” With its blistering guitars and anthemic defiance, this 1989 track aligns beautifully with Ozzy’s own catalogue of bombastic, never-say-die rock. Lyrically, the track could almost be autobiographical—Ozzy has always been the embodiment of wanting everything on his own terms, with all the chaos and glory that entails.
But perhaps the most emotionally charged choice would have been “Who Wants to Live Forever.” While not as obvious a pick for Ozzy, the contrast of his raw vulnerability against the song’s soaring orchestration could have created a uniquely haunting performance—a heartfelt nod from one tortured icon to another, reflecting on mortality and legacy.
In the end, we can only dream of what might have been: Ozzy and Tony, reunited onstage at Wembley, thunderously honoring Freddie Mercury under a sky of stadium lights. It’s the kind of fantasy setlist that lives forever in the minds of fans.
And now, with both Freddie and Ozzy having taken their final bows, it feels especially poignant to imagine these missed moments—not in sadness, but in reverence. What a sound that would have been: the voice of darkness paying tribute to the light of Queen.
RIP Freddie Mercury & Ozzy Osbourne—forever legends, forever missed.