Classic Rock Icon Mick Jones Pays Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne Amid Parkinson’s Battle
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Fans and Musicians Remember Ozzy
Rock legend and Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne passed away at age 76 on July 22. Since the news broke, tributes have poured in from fans and fellow artists. Elton John, Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, and Marilyn Manson all honored Ozzy’s legacy. Official accounts for Motörhead, Metallica, and Nirvana also posted messages in his memory.
Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, who served as musical director at Ozzy’s farewell show, shared, “God bless you, Ozzy.” Foreigner founder Mick Jones is among the latest to honor him, posting a heartfelt statement on Instagram.
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A Shared Honor at the Hall of Fame
Both Ozzy and Foreigner were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on October 19, 2024. For Ozzy, it was his second induction — first with Black Sabbath in 2006, and then in 2024 as a solo artist. Mick, unable to attend due to Parkinson’s disease, shared a personal bond with Ozzy, who had been diagnosed with the same condition in 2019. Mick has been living with Parkinson’s for more than a decade, publicly announcing it for the first time last year.
“I am saddened to hear about Ozzy,” Mick wrote. “We’d been through it all together since way back — good times, writing songs, having a laugh until dawn. He always had a wicked sense of humor and a kind heart. They live and sing amongst us and leave as we met them… a star.” He added his condolences to Sharon Osbourne and family, calling them Ozzy’s “rock.”
Collaborations and Memories
Mick expressed how much it meant to be inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside Ozzy. “It meant a lot, that night we both got into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame together — hard to believe, really. Just glad we got to share that,” his statement concluded.
He co-wrote “Dreamer” and “Running Out of Time” on Ozzy’s 2001 Down to Earth album with the late rocker and producer Marti Frederiksen. Mick also posted a photo of the three together, writing, “Back in the late 90’s me and @themickjones and @ozzyosbourne. We wrote the song ‘Dreamer’ and a couple others. So sad to hear that Ozzy is gone. Ozzy keep Dreaming.”
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Continuing to Inspire
In April, Mick partnered with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, promoting his solo single “Shelter from the Storm” at the Parkinson’s Unity Walk in New York’s Central Park. He described the song as an anthem to support listeners through uncertain times.
Mick’s 2024 public statement about his diagnosis read, “I have been living with Parkinson’s for several years now, and it has been a challenging journey. However, I am grateful for the support of my family, friends, and fans. I will continue to fight this disease and make music as long as I can.”
