The Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who died at 76 on July 22, with a cover of Black Sabbath’s classic “War Pigs.”
The bands kicked off their joint-headlining tour at Atlanta venue Coca-Cola Roxy on Aug. 1. For the encore of the Flaming Lips’ set, Brock joined the band on stage for a rousing rendition of the 1970 heavy metal tune.
“You’re gonna know this song,” the Flaming Lips singer Wayne Coyne told the audience, noting that the band has covered “War Pigs” since 2006. “We don’t do the whole song. We do just the parts where you get to sing along. Isaac’s going to help us.” Brock added, “I don’t them I don’t know the words.”
Numerous musicians have been performing covers of Black Sabbath songs, as well as Osbourne’s solo material, in the days since his death: Green Day played a snippet of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” onstage to thank Osbourne, Alice Cooper and his band sang Sabbath’s “Paranoid,” and Carrie Underwood showcased a rendition of power ballad “Mama, I’m Comin’ Home” on The Howard Stern Show.
Osbourne was celebrated in his hometown of Birmingham last week with a funeral cortège procession through the city. The cortège, paid for by the musician’s family, trailed through the city with Osbourne’s casket in a black hearse. Local band Bostin’ Brass provided the soundtrack as thousands of fans gathered on the streets. Osbourne’s family, including his wife Sharon Osbourne, was on hand as well, thanking fans for their outpouring of support and laying a few flowers at the Black Sabbath bench and bridge, which has become a memorial site for the late metal legend.
The Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse will continue their North American tour on Aug. 5 in Philadelphia. The Good Times Are Killing Me Tour will make stops in Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Chicago, Houston, San Diego, and more cities. The run is scheduled to wrap in Troutdale, Oregon, with a two-date stint on Sept. 10 and Sept. 11. Each night on the Good Times Are Killing Me Tour, Modest Mouse will kick off the night with the Flaming Lips closing out. The only exception are the final two nights in Troutdale, where Modest Mouse will end the night near their Portland home base.
