Well mun… just when you thought 2025 couldn’t get any weirder, Rod Stewart decided to give the world possibly the most baffling rock ‘n’ roll tribute of the year.
We’re talking AI. We’re talking Ozzy Osbourne. We’re talking selfies in heaven with every dead music legend you can think of. And yes, it’s exactly as weird as it sounds.
🌥 The Setup – Rod’s Big Ozzy Send-Off
Picture it: Rod’s U.S. tour, crowd’s buzzing, he launches into “Forever Young” and tells the audience it’s for his late pal Ozzy (who sadly passed July 22, 2025). So far, all tidy, right? But then… the screen lights up and we see Ozzy in heaven, holding a selfie stick, grinning alongside:
- Michael Jackson
- Prince
- Freddie Mercury
- Tupac Shakur
- Kurt Cobain
- Amy Winehouse
- Tina Turner
- Bob Marley
- XXXTentacion
- Aaliyah
…basically, it’s the Avengers: Endgame of the music afterlife. Except it’s AI-generated. And Ozzy’s doing peace signs. On a cloud.
💡 Why Did Rod Do It?
Look, in Rod’s mind this was a heartfelt, surreal tribute. A way to imagine Ozzy having a pint and a laugh with all the legends he’s joined in the great gig in the sky. And to be fair, a couple of people close to the stars (like Tupac’s stepbrother and XXXTentacion’s mum) actually said they liked the sentiment.
But here’s the rub… what he thought would be moving ended up looking like a PlayStation 2 cutscene of Rock Heaven™, complete with dead-eyed smiles and awkward angles.
😬 Why Fans Think It’s Messed Up
- Disrespectful vibes – Many called it “cringe” and “a bucket of cold sick” (actual quote). Some said it looked like Rod was having a laugh at them, not with them.
- Consent, anyone? – Prince famously hated people using his image without permission. Using AI to drag him into an Ozzy selfie? Yeah… he’d be raging.
- The drug joke – At one show Rod even quipped: “A lot of these people died because of drugs… I’m still here though!” Cue: gasps, groans, and at least one fan shouting, “Not tidy, Rod!”
- The uncanny valley factor – Seeing a slightly glitchy AI Ozzy holding a selfie stick in heaven felt more Black Mirror than beautiful tribute.
📜 The Legal & Ethical Minefield
Using AI likenesses of deceased celebrities isn’t just a question of taste—it’s a legal grey zone. In some places, like Guernsey, image rights are protected even after death. In the U.S., laws vary state to state. So technically, this could land someone in court if an estate took offence.
And let’s be real—if you’re resurrecting Freddie Mercury in a fake selfie without Queen’s blessing, you’re asking for a legal solo that’s going to be very out of tune.
🎭 The Split Reaction
Some fans cried, some fans cringed, and some fans just stared in stunned silence like they’d been hit by a flying beer can in the front row.
Supporters said:
“It’s sweet! It’s about unity and love in music.”
Critics said:
“It’s tacky, disrespectful, and the stuff of AI nightmares.”
Even the person who first posted the viral clip, Sloane Steel, admitted Rod probably didn’t mean harm—but slammed AI tributes as “emotionally empty.”
🎸 The Riff Report Verdict
Rod, mate… we get it. You wanted to honour the Prince of Darkness with something grand and memorable. But next time? Maybe just run the slideshow of actual Ozzy photos, chuck in a live clip of him yelling “SHARON!” and let the man’s real legacy shine.
This wasn’t evil in intent—but it was a bit of a Frankenstein’s monster in execution.
Verdict:
- ❤️ Intent – Lovely idea, 8/10.
- 🤢 Execution – Like drinking warm lager from a welly, 2/10.
- ⚖️ Ethics – Wobbly as a drunk in the mosh pit.
Final word?
If you’re going to make a heavenly reunion video, at least make sure the ghost of Freddie Mercury doesn’t look like he’s been caught mid-blink.
💬 What do you think, butt?
Touching tribute, or AI abomination? Sound off in the comments below before Rod AI’s us all into a celestial pub crawl.
