Dan Hawkins calls the performance “another nail in the coffin of rock and roll” – but some fans are quick to point out Yungblud’s close personal relationship with the late Prince of Darkness.
![[L-R] Joe Perry, Steven Tyler and Yungblud, with The Darkness's Dan Hawkins inset](https://guitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Yungblud-Dan-Hawkins-new@2000x1500.jpg)
Credit: Noam Galai/Getty Images for MTV [main], Gary Miller/Getty Images [inset]
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Back in July, Yungblud stole the show at Black Sabbath’s Back To The Beginning final concert. His performance of Changes has gone on to amass over 8 million views online, with countless metalheads leaving the gig as Yungblud converts. However, The Darkness’ Dan Hawkins remains unconvinced.
On 7 September, Yungblud (AKA Dominic Harrison) took to the stage at the VMAs to perform yet another tribute to Ozzy Osbourne. Joined by Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt, Harrison performed Osbourne solo cuts Crazy Train and Mama, I’m Coming Home, and, of course, Black Sabbath’s Changes.
While Ariana Grande seemed to enjoy the show, Hawkins has taken to Instagram to criticise the performance. “What a bunch of bellends,” he writes.
“Another nail in the coffin of rock n roll,” his post continues. “Cynical, nauseating and more importantly; shit. Makes me sick how people jump on this shit to further their own careers.”
While Hawkins’ has since limited comments on his post, NME documented a number of responses from Instagram users. “Spot on Dan,” one user reportedly wrote. “This was the least rock n roll thing I’ve ever seen. Looks like a scene from [children’s Nickelodeon show] iCarly.”
Another user reportedly slammed Harrison for his display of “fake, contrived emotion”.
However, not everyone was on Hawkins’ side. “I don’t understand what pisses you off here,” another user wrote. “All of these dudes performed with and for Ozzy at his Back To The Beginning concert and are friends of his […] The VMAs wanted to honour Ozzy and his legacy! I love you, dude, but I don’t get it!”
While some may feel cynical about Harrison’s seemingly newfound interest in Sabbath and Ozzy, the young rocker has had a personal relationship with Ozzy over the last few years. Back in 2022, Ozzy and his wife, Sharon Osbourne, featured in the video for Yungblud track The Funeral.
In a behind the scenes clip, Ozzy even gifts Harrison a cross with a hope that it “brings [Harrison] luck”. Later down the line, Harrison returned the favour by gifting Ozzy a gold cross before the Back To The Beginning show.
Harrison’s relationship with the Osbourne’s seemingly continued after the video shoot, too. Last year, Harrison even featured on The Osbourne’s YouTube channel for an interview with Sharon and daughter Kelly Osbourne. Throughout, the pair were stunned by how similar Harrison was to Ozzy. “I can’t believe it,” Sharon repeatedly said. “Ozzy’s the same…”
Regardless of Hawkins’ cynicism, Harrison is committed to honouring Ozzy forever. “I promise you with all my heart I will try my best and make it my life’s journey to keep the sprit that you started and what you have taught me alive,” the Doncaster singer wrote in a recent social media post. “I will give it my best shot.”
“To sing [Changes] for you at an event surrounded by legends inspired by you to a crowd that loved you was truly my life’s greatest honour and I vow to play this song every night for the rest of my life,” he promised.
Since, former Guns N’ Roses member Matt Sorum has branded Yungblud as a sign of “hope in the world of rock ‘n’ roll”. Sabbath’s Geezer Butler has also called one of Harrison’s recent US gigs the “best show [he’s] seen in years”.
