A Tad Too Creepy? Rod Stewart’s Ozzy Tribute Features AI Footage of Other Deceased Artists

Rod Stewart’s ongoing ‘One Last Time’ tour honored the late Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne with a touching tribute while Rod sang “Forever Young.” Now the tribute has evolved to include ‘AI selfies’ of Ozzy with other deceased artists.

Stewart’s team introduced AI-generated images in which Ozzy is depicted taking selfies with a series of music legends who have also died. These visuals play on a massive screen behind Stewart as he sings “Forever Young,” replacing the earlier photographic montage with a digital assembly of celebrities.

The array of artists included in this AI montage is extensive, as confirmed by social media videos online. Prince, Tina Turner, Bob Marley, Freddie Mercury, Kurt Cobain, George Michael, Amy Winehouse, Tupac Shakur, and Michael Jackson all feature prominently in the video. Other videos show Whitney Houston and rapper XXXTentacion among the artists featured in this AI tribute.

Critics and fans alike have protested the inclusion of these AI-generated ‘selfies’ calling the tribute jarring and for some, in poor taste. Social media reactions from concertgoers have ranged from bewildered to outright offended, particularly concerning the use of artificial intelligence to place Ozzy alongside so many other artists whose estates may not have agreed to this image manipulation.

During a performance in Charlotte, North Carolina, Stewart addressed the audience after the visuals were shown by stating: “Very sad. A lot of those people died ‘cause of drugs. I’m still here though!” Fans feel as though the tribute has drifted away from heartfelt and into creepy territory, especially after Stewart made these comments.

Since debuting the revised tribute at Atlanta’s Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, Stewart has neither elaborated nor apologized for the changes. His concert dates for the tour continue through October across the United States. Stewart will be taking the show across the pond for European dates after that. Ironically, if the United States had federal AI regulation, manipulation of artists’ images like this could be seen as illegal—something the ELVIS Act in Tennessee is designed to prevent.