In the whirlwind of moments that shape an artist’s career, Yungblud’s surprise appearance at Black Sabbath’s farewell concert in Birmingham might just become a defining one.
Backed by a lineup that reads like a rock fantasy draft — Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme on guitar, II of Sleep Token on drums, and Adam Wakeman, longtime collaborator with Ozzy Osbourne, on keys — Yungblud took to the stage at Villa Park for a hauntingly heartfelt rendition of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Changes.” For an artist often seen as a misfit in traditional metal circles, the night became something more than just a guest spot — it was a moment of transformation.
“It’s been life-changing, honestly,” Yungblud — whose real name is Dominic Harrison — told NME. “You feel like you get to a level, but then weekends like that remind you that you know nothing. I’m so happy, though. Being in Birmingham with practically every rockstar who I had on my wall as a kid was wild. There was Scott Ian from Anthrax, James Hetfield (Metallica), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins)… it was one of those weekends where you know you have to step up.”
The decision to perform “Changes” wasn’t handed to him; he fought for it. “I wanted it,” he explained. “Tom Morello put the whole thing together, and I said, ‘give me the ballad’. He wasn’t so sure, but I told him, ‘Trust me, I’ll bring the house down’.”
Bringing the house down is exactly what he did. Despite anticipating skepticism from a crowd of purist metal fans, the performance left a mark. “I knew it was going to be a tough audience for me because it was all metalheads and a lot of people did not think I had the right to be there,” he said. “Brian May sent me a message after the gig that said ‘the silence from those people was deafening’. I think it’s finally clicking for a lot of non-believers.”
The personal connection to Ozzy Osbourne ran deep. “I couldn’t miss it. We’ve become so close, and I love him. His music has given me an outlet, and he’s given me so much advice. When it felt like people didn’t understand me, I cried down the phone to him. He’s always told me, ‘People will not get you, so do not deviate, keep fighting and keep pushing.’ Ozzy isn’t just my hero, he’s my family.”
Far from being a one-off moment, the concert seems to have lit a new creative fire. “It was like Christmas dinner for rock stars. There was a lot of hugging, a lot of respect between both the new and the old guard. It was so cool. The number of people who messaged me afterwards about getting into the studio together is incredible.”
He’s already fielding messages from icons. “I’ve spoken to Lenny Kravitz, Slash has just hit me up… I’m basically going to work with all of my heroes because why the fuck not?” The plan? “Go somewhere, maybe the Bahamas or Jamaica, at the end of the year, and make a project with some of them. I want to get that sorted before we head out on the second leg of the Idols tour.”
Re-energized and creatively unleashed, Yungblud is back in the mindset that launched his early career. “I just feel excited and invigorated again. When I first started, I’d drop singles like a rapper, and I’ve got that fearlessness back. Idols Part 2 is ready, there’s another project already recorded. I want to keep putting out music.”
That spirit of fearlessness also pulses through his upcoming documentary Are You Ready, Boy?, filmed at the storied Hansa Studios in Berlin. The studio, famously where David Bowie recorded “Heroes,” now hosts Yungblud as he debuts the entire Idols album in a live one-take format under the eye of director Paul Dugdale.
“With this album, I made a conscious effort to not over explain what it was about,” he said. “This film will really show people what I was going through when I was making it. It’s a hell of a film. I watched it once, approved it, but I’ll never watch it again – It’s too uncomfortable.”
