Yungblud appeared on SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show on Monday morning, December 15, to promote his Grammy-nominated album Idols. During the interview, he performed a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Changes” and reflected on his experience playing at Back To The Beginning, Ozzy Osbourne’s final live show.
Yungblud’s profile has continued to grow throughout the year, beginning with his performance of Black Sabbath’s “Changes” at Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell show in July, just weeks before Osbourne’s death. For Yungblud, a lifelong fan, the moment carried deep personal meaning.
“I was riddled with ADHD, angry, full of energy, like my teachers didn’t know what to do with me, so I immediately identified with this character who was celebrated for his individuality and his madness,” he said of the late frontman.
Reflecting further on the experience, Yungblud spoke about the significance of being welcomed into Osbourne’s world.
“I can never be more thankful to Sharon and Ozzy for giving me that moment to show the world what I can do,” Yungblud continued. “When you feel Osbourne’s arms around you, you have to try your fucking best to honor that moment and honor him forever.”
During the conversation with Stern, Yungblud also revealed that it was Ozzy Osbourne himself who encouraged him to include the performance on Idols, which became Yungblud’s fourth studio album.
“He was like, ‘Hey … have you seen the reviews of your cover of “Changes?” You’ve got to fucking put it out, man,’” the rocker recalled.
The discussion later shifted toward the state of rock music today and how it continues to evolve. Yungblud pushed back against the idea that the genre needs saving by a single figure.
“It’s such a sacred genre,” he declared. “Every fucking dad says to his kid, ‘I don’t like that – it sounds like what I knew,’ and it always happens.”
“People always put so much pressure on one person bringing it back … That’s a load of bullshit,” the rocker continued before referencing current bands like Turnstile, Amyl And The Sniffers, Geese, and Knocked Loose.
Explaining his own creative approach, Yungblud emphasized ambition, risk, and scale as guiding principles behind his recent work.
“What I wanted to do was bring a sense of theater and showmanship and adventure and nine-minute songs in a 2025 way,” he explained. “It was a fucking risk … [but] we have a fanbase that will go with us.”
