AI-created homage by Rod Stewart spotlights Ozzy Osbourne, with Kurt Cobain, Tupac, and others in the lineup
Rod Stewart made headlines at his 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina show with a unique tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, utilising AI technology to digitally depict deceased music legends interacting in a fictional "heaven" setting [1][2][3][5]. The video, which featured AI-created digital versions of Ozzy Osbourne, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Prince, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Tupac, Kurt Cobain, XXXTentacion, and Amy Winehouse, was intended as a creative homage but received mixed reactions from fans [1].
The tribute video showcased the musicians engaging in casual, modern behaviours not typically associated with solemn tributes, contributing to the backlash [1][5]. Some viewers found the concept of AI-generated deceased icons taking selfies in heaven to be odd or disrespectful. One concert-goer described the use of the AI-generated video as a "new low" for AI use [4].
Despite the controversy, the video was a reflection of Stewart's embrace of new technology in art and performance, embodying the sentiment "Welcome to the age of AI" [1]. However, the tribute's execution clashed with many viewers' expectations of reverence in memorials [1][5].
In a surprising twist, Stewart had expressed concerns about AI being the "destruction of mankind as we know it" in 2023 [6]. This raises questions about his motivations for using AI in the tribute.
Rod Stewart's dedication was accompanied by an AI-generated video featuring Osbourne using a selfie stick to take pictures with the other deceased musicians. The choice to use AI seems to have been a reflection of embracing new technology in art and performance, but it inadvertently raised questions about taste and respect when representing deceased cultural icons [1].
The event took place on July 29, 2023, and Stewart dedicated his song "Forever Young" to Ozzy Osbourne during the show. It is worth noting that in 2023, Stewart turned down a multi-million dollar gig in Saudi Arabia due to the country's treatment of women and LGBTQ+ people [7].
There is speculation about whether The Velvet Sundown, a band that has gained attention recently, is an AI-generated group. Meanwhile, another user pointed out that Stewart could have used actual footage of himself and Osbourne instead of the AI-generated video [4].
References:
- The Verge
- Billboard
- NME
- Twitter User
- Rolling Stone
- CNN
- Hollywood Reporter
- Rod Stewart's innovative use of artificial intelligence in the 2025 tribute concert for Ozzy Osbourne extended to Instagram and Twitter, where AI-generated digital versions of deceased musicians were depicted taking selfies together, blurring the lines between reality and technology.
- In an ironic turn of events, the Internet was abuzz with discussions about the respectfulness of AI-generated depictions of deceased cultural icons, a subject that Rod Stewart himself had voiced concerns about in 2023.
- Amidst the criticism, the artificial intelligence-driven tribute video served as a showcase for Stewart's embrace of modern technology in art and entertainment, prompting questions about the boundaries of artistic expression in the digital age.
- As AI continues to permeate various sectors, including music and entertainment, it remains to be seen whether the use of AI-generated cultural icons becomes the norm or sparks further debate about the balance between innovation and respect.
