Just days after the shocking news of Ozzy Osbourne’s death, legendary rocker Alice Cooper shared his emotional response in an interview with Planet Rock—and fans are still talking about it.

“I was on my way to the stage when I heard about [his death],” Cooper revealed. “And I went, ‘Oh, that’s not right.’ …What a shock to the system.”

Cooper was performing at the Utilita Arena in Cardiff, Wales on the night of July 22nd—just hours after news broke that Osbourne had passed away at 76. The venue is located only two hours from Birmingham, Ozzy’s hometown, where he gave his final performance earlier this month.

🕯️ A Public Goodbye On Stage

Alice Cooper didn’t hesitate to share the moment with his fans during the show:

“At the end of the show, I just said, ‘Everybody, let’s say goodnight to Ozzy.’ And everybody just chanted, ‘Ozzy, Ozzy.’ He was a very beloved character in rock.”

The crowd’s energy turned emotional as thousands honored a man who helped define the heavy metal genre.

🎸 A Relationship of Respect, Not Friendship

In the interview, Cooper was honest about his relationship with Ozzy. While they weren’t close off stage, the mutual respect between the two was undeniable.

“He was not one of those guys that I would say was one of my best friends, but we were close when we saw each other… We had a lot of the same players. The great thing about being a lead singer without a band is you get your pick [of musicians].”

He continued:

“Ozzy and I did four or five things together. He sang on [my album] Hey Stoopid… There was never that, ‘Let me call Ozzy.’ I just respected him.”

⚰️ A Loss That Still Feels Surreal

Despite Ozzy’s long-running health issues, Cooper said the news still hit him hard:

“Even though you know it’s coming—especially with Ozzy, especially with certain guys in rock… you go [grimaces]… But, I mean, what a shock to the system.”