Dave Matthews Band Honors Ozzy Osbourne With Heartfelt ‘Changes’ Cover In New Hampshire

Dave Matthews Band paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne during their concert Tuesday at BankNH Pavilion in Gilford, New Hampshire. The show also featured Snarky Puppy trumpeter Mike Maher joining the band for “Jimi Thing” and “The Dreaming Tree.”

Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary Black Sabbath frontman, died on Tuesday at age 76. After forming in 1968, Black Sabbath pioneered what would become heavy metal with such songs as “Sweet Leaf,” “Iron Man,” “War Pigs” and “Paranoid.” Osbourne went on to launch a successful solo career following his departure from Black Sabbath in 1979.

DMB frontman Dave Matthews initially acknowledged Osbourne’s passing early in the group’s first of two nights at BankNH Pavilion. “Thank you for all your gifts to us,” Matthews said about Ozzy after sending his love to Osbourne’s friends and family between performances of “Crash Into Me” and “You Might Die Trying.”

Mike “Maz” Maher emerged a few songs later to add to “Jimi Thing” and “The Dreaming Tree.” The sit-in marked the Snarky Puppy trumpeter’s first guest appearance with Dave Matthews Band.

In typical fashion, Dave Matthews started the evening’s encore with a solo performance. Matthews addressed the crowd upon returning to the stage. After thanking the crowd and Maher, Dave stated the following:

“When I was a kid, all I wanted to do was listen to records, that’s all I did. I’d draw pictures and listen to records. And then they’d say, ‘you gotta do your homework.’ I’d say ‘okay’ and I’d just listen to records and draw pictures. Then, exam time would come and I’d study for the exams. I said ‘okay,’ and I was going to but all I did was listen to records and draw pictures.

“So, as you probably know, you can fall in love with music and just because time passes we always end up losing some of our heroes. I’m going to do my best on this tune.”

Dave Matthews then delivered his first-ever cover of Black Sabbath’s “Changes.” Matthews stripped down the ballad from 1972’s Vol. 4 in tribute to Osbourne. “We will miss you, Ozzy,” he added.

The rest of the band came back after “Changes.” Bassist Stefan Lessard played a bit of Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” as a solo intro to the show-closing “All Along The Watchtower.”

Watch audience-captured video of Dave Matthews Band’s Ozzy-infused encore in New Hampshire below: