Artists across the heavy-music world have been saluting the late Ozzy Osbourne onstage over the past week, following the passing of the beloved metal icon. This includes alt-funk trio Primus, who recently teamed-up with Sabbath-loving singing clown Puddles to deliver a live cover of “N.I.B.”
The team-up took place about halfway through Primus’ Monday night (July 28th) set at New Orleans, Louisiana’s Saenger Performing Arts Theater, during the band’s ongoing “Onward & Upward Tour.”
The crowned, Pagliacci-esque clown took center stage to hit the Prince of Darkness’ famously Luciferian lyrics. Primus provided some solid back up whilst working through the Black Sabbath classic, as a montage of old Ozzy photos lit up the backscreens.
You’ll find fan-shot footage of their on-point homage up above and down below.
Per setlist.fm, this marked only the second time Primus have covered “N.I.B.” in concert, following a performance at the Roxy in Hollywood, California, back in 2000. The band had also recorded a cover of the song that year for the Nativity in Black II compilation, which found Primus joined on the cut by Ozzy himself.
Puddles, meanwhile, is an avid Sabbath and Ozzy devotee. Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler was a fan of the clown’s 2022 “War Pigs” cover through his Puddles Pity Party project, while the joker also recorded a version of Osbourne’s solo anthem “Crazy Train” in 2019.
Primus’ “Onward & Upward Tour” continues tomorrow (August 1st) at Phoenix, Arizona’s Arizona Financial Theatre.