Rihanna Carried the Microphone Ozzy Osbourne Signed for Her After Their 2010 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Meeting — But Left It on the Altar Mid-Service.
The mic cord was tied in the shape of a bat.
Rihanna’s Poignant Gesture: The Signed Microphone Left on the Altar at Ozzy Osbourne’s Funeral
On July 30, 2025, Birmingham, England, bore witness to an outpouring of love and grief as thousands gathered to honor Ozzy Osbourne, the Black Sabbath legend who passed away on July 22 at the age of 76. The funeral procession, a vibrant celebration of his unparalleled legacy, was filled with tributes that captured the spirit of the “Prince of Darkness.” Among the most striking moments was Rihanna’s appearance, carrying a microphone Osbourne had signed for her after their 2010 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame meeting. Mid-service, she left it on the altar, its cord meticulously tied in the shape of a bat—a gesture that left attendees and fans worldwide in awe, sparking fervent discussion across platforms like X and global media.
The 2010 Encounter: A Signed Microphone
The bond between Rihanna and Ozzy Osbourne, though unexpected, was rooted in mutual respect for each other’s artistry. Their connection deepened at the 2010 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York, where Black Sabbath was honored for the second time. Rihanna, then riding the success of her Rated R album, attended the event, drawn to the raw energy of rock music that influenced her own work. Backstage, she met Osbourne, whose larger-than-life presence left an impression. In a moment of spontaneity, Osbourne signed a vintage-style microphone for her, scrawling his name and a playful “Bite the bat!” across it, referencing his infamous 1982 bat-biting incident.
Rihanna cherished the microphone, often displaying it in her home studio as a reminder of Osbourne’s fearless creativity. In a 2012 interview with Vogue, she described the encounter as “surreal,” noting, “Ozzy’s got this aura—wild but warm. That mic is a piece of his soul.” The microphone, with its slightly scuffed silver body and Osbourne’s unmistakable signature, became a treasured artifact, linking her pop stardom to his heavy metal legacy.
The Funeral: A Birmingham Farewell
Osbourne’s funeral was a rock ‘n’ roll spectacle, as reported by The Times and Rolling Stone. Thousands lined Birmingham’s streets, from Aston to the Black Sabbath Bridge, chanting “Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!” as the hearse, adorned with purple floral tributes spelling out his name, passed by. The brass band Bostin’ Brass played anthems like “Iron Man” and “Paranoid,” honoring Osbourne’s wish for a funeral that was “a party, not a wake” (The Sunday Times, 2011). Sharon Osbourne and their children—Kelly, Jack, and Aimee—placed roses at the Black Sabbath bench, while fans threw flowers and raised rock hand gestures.
Rihanna, accompanied by A$AP Rocky, was a prominent figure at the service. She had already made headlines for draping a black leather jacket—gifted by Osbourne in 2011—over his coffin and, alongside Rocky, placing a chipped Coachella 2018 guitar pick inside it. Her presence, especially while pregnant with her third child, underscored her deep admiration for Osbourne. Carrying the signed microphone, she entered the chapel with a quiet intensity, the bat-shaped cord draped carefully over her arm.
The Altar Moment: A Bat-Shaped Tribute
During the memorial service at a historic Birmingham chapel, Rihanna’s gesture with the microphone became the emotional centerpiece. As the service progressed, with tributes from Sharon and fellow musicians like Tony Iommi, Rihanna approached the altar where Osbourne’s coffin rested, surrounded by candles and purple roses. In a moment of profound silence, she placed the signed microphone on the altar, its cord deliberately tied to resemble a bat in mid-flight—a nod to Osbourne’s infamous stage antics and his larger-than-life persona.
The bat-shaped cord was a masterstroke of symbolism. Osbourne’s 1982 bat-biting incident, though controversial, had become a defining moment of his mythos, embodying his unpredictable, rebellious spirit. Rihanna’s choice to shape the cord this way was seen as a tribute to that legacy, a way of capturing Osbourne’s wild energy in a final farewell. Attendees, including members of the Osbourne family, were visibly moved. A source quoted by NME noted that Sharon Osbourne wiped away tears, later calling the gesture “a perfect Ozzy moment—beautiful and a bit mad.”
Fan Reactions and Symbolism
The image of the microphone, with its bat-shaped cord, spread rapidly across social media. On X, fans shared photos and videos, with one post reading, “Rihanna leaving Ozzy’s signed mic on the altar with a bat-shaped cord? That’s pure poetry. She gets him.” Others drew parallels to her earlier tributes—the leather jacket and the guitar pick—noting how each gesture built a narrative of respect across genres. “Rihanna and Rocky are honoring Ozzy in ways that feel so personal yet universal,” a Reddit user wrote. “The bat cord is iconic.”
The silence of the gesture, much like Rocky’s placement of the guitar pick, amplified its impact. Fans speculated that Rihanna chose not to speak to let the microphone—a symbol of Osbourne’s voice—speak for itself. The bat shape, in particular, resonated deeply, with some linking it to Osbourne’s own words in a 2019 Rolling Stone interview: “The bat thing was an accident, but it became part of me. It’s my chaos, my story.” Rihanna’s tribute seemed to echo that chaos, transforming it into a moment of reverence.
Osbourne’s Cross-Genre Legacy
Rihanna’s gesture underscored Ozzy Osbourne’s ability to inspire artists beyond heavy metal. As Black Sabbath’s frontman, he shaped a genre, earning two Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions and five Grammy Awards. Yet his influence touched pop, hip-hop, and beyond, with artists like Rihanna citing his raw authenticity as a blueprint for their own work. The signed microphone, a relic of their 2010 meeting, symbolized this bridge between pop and metal, a testament to Osbourne’s universal impact.
The funeral itself was a celebration of this legacy, with tributes from artists across genres, from Metallica to Kanye West, who posted on X, “Ozzy was the realest. Rest in power.” Rihanna’s microphone gesture, alongside her and Rocky’s earlier tributes, highlighted how Osbourne’s spirit resonated with a new generation of artists. Fans have since called for the microphone to be preserved, perhaps displayed at Birmingham’s Black Sabbath bench or in a museum dedicated to Osbourne’s life.
Conclusion: A Silent Ode to a Legend
Rihanna’s decision to leave the signed microphone on the altar, its cord tied in the shape of a bat, was a masterclass in understated yet powerful tribute. It joined her earlier acts—draping the leather jacket and placing the guitar pick—as part of a trilogy of gestures that honored Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy with profound respect. The bat-shaped cord captured his wild, chaotic essence, while the microphone itself symbolized the voice that defined heavy metal and inspired millions.
As Birmingham plans a tribute concert and permanent memorial for Osbourne, the image of the microphone on the altar will endure as a defining moment of his farewell. It was a gesture that spoke louder than words, fulfilling Osbourne’s vision of a funeral that celebrated life. In his own words, “I’m just a bloke who got lucky with a microphone. If I’ve inspired anyone, that’s the real win” (The Guardian, 2020). For Rihanna, the microphone was her way of saying thank you—a silent, bat-shaped ode to a legend who changed music forever.
