Nikki Sixx Explains Why Mötley Crüe Didn’t Attend Ozzy And Black Sabbath’s Farewell Show
When Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath played their farewell show, it was a historic moment for heavy metal. Fans, friends, and fellow musicians gathered to witness the end of an era as the godfathers of metal took their final bow. Yet, one absence stood out: Mötley Crüe. Many fans wondered why the notorious rockers weren’t present to pay tribute, especially given their long-standing connection to Ozzy and the Sabbath family.
Now, Nikki Sixx, Mötley Crüe’s bassist and co-founder, is opening up about why they skipped the monumental event—and his explanation is as raw and honest as fans have come to expect from him.
“It Wasn’t About Disrespect”
Speaking in a recent interview, Sixx addressed the question head-on.
“People ask us all the time, ‘Why didn’t you guys go to the Black Sabbath farewell show?’” Sixx said. “Let me be really clear—it wasn’t about disrespect. We love Ozzy. We love Sabbath. They’re the blueprint for all of us who came after.”
Mötley Crüe and Black Sabbath share decades of intertwined history. In the early ‘80s, Mötley Crüe opened for Sabbath during the Born Again tour. Ozzy himself took Mötley on the road during his Bark at the Moon tour in 1984, a move that helped catapult the Crüe into superstardom. Despite these connections, Sixx insists their decision to stay away from the farewell show was a conscious and personal one.
“We’ve Said Our Goodbyes”
Sixx explained that part of the reason they didn’t attend was due to the nature of farewell tours themselves.
“We’ve been to the goodbye shows, the reunion tours, the final-this and the final-that. In rock ‘n’ roll, the word ‘farewell’ is kind of elastic,” he said with a smirk. “We’ve said our goodbyes to Sabbath before. We’ve played with them, toured with them, and personally told them how much they mean to us. We didn’t need to stand in a VIP box to make it real.”
Sixx also mentioned that the Crüe wanted to let the moment belong to Black Sabbath and their closest circle.
“I think sometimes it’s better to let the legends have their moment without turning it into a red carpet event. It wasn’t about Mötley Crüe. It was about Sabbath, and we respected that.”
“Ozzy Knows How We Feel”
According to Sixx, the bond between Mötley Crüe and Ozzy Osbourne doesn’t hinge on public appearances.
“Ozzy knows how we feel about him. We’ve been through some insane stuff together,” Sixx said, referencing their infamous 1984 tour, where wild antics between Ozzy and Mötley became the stuff of rock legend. “There’s a level of friendship where you don’t have to show up at every event to prove it. We talk. We text. That’s real life.”
He added, “If Ozzy called me tomorrow and said, ‘Hey mate, let’s have dinner,’ I’d be there in a second. But sometimes showing love is also about giving space.”
Touring Schedules and Personal Commitments
Another practical factor in Mötley Crüe’s absence was their own packed schedule. Sixx revealed that the band was deep in rehearsals for their own shows at the time of Sabbath’s farewell.
“We were locked into our own commitments. There were rehearsals, family stuff, and frankly, a lot of focus on the next chapter of Mötley Crüe. We’re not twenty-five anymore. When we have downtime, that time usually goes to our families, not always backstage passes.”
Sixx stressed that balancing personal life with rock life becomes even more important with age.
“When you’re young, you’re out every night, living on fumes. Now, if I’ve got a choice between flying across the country for a show or staying home with my wife and kids, sometimes the family wins. That’s just where life’s at.”
Respect for Black Sabbath’s Legacy
Despite not attending, Sixx made it clear that Mötley Crüe holds Sabbath in the highest regard.
“Black Sabbath changed the world. That first album in 1970? It created a genre. Nobody can take that away from them,” he said. “We all owe Sabbath a debt. They made it okay to be dark, heavy, and unapologetically different.”
Sixx also noted that Sabbath’s influence wasn’t just musical—it was about attitude.
“They showed us that you could come from nothing, make music that scared people, and still change the world. That’s the real magic.”
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Brotherhood
Ultimately, Nikki Sixx wants fans to understand that the absence of Mötley Crüe at Sabbath’s farewell wasn’t a slight—it was a personal choice rooted in friendship, mutual respect, and the complicated realities of rock ‘n’ roll life.
“We’re all part of the same brotherhood, whether we’re in the same room or not,” he said. “Black Sabbath is forever. Ozzy is forever. And if there’s ever another show, or just a hang in the kitchen over coffee, we’ll be there.”
For Sixx and Mötley Crüe, it wasn’t about making headlines by showing up—it was about staying true to their bond, on their own terms.
