Rock music has always been loud, emotional, and full of strong opinions. In 2025, one of the biggest rock conversations came from a public clash between Yungblud and Justin Hawkins of The Darkness. What started as a tribute performance quickly turned into a debate about the future of rock music, authenticity, and who gets to define it.
What Happened at the MTV VMAs?
In early September, Yungblud performed at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York as part of a tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne, often called The Prince of Darkness. He shared the stage with legendary musicians like Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Nuno Bettencourt. For many fans, it was a powerful and emotional moment that honored one of rock’s greatest icons.
However, not everyone liked the performance.
The Criticism from The Darkness
Soon after the VMAs, Dan Hawkins, guitarist of The Darkness, criticized Yungblud’s performance, calling it fake, uncomfortable to watch, and badly done. His brother Justin Hawkins, the band’s frontman, later added his own criticism. Justin said that Yungblud used auto-tune during the live performance and questioned whether someone with a pop and Disney-style background could really be the “future of rock.”
Justin also mocked the idea that Yungblud could be seen as Ozzy Osbourne’s musical heir, saying that if rock music’s future looked like this, then rock might be in trouble.
These comments quickly spread online and divided rock fans.
Yungblud’s Response
Yungblud did not stay silent. In an interview with Billboard, he responded directly to the criticism. He said that the people attacking him were acting like “doormen at a party they weren’t invited to.” By this, he meant that the critics were judging something they were never part of.
He also explained that criticism doesn’t scare him. In fact, he believes that if people feel strongly enough to criticize you, it means you’re doing something meaningful. According to Yungblud, being ignored is worse than being disliked.
Yungblud and Ozzy Osbourne’s Connection
One important part of this story is Yungblud’s real relationship with Ozzy Osbourne. This was not just a random tribute. Ozzy and his family supported Yungblud while Ozzy was still alive. The Osbourne family even appeared in Yungblud’s music video for the song “The Funeral” in 2022.
Later, Yungblud performed Black Sabbath’s song “Changes” at Ozzy and Sabbath’s farewell show. That performance earned him major praise and even a Grammy nomination. For Yungblud, Ozzy was not just an inspiration but a personal hero who believed in him.
Yungblud has said that meeting Ozzy was one of the greatest honors of his life and that Ozzy encouraged him to never apologize for who he is.
What Is This Really About?
This argument is bigger than just two musicians disagreeing. It shows a generational divide in rock music. Older artists sometimes feel that newer musicians don’t respect rock’s roots. Younger artists feel that rock needs to evolve to survive.
Some fans believe rock should stay pure and raw, without pop influences or modern tools like auto-tune. Others believe rock has always changed with time and that emotion and honesty matter more than tradition.
Final Thoughts
The clash between Yungblud and Justin Hawkins shows that rock music is still alive enough to cause arguments — and that’s not a bad thing. Rock has always been about rebellion, self-expression, and pushing boundaries.
Whether you agree with Yungblud or side with Justin Hawkins, one thing is clear: rock music is still evolving, and conversations like this prove that it still matters. Yungblud’s tribute may not have pleased everyone, but it reminded the world that the spirit of rock is still burning — loud, messy, and emotional, just like it has always been.