A poignant moment during the Ozzy Osbourne tribute at SandlerFest-2025 in Moscow. Photo: Festival Press Service.
The global rock community recently bid a final, resounding farewell to one of its most enigmatic and influential figures, Ozzy Osbourne. While his physical presence may have departed, his legacy, like a monstrously reverberating guitar riff, continues to echo across continents. Nowhere was this more evident than at Moscow`s SandlerFest-2025, where an evening of remembrance transformed a typical rock festival into a deeply personal and unifying experience.
Indeed, a colleague jested about the ceremony: instead of doves, perhaps hundreds of bats should have been released over VDNKh, circling under the adoring cries of fans, a darkly whimsical nod to the `Prince of Darkness.` While such theatrical flair might have been… biologically challenging, the profound emotion and meticulous execution of the tribute were anything but whimsical. As Igor Sandler, the festival`s organizer and a veteran of the music industry, emphasized, it was a necessary and fitting homage to a man who, in his entire creative life, embodied the very spirit of progressiveness in contemporary music, pioneering the unheard genre of hard`n`heavy.
A Tribute Befitting a Legend
The evening was carefully constructed to honor Osbourne’s immense impact. Before the main event, a poignant tribute to another set of rock royalty, Queen and Freddie Mercury, performed by students of the esteemed Alexander Gradsky`s theater, set a reverent tone. Their renditions, delivered with a fervor that would surely have earned Gradsky`s posthumous applause, reminded attendees of the enduring power of rock anthems.
Then came the moment for Ozzy. The air crackled with anticipation as hundreds of lights illuminated the audience. A collective, heartfelt rendition of “Mama I`m Coming Home” filled the venue, a testament to the deep connection fans felt with his music. Seventy-six gong strikes, one for each year of the rock legend`s life, resonated through the night, a solemn and powerful rhythm. A curated video montage, featuring rare archival footage meticulously unearthed for the occasion, chronicled his extraordinary journey. The spectacle culminated with Ozzy`s image symbolically ascending into the sky, joining the pantheon of rock immortals.
Adding a tangible touch to the memorial, a precise replica of Osbourne’s legendary throne, famously seen at his final Birmingham concert on July 6th of this year, was available for fans to sit upon and capture photographs. More importantly, a “Memory Book” titled “From Russia with Love. Music Unites” was filled with dozens of sincere messages from fans. This book, a tangible outpouring of affection, is destined for Birmingham, his cherished hometown, to be housed in the Ozzy Osbourne memorial museum. It`s a gesture that speaks volumes about music`s ability to transcend geographical and cultural divides.
SandlerFest: A Mosaic of Musical Excellence
While the Ozzy tribute was undeniably the emotional centerpiece, SandlerFest-2025 proved to be much more than a single commemorative event. It was a vibrant two-day forum for progressive music, pulsating with energy and the transformative power of art. The festival`s broader mission, as articulated by Sandler, is to unite generations and cultures through music, a philosophy brilliantly showcased by its diverse lineup.
Beyond Tributes: New Horizons and Global Rhythms
The festival`s “Tribute Day” offered a kaleidoscopic journey through rock history, featuring acts like The BeatLove (The Beatles), Join Trip (Pink Floyd), and powerful interpretations of Deep Purple, Rainbow, Linkin Park, and more. Legendary American bass guitarist Marco Mendoza, having graced stages with Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy, delivered a performance brimming with his characteristic world-class energy. The tribute spectrum expanded further to encompass the legacies of Aretha Franklin, Santana, Eric Clapton, Nirvana, Amy Winehouse, and others, all reimagined by residents of the Alexei Kozlov Club, recognized as the world`s best jazz club in 2019.
A personal passion of Sandler`s, the “Russian Classics in Modern Genres” project, continued to explore innovative fusions. This year, symphonic orchestras, soloists from the Bolshoi Theatre, and guitar virtuosos like Dmitry Chetvergov and Timofey Grigorovich demonstrated how timeless melodies can be imbued with fresh, contemporary relevance.
The festival also championed new talent. The band “Goroda” was recognized as the “Breakthrough of the Year,” receiving a unique wooden vinyl disc. Their innovative blend of rock, rap, and pop, delivered with modern arrangements, captivated the audience and signaled a promising international trajectory. The young bands` competition, drawing over 300 applications, saw “Alma Boe” emerge victorious, proving that the new generation possesses an equally brilliant and resonant voice.
Despite the complexities of current times, SandlerFest-2025 steadfastly upheld its motto: “Music Unites.” Artists from diverse countries and genres converged, creating a true musical constellation. From the African rhythms of Salegy Band (Madagascar and Uganda) and the Latin improvisations of Williams Martinez Trio (Cuba) to the Balkan madness of Balkanimans Band, the poetic chansons of Francis Lalanne (France), a Greek Doors tribute, the stylings of Irishman Tony Watkins, and the American saxophonist Gen Sax (a student of the legendary Quincy Jones), the festival was a vivid demonstration of how cultures and styles can intertwine, proving that electricity and acoustics can truly merge into a singular, powerful flow.
