Alice Cooper pays tribute to Ozzy Osbourne: 'a cross between the Prince of Darkness and a court jester'

Rock icons are paying tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who died yesterday, and the legendary Alice Cooper has joined with his own thoughts on the Black Sabbath frontman. The pair were friends, having both emerged and found serious heavy metal fame in the late-60s and 70s.

Cooper said, “The whole world is mourning Ozzy tonight. Over his long career, he earned immense respect among his peers and from fans around the world as an unmatched showman and cultural icon.

I always saw Ozzy as a cross between the prince of darkness, which is the persona his fans saw, and the court jester. That was the side that his family and friends saw.

He was and will continue to be a rock n roll legend. Rock n Roll is a family and a fraternity. When we lose one of our own it bleeds. I wish I would have gotten to know my brother Ozzy better.

Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and the rest of the Ozzy brood - our prayers are with you tonight. A titanic boulder has crashed, but rock will roll on.“

Cooper also released a video of him and his band gathering their thoughts before they played a show in Cardiff last night

Cooper is playing the O2 in London this Friday alongside Judas Priest, where you can expect more tributes to be paid.

Further news on memorials for Osbourne are expected in the coming days.