Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva were laid to rest in Portugal yesterday
Yungblud on stage at Villa Park
Yungblud on stage at Villa Park this weekend
Black Sabbath fans were left "in bits" as artists paid an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota at Villa Park in Birmingham. Black Sabbath's Back to the Beginning gig took place yesterday, July 5, as the iconic heavy metal band played a final farewell concert, performing in front of 40,000 fans.
Yungblud, 27, took to the stage as a surprise guest after a supergroup track from Scott Ian of Anthrax who performed a cover of Sweet Leaf by Black Sabbath. Dominic Richard Harrison, known professionally as Yungblud, wasn't featured in the line-up for the show and, according to NME, led a group including Nuno Bettencourt from Extreme on guitar, II from Sleep Token on drums and Adam Wakeman of Ozzy Osbourne’s band – and son of rock legend Rick – on keys.
On stage, they thrilled audience members and Yungblud dedicated his cover of Black Sabbath's song Changes to footballer Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash with his brother, Andre Silva, in Spain earlier this week, Birmingham Live reports. Jota signed for Liverpool FC from Wolves back in September 2020 and his brother, who is two years younger, was a professional for Portuguese second-tier team Penafiel.
Black Sabbath’s ballad Changes is from their 1972 album ‘Vol. 4’ and the cover was played to fans on the same day as the brothers' funeral in Portugal. In footage shared on social media, you can also see guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, originally from Portugal, wearing a Liverpool FC jersey with the number 20 on the back, paying tribute to Jota's team number with the Reds.
Reporter Kirsty Bosley attended the gig and said Yungblud "deserved his spot on this bill". Other fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their excitement and thoughts on the touching tribute.
Sharing a video of the Changes cover, @andyhecks posted: "In bits here... @yungblud dedicating Changes to Diogo Jota."
@BethanyFoden asked: "Didn't think Yungblud was on? He wasn’t on the line up was he? #BackToTheBeginning"
@jjr1987 said: "Hats off to a class #BackToTheBeginning start. Massive acts so far. Yungblud take a bow too. Brilliant. Roll on the rest!! No ginger and glasses in these mosh pits though.. Lamb of God... heavy!"
And @Invader_action wrote: "have no choice but to be a Yungblud fan now because that cover of changes was incredible #bttb"
Crowds pay their respects at Anfield to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre this weekend
Crowds pay their respects at Anfield to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre this weekend
Flowers and messages of tribute continue to mount at Anfield stadium following the death of the brothers. LFC forward Jota, 28, was travelling with Andre in the Zamora region of Sanabria, Spain, when the tragedy occurred on Thursday, July 3.
The brothers died following a crash on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near the city of Zamora in Spain at 12.40am on Thursday. The brothers were laid to rest yesterday, July 5, at Matriz de Gondomar church in their hometown, just 7km east of Porto. Members of the public lined the streets outside the church to pay their respects.
Alongside family members and loved ones, Liverpool FC and international players, as well as member of the football community from around the globe, attended the service. This weekend, residents in the Portuguese town where Diogo Jota and Andre Silva grew up have also continued to pay tribute.