Ozzy Osbourne’s Lennon Tribute Turns “How?” Into a Journey of Respect and Remembrance

In October 2010, Ozzy Osbourne released a charity cover of John Lennon’s 1971 song “How?” to mark what would have been Lennon’s 70th birthday. The single debuted on iTunes with proceeds pledged to Amnesty International, aligning Ozzy’s tribute with a human-rights cause and framing the release as both musical homage and fund-raiser.

Amnesty International announced the track and highlighted Ozzy’s lifelong admiration for Lennon and The Beatles, quoting him on the need to confront problems “head on”—a sentiment that resonates with the reflective tone of “How?” The organization made clear that all download proceeds would support its work, reinforcing the project’s charitable purpose.

The music video amplified the tribute’s symbolism by placing Ozzy in New York City, Lennon’s adopted home. Shot on the streets of Manhattan and at the Central Park memorial, it visually connected the performance to Lennon’s legacy and to the city where he lived, wrote, and is memorialized—turning the cover into a pilgrimage of sorts.

A defining image from the video shows Ozzy, dressed in black, carrying a bouquet of purple flowers to Strawberry Fields and laying them at the “IMAGINE” mosaic. The gesture reads as quiet respect rather than spectacle, using the city’s public memorial as the stage for a personal salute.

Production details place the filming in August 2010, ahead of the October release. The video was directed by Ernie Fritz and produced by Martin Lewis, figures with deep ties to music and advocacy projects, which helps explain the filmic simplicity and documentary feel that keep the focus on Ozzy’s voice and the memorial itself.

Media coverage at the time emphasized two anchors: Lennon’s milestone birthday and the Amnesty International partnership. Outlets noted the charity angle and the selection of “How?,” a contemplative album cut from Imagine, rather than an obvious hit—suggesting intention in tone as much as in timing.

The Amnesty blog post also situated Ozzy’s single within the organization’s broader Lennon-related efforts, recalling Yoko Ono’s earlier donation of Lennon publishing royalties to Amnesty for the “Instant Karma” project. That institutional context underscored why a Lennon cover served as a fitting vehicle for fundraising and awareness.

While “How?” is not among Lennon’s most radio-famous tracks, its inward-looking lyrics made it an apt choice for a reflective tribute. Choosing it over more anthemic material aligned with the video’s restrained visuals—walking, observing, laying flowers—so that the cover’s emotional weight came from understatement rather than grand production.

The release strategy blended digital access and editorial premieres typical of the era: the track went live on iTunes, with plans for the video’s debut on high-traffic music sites. That ensured the charitable single could quickly reach both Ozzy’s rock audience and Lennon’s cross-generational fans.

Contemporaneous reports reinforced that proceeds were earmarked for Amnesty International, making the single a straightforward mechanism for fans to contribute. This practical framing—buy the song, support human rights—kept the call to action clear and directly tied the act of listening to tangible aid.

The New York setting did more than provide a backdrop; it inserted Ozzy’s tribute into a living public space where Lennon’s memory is encountered daily by visitors. By building the video around real streets and the memorial, the production invited viewers to witness a communal site of remembrance rather than a closed set.

Yoko Ono publicly framed the 70th-birthday commemorations as a moment to recognize Lennon’s enduring influence and shared purpose with Amnesty. Her remarks positioned tributes like Ozzy’s within a global tapestry of celebratory and charitable events honoring Lennon’s life and ideals.

Director Ernie Fritz’s straightforward, unobtrusive style kept the camera on lived details—footsteps, city light, the mosaic—while producer Martin Lewis’s involvement bridged the project to Amnesty’s ongoing Lennon initiatives. Those choices yielded a piece that feels more like a respectful visit than a conventional rock video.

The core facts stayed consistent across credible outlets: the song choice from Imagine, the October 2010 timing around Lennon’s 70th, the iTunes release, and the pledge of proceeds to Amnesty International. That consensus helps separate reliable details from later social-media retellings.

Taken together—the charitable release, the Manhattan filming, the Strawberry Fields moment, and the organizational ties—Ozzy’s “How?” stands as a documented instance where a heavy-metal icon paid sober, public respect to a formative influence, turning a cover song into a small but visible act of remembrance and advocacy.