Black Sabbath Guitarist TONY LOMMI R..See more
Birmingham, July 2025 – Just over two weeks after Black Sabbath’s powerful farewell concert Back to the Beginning, guitarist and founding member Tony Iommi has opened up about the heartbreaking loss of his longtime bandmate and friend, Ozzy Osbourne. In an emotional interview with ITV News on July 23, Iommi shared his shock, grief, and the deep meaning behind their last performance together — a moment that would unknowingly serve as their final goodbye.
The world was shaken by the news of Ozzy Osbourne’s death on July 22, 2025, at age 76. For Iommi, the loss felt deeply personal and sudden. “It was a shock for us,” he admitted. “When I heard the news yesterday, I just couldn’t believe it. I had a text from him just the day before. It didn’t feel real.” As the reality began to settle in, Iommi said he found himself questioning whether it was all a dream, struggling to accept the silence left behind by someone he had known for decades.
A Farewell Fueled by Determination
Iommi revealed that during rehearsals for their final show, Ozzy appeared extremely frail and physically exhausted. He was clearly unwell and struggling — yet he pushed himself to show up, rehearse, and perform. “He looked really weak,” Iommi said. “But he wanted to do that show more than anything. I think he knew it would be his last.”
Held on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham — their hometown — the concert was a significant reunion, featuring the original Black Sabbath lineup for the first time in more than 20 years. Ozzy, though limited by Parkinson’s disease and confined to a throne shaped like a bat, gave everything he had to deliver a powerful farewell performance.
According to Iommi, the show was both inspiring and heartbreaking. “Ozzy couldn’t move much, and he had to sit the whole time. But his spirit was alive. He gave it his all. It meant so much to him, and to us. We just didn’t think that it would be the end so soon. None of us expected him to go.”
A Quiet Goodbye
After the final song was played and the band walked off stage, Ozzy turned to Iommi backstage for what would unknowingly become his last words to him. Iommi recounted the simple but touching exchange: “He just looked at me and said, ‘It went all right, didn’t it?’” That brief sentence, soft-spoken and modest, stayed with Iommi. It captured everything Ozzy was — a rock icon who never let ego overshadow the moment, even in his final bow.
“That was the last thing he ever said to me,” Iommi reflected, his voice heavy with emotion. “It’s something I’ll never forget. That little moment meant so much.”
For a man known for his larger-than-life antics, humor, and unpredictability, Ozzy’s calm and tender demeanor in that moment said more than any grand gesture could. It was the quiet end to a loud, passionate legacy.
A Bond Beyond Music
In a heartfelt social media tribute posted hours after Ozzy’s passing, Iommi wrote:
“My dear dear friend Ozzy has passed away only weeks after our show at Villa Park… There won’t ever be another like him. Geezer, Bill, and myself have lost our brother.”
Their friendship dated back to their youth in Birmingham, long before the fame and chaos of heavy metal stardom. Iommi fondly recalled their school days, describing Ozzy as cheeky, wild, and effortlessly funny. “He was always making us laugh,” Iommi said. “Ozzy was Ozzy — and there will never be another.”
Despite the challenges they faced — from internal band conflicts to Ozzy’s battles with addiction and health — their bond endured for over five decades. Their final concert was more than just a reunion; it was a reminder of the strength of their brotherhood.
Remembering a Legend
Other Black Sabbath members also expressed their grief. Bassist Geezer Butler called Ozzy their “Prince of Laughter,” saying that behind the wild onstage image was a kind-hearted, warm, and deeply loyal man. Drummer Bill Ward also shared emotional words, praising Ozzy’s courage, perseverance, and the joy he brought to everyone around him.
Tony Iommi’s reflections not only help fans process the loss of one of rock’s most iconic frontmen, but they also shed light on the deeply personal side of their final performance. For Iommi, that last stage moment and Ozzy’s soft-spoken reassurance will live on as one of the most meaningful memories of his life.
In many ways, Ozzy Osbourne said goodbye the only way he knew how — through music, connection, and a final act of resilience. And for Tony Iommi and the millions of fans across the world, his farewell was unforgettable — the end of an era, and the lasting echo of a voice that changed music forever.
