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There Was Only One Ozzy’: Tony Iommi Delivers Emotional Tribute at Ozzy Osbourne’s Funeral
Today, the world said goodbye to a legend — and a friend. In an intimate and deeply moving ceremony in Birmingham, England, Tony Iommi, the iconic guitarist of Black Sabbath, stood before family, friends, and fellow musicians to speak from the heart about the man he called “a brother”: Ozzy Osbourne.
The funeral of John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne was a private affair, held at St. Martin’s Church, the same city where Black Sabbath was born more than five decades ago. While fans gathered outside in silence, those within the church witnessed something truly raw — a farewell not just to a music icon, but to a lifelong companion.
Tony Iommi, dressed in a simple black suit and holding a folded piece of paper, walked slowly to the podium after the opening hymn. He paused, eyes red, voice trembling, before he began.
“I’ve written a thousand riffs in my life,” he said softly. “But today, words don’t come easy.”
The room fell still.
“I met Ozzy when we were just kids from Aston, trying to survive,” he continued. “We were rough around the edges, no clue where life would take us. But together, we built something we never could’ve imagined — not just a band, but a brotherhood.”
Iommi spoke with quiet reverence, mixing fond memories with laughter through tears. He recalled the early Sabbath days — lugging gear into pubs, sleeping in vans, and watching Ozzy electrify every stage they stepped on.
“There was no one like him,” he said. “He was chaos and charm rolled into one. Some days you’d want to strangle him. Other days, you’d cry laughing. But every day, you loved him. You couldn’t not.”
He paused again, looking down at the casket draped in black and adorned with a single silver cross.
“I used to call him up just to hear what madness he was up to. And now… I pick up the phone, and I put it down. Because he’s not there anymore.”
Murmurs of emotion rippled through the crowd, which included fellow Sabbath members Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, as well as close family friends and musicians like Lars Ulrich and Rob Halford.
Despite the weight of grief, Iommi kept his words grounded, almost fatherly — protective of Ozzy’s humanity behind the fame and the headlines.
“He fought harder than people know — through addiction, illness, and pain. But he always found his way back. He had a heart bigger than any stadium we ever played.”
As his tribute neared its end, Iommi gently placed his hand on the podium and looked toward Sharon Osbourne and the children.
“Thank you for sharing him with us — with all of us. He changed our lives. Mine most of all.”
Then, with a final breath, he added, “Rest easy, my friend. There was only one Ozzy. And there’ll never be another.”
The church filled with silence as Tony Iommi returned to his seat, head bowed.
Outside, fans held candles and played “Changes” from their phones. Inside, a brother said goodbye.
