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Tony Iommi Opens Up About Ozzy Osbourne’s Health and Final Show: “He Gave It Everything”
It’s never easy saying goodbye — especially when it’s to a band that helped shape an entire genre of music. For fans of Black Sabbath, the recent final performance was more than just the end of an era. It was emotional, raw, and, in many ways, a testament to resilience. And at the center of it all was Ozzy Osbourne — fragile, determined, and still holding on to the fire that made him a legend.
Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath’s guitarist and longtime friend of Ozzy, recently shared his honest thoughts about the show — and more importantly, about Ozzy himself. He didn’t sugarcoat the truth: Ozzy hasn’t been in great shape lately.
“You can see it in him,” Iommi said in an interview. “He’s been through hell, really. All the surgeries, the Parkinson’s diagnosis, the fall a few years back… it’s been one thing after another. And yet, he still wanted to do this. He needed to do this.”
For fans who have followed Ozzy’s health updates over the past few years, this wasn’t news. The iconic frontman has faced a brutal string of setbacks — physical and emotional — that forced him to cancel tours and stay out of the public eye for long periods. Many began to wonder if they’d ever see him perform again.
But then came that night — a final show in Birmingham, the city where Black Sabbath was born. Despite all odds, Ozzy showed up, stepped on stage, and did what he’s always done best: sing with heart, howl with pain, and move people.
“He was nervous. We all were,” Iommi said. “I could feel the weight of it on him backstage. He knew what it meant — to him, to us, to the fans. But the moment he walked out, something clicked. He wasn’t the same guy who had trouble walking a few months ago. He was Ozzy again.”
It wasn’t a flashy show. There were no dramatic effects, no massive stage gimmicks. Just four men — or three original members and a session drummer — playing the music they created together more than 50 years ago. But the energy, the emotion, the connection between them was undeniable.
“I was proud of him,” Iommi said, pausing for a moment. “It wasn’t easy for him to do that show. It took everything he had. But he did it. And it was brilliant. Not perfect — but perfect in the ways that matter.”
Fans felt it too. As Ozzy stood on stage, visibly emotional, thanking the crowd and his bandmates, you could see how much it meant to him. This wasn’t just another performance — it was his goodbye, his last roar.
“We’ve had our battles, me and Ozzy,” Iommi admitted with a chuckle. “But we’ve also shared something no one else can ever touch. There’s a bond that comes from surviving this long in this business, through addiction, fame, fallout, and everything in between.”
So, is this really the end of Black Sabbath?
“I think so,” Iommi said softly. “Never say never, but we’re older now. Ozzy needs rest. He’s earned it. If anything ever happened again, maybe one small thing, I’d never say no. But I also think we closed the book in the best way possible.”
As for Ozzy, he’s now focusing on healing — and, hopefully, peace. But no matter what the future holds, that final performance reminded everyone why he’s so beloved. He may not have moved like he used to, or hit every note, but he stood there, proud and defiant. A little bent, but far from broken.
“That’s what people saw that night,” Iommi said. “Not just a frontman. Not just a legend. But a man who gave everything he had — one last time.”
And for fans around the world, that was more than enough.
