The recent passing of Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic voice of Black Sabbath and a towering figure in heavy metal, left his longtime bandmate and friend Tony Iommi grappling with disbelief. Speaking to ITV News on Wednesday, July 23, Iommi, Black Sabbath‘s founding guitarist, shared his shock and insights into Osbourne’s final weeks.
“Yeah, it was a shock for us [to find out that Ozzy had died],” Iommi stated (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “I mean, when I heard yesterday, it couldn’t sink in. I thought, ‘It can’t be.’ I only had a text from him the day before. It just seemed unreal, surreal.” The reality of the loss truly hit him later that night, causing him to question if he was “dreaming all this.”
Iommi revealed that Ozzy had been noticeably unwell during rehearsals for Black Sabbath‘s highly anticipated farewell performance at the “Back To The Beginning” concert on July 5 in Birmingham. He believes Ozzy mustered every last ounce of strength specifically for that show. “I think he really just held out to do that show,” Iommi said. “I really feel, and me and Geezer [Butler, Sabbath bassist] were talking about it last night, that we think he held out to do it, and just after that, he’s done it and said goodbye to the fans. And that was the end of it, really.”
The Birmingham concert, a momentous event in Black Sabbath‘s original hometown, was of immense importance to Ozzy. “Oh, he’s built up for it for a while now,” Tony confirmed. “He’s been sort of training and trying to do what he can, so he could do this gig, so he could do it. And that’s really what he wanted to do. I think he must have had something in his head that said, ‘Well, this is gonna be it, the last thing I’m ever gonna do.’ Whether he thought he was gonna die or what, I don’t know. But he really wanted to do it and he was determined to do it. And fair dues, he’d done it.”
The reunion of the original Sabbath members—Ozzy, Iommi, Butler, and Bill Ward—in their formative city was a deeply moving experience for all involved. “It was really moving, I think. We all felt like, ‘Wow.’ And again, it was almost like a dream. Before you know it, we’re off stage. And [we were thinking], ‘What happened?'”
After the performance, Ozzy visited Iommi’s dressing room in a wheelchair to say goodbye. “He seemed all right. He enjoyed it. And he said, ‘Oh, it went all right, didn’t it?’ I said, ‘Yeah, it did,'” Tony recounted. However, a text from Ozzy just days before, stating he was “tired” and “really got no energy,” hinted at his deteriorating condition. Rehearsals were consequently adjusted to accommodate his health, with Ozzy attending only when he could manage, sitting down to sing a few songs, and sharing laughs about old times.
This last performance at Villa Park served a dual purpose: a farewell for Ozzy to his fans and the definitive end of Black Sabbath as a live entity. The presence of Bill Ward, playing with them after a 20-year hiatus, added another layer of significance. Iommi expressed disbelief at how much time had passed since they last played with Ward, noting that the drummer had “never changed.”
Reflecting on Sabbath’s formative years, Iommi recalled conversations during rehearsals where the bandmates reminisced about their beginnings. “We sat down on the couch and we were all talking about old times, really. ‘Cause you always remember that. You can’t remember what happened yesterday, but you could remember what happened all that time ago.”
While Ozzy was deeply moved by the final concert, Iommi observed a touch of frustration. “I think he was moved and frustrated as well, ’cause he wanted to stand up. You could see he was trying to get up.” Despite this, the event meant “everything” to him, serving as the grand finale they had envisioned. Yet, the swiftness of Ozzy’s passing afterward remained a shock to Iommi and the rest of the band.
Iommi expressed immense gratitude that the band had the opportunity for this final performance. “I’m really glad we did it, ’cause it was a final thing for everybody,” he explained. “And I think if we hadn’t done it, people couldn’t have seen the band and Ozzy. It would’ve been a shame. But they’ve got a chance to see us all and see Ozz for the last time in that situation.”
Remembering Ozzy, Iommi emphasized their lifelong connection, having known him since school. “Ozzy was Ozzy. There’s never gonna be another Ozzy. He’s the only one — [there was] one Ozzy and that’s it. [And he’s] just a special person, just the way he is. He says what he thinks.” Iommi fondly recalled Ozzy’s unpredictable nature and comedic antics, even on stage, where he would pull faces at his bandmates to make them laugh.
Regarding Ozzy‘s musical legacy, Iommi concluded: “He had a special way, and that was it. There’s not another Ozzy. And his antics and everything — we never knew what he was gonna do in all the years we’ve known him. So it was all a bit of a thing, ‘I wonder what he’s gonna do now.'”
Ozzy Osbourne’s family confirmed his passing on Tuesday morning, July 22.
