Ozzy Osbourne’s Black Sabbath Bandmate Tony Iommi Reflects on the Late Rocker
Tony Iommi, former bandmate of the legendary Ozzy Osbourne in the iconic rock band Black Sabbath, is opening up about his memories of the late rocker. Osbourne passed away at the age of 76 on Tuesday, July 22, after battling Parkinson’s disease. Just weeks before his death, Osbourne, Iommi, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler reunited for one final Black Sabbath concert at Villa Park stadium in Birmingham, the band’s hometown. The group performed their greatest hits at the Back to the Beginning festival on July 5.
In an interview with ITV News on Wednesday, July 23, Iommi shared his belief that Osbourne “held out to do that show.” He expressed, “Me and Geezer 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 Black Sabbath co-founder and guitarist continued, stating, “I think he must have had something in his head that said, ‘Well, this is going to be it, the last thing I’m ever gonna do.’ Whether he thought he was going to die or what, I don’t know. But he really wanted to do it, he was determined to do it. Fair dues, he’d done it.”
Iommi recalled that Osbourne appeared unwell during rehearsals for the final performance, but his passing still came as a shock. “We didn’t want him there every day at rehearsal because it’s too much. He just wouldn’t be able to stand it,” Iommi shared. “They’d bring him in, he’d sit down and sing a few songs, and then we’d talk about some rubbish old times, have a laugh, and then he’d go.”
Following Osbourne’s death, his family, including his wife Sharon, released an emotional statement announcing the news. They asked for privacy during this difficult time. Iommi expressed his disbelief upon hearing the news, stating, “When I heard yesterday, it couldn’t sink in. I thought, ‘It can’t be.’ I only had a text off him the day before. It just seemed unreal … surreal. It really didn’t sink in.”
Reflecting on Osbourne’s sudden passing, Iommi added, “We didn’t expect him to go that quick, really. Well, we didn’t expect him to go.”
The music world has lost a true legend in Ozzy Osbourne, and his bandmates and fans will forever cherish the memories and music he left behind. His impact on rock music will continue to resonate for generations to come.
