Just weeks after standing side by side with Ozzy Osbourne one last time at Black Sabbath’s historic reunion in Birmingham, Tony Iommi has shared an emotional tribute following the rock legend’s passing at age 76.
“I just can’t believe it,” Iommi wrote on X. “My dear, dear friend Ozzy has passed away only weeks after our show at Villa Park. It’s such heartbreaking news—I can’t find the words. There’ll never be another like him. Geezer, Bill, and I have lost our brother. My heart is with Sharon and the entire Osbourne family. Rest in peace, Ozzy.”
That final show on July 5, titled Back to the Beginning, was a deeply symbolic moment for Sabbath and their fans. Ozzy, seated on a throne due to complications from Parkinson’s, gave one final performance in the city where it all began. The event raised an incredible £140 million for causes close to the band’s heart, including Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorns Hospice.
Tony wasn’t alone in expressing his grief.
Geezer Butler shared, “Goodbye dear friend… so glad we got to do it one last time, back in Aston. Love you.”
Drummer Bill Ward added, “Where will I find you now?… you’re forever in my heart.”
Ozzy passed peacefully on July 22, just 17 days after that emotional farewell — surrounded by family and love.
Tributes have poured in from every corner of the music world. Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin wrote, “Sail on up there… you truly changed the planet of rock.” Elton John, Metallica, Green Day, and countless others joined fans across the globe in celebrating Ozzy’s legacy.
Even Aston Villa FC, Ozzy’s beloved hometown football club, issued a heartfelt message: “Aston Villa Football Club is saddened… he always held a special connection to the club.”
Ozzy’s final show wasn’t just a concert — it was a full-circle moment. It was the sound of legends coming home. And as Tony Iommi said, it was the night Black Sabbath took their final bow — united, just as they began.
