BREAKING; Black Sabbath Guitarist Tony Iommi F…read more.
As the music world mourns the loss of Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has opened his heart in a candid and emotional interview, sharing the final words Ozzy spoke to him before passing away. Their conversation, filled with tenderness and brotherhood, captured the depth of a bond that stretched across decades of music, chaos, and love.
Ozzy died earlier this week at the age of 76, surrounded by his family. The loss came just weeks after a powerful and emotional final Black Sabbath performance a farewell that brought the original band members back together one last time. While fans grieve around the world, Iommi’s recollection of their last exchange has touched hearts deeply.
“He rang me out of the blue, and I could tell something was different,” Iommi said in an interview with Kerrang!. “He sounded calm, gentle like he’d made peace. He said, ‘We’ll always be brothers, no matter what. Tell the lads I love them.’ I just sat there frozen. I knew in my gut it was his way of saying goodbye.”
The two Birmingham-born rockers had shared more than fifty years of history from humble beginnings in the late 1960s to creating a genre that would go on to inspire millions. Alongside Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, they gave birth to Black Sabbath and, with it, the sound of heavy metal.
Though their bond was unshakable, the road wasn’t always smooth. Ozzy was fired from the band in 1979 due to substance issues. For years, they drifted apart. But their connection endured, and they eventually reunited most recently for the band’s 2013 13 album and their farewell tour.
“We fought, we laughed, we cried and through it all, we stayed connected,” Iommi reflected. “Even when we weren’t speaking, we were never truly apart. That’s what made his final words so powerful. He knew that what we built was bigger than the music. It was family.”
Their final performance together — a full-circle reunion of the classic Sabbath lineup — has taken on new meaning in the wake of Ozzy’s passing. At the time, it was a celebration. Now, it feels like a parting gift.
“Ozzy was struggling physically. He was in pain, but he wouldn’t show it,” Iommi shared. “He told me, ‘If I’m going out, I’m doing it on stage — not in a hospital bed.’ That was Ozzy. Brave, bold, and determined to go out doing what he loved.”
Bill Ward, who rejoined the band for that final night, spoke about his last private moment with Ozzy backstage.
“He hugged me tight, and said, ‘No regrets, Bill. I love you.’ We had been through so much together. That moment… it healed a lot.”
Geezer Butler added: “We never used to say things like that back then. But Ozzy made sure he left nothing unsaid. That was his gift to us.”
Since the news broke, tributes have flooded in from artists across genres and generations. Metallica, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Slipknot — even younger bands like Bring Me the Horizon and Infected Rain — all shared heartfelt memories of how Ozzy shaped their lives.
In Birmingham, fans have turned the site of the final concert into a living memorial. Dozens gather daily to leave messages, candles, flowers, and Black Sabbath memorabilia. A cardboard bat with “Forever the Prince” scrawled across it sits beside an old vinyl of Master of Reality.
One note simply read: “You may be gone, but your voice will echo forever.”
Tony Iommi, still reeling from the loss, is grieving privately but said he felt compelled to share this last memory of Ozzy with the world.
“The last thing I said to him was, ‘I love you, mate.’ And I meant it. He wasn’t just a singer, not just a bandmate — he was a brother to me. That call, those words… I’ll carry them with me always.”
As the world prepares to say a final goodbye to one of music’s most iconic figures, Iommi’s words offer a glimpse into the heart of the man behind the legend. Ozzy Osbourne didn’t just leave behind albums or sold-out shows he left behind relationships, loyalty, and love that lasted a lifetime.
“He was wild, unpredictable, and unforgettable,” Iommi said softly. “But above all, he was real. That was Ozzy and I’ll never stop missing him.”
