BREAKING: Black Sabbath GUITARIST Tony Iommi Pa…read more.
The music world is still reeling from the loss of a legend. On July 22, 2025, Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic voice of Black Sabbath and one of heavy metal’s most enduring figures, passed away at the age of 76. As fans mourn across the globe, the most poignant tribute came from someone who knew him like no other Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath’s founding guitarist and Ozzy’s musical partner of over five decades.
“Today, I lost my best friend,” Iommi shared in a deeply moving statement. “The world lost a legend but I lost someone who was like a brother to me.”
A Brotherhood Beyond the Music
Tony Iommi and Ozzy Osbourne’s journey began in the late 1960s in Birmingham, England, where four working-class kids Tony, Ozzy, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward unknowingly started what would become the heavy metal revolution. But for Iommi, it was never just about creating music with Ozzy it was about the bond they built through the highs, lows, and everything in between.
“We went through so much together,” Iommi said. “We were kids when we started. We had no idea what we were getting into and we held on to each other through every twist and turn.”
He spoke about their early days: crammed into vans, playing grimy clubs, and dreaming of something bigger never knowing their names would become synonymous with an entire genre.
The Final Curtain
Ozzy’s final public performance, just weeks ago at the “Back to the Beginning” farewell concert in Birmingham, now feels all the more sacred. Despite struggling with health issues, Ozzy poured his heart into the show. Tony Iommi, who shared the stage with him for the last time, remembered it as an emotional, unforgettable night.
“It was beautiful,” Iommi said. “Ozzy was in pain, but you wouldn’t have known. He gave everything he had. He knew it might be the last time we played together and he made it count.”
The atmosphere backstage was reportedly heavy with emotion old friends embracing, knowing they were closing a lifelong chapter together.
The Man Behind the Madness
To the world, Ozzy Osbourne was the wild man of rock unpredictable, outrageous, and beloved for it. But Iommi described a different side one filled with humor, compassion, and heart.
“People loved the crazy Ozzy, but I knew the real Ozzy — the one who would call just to check on you, the one who never forgot where he came from,” Iommi said. “He made you laugh when you needed it. He always knew when something was wrong, even if you didn’t say a word.”
Iommi shared memories of their quieter moments: talking about life backstage, laughing over old stories, and occasionally sitting in silence, reflecting on how far they’d come.
A Legacy Cast in Steel
Ozzy’s influence is immeasurable, and Iommi didn’t shy away from crediting his longtime friend with helping create something eternal.
“Ozzy’s voice wasn’t just iconic it was elemental,” he said. “He gave Sabbath its soul. There’s no one like him, and there never will be.”
He emphasized that Ozzy was more than a frontman he was the heartbeat of the band, and his energy drove them forward even in the most difficult times.
“We argued, sure,” Iommi said with a smile. “But there was always love underneath it all. We were a family.”
A Final Goodbye
As he closed his statement, Iommi offered a personal farewell that captured decades of friendship in just a few heartfelt lines:
“Ozzy, thank you for your voice, your passion, and your loyalty. Thank you for being by my side for all these years. I’ll miss your laugh, your madness, and your heart more than words can say.
Rest easy, my friend. You’ll always be with me in every note I play, in every chord that rings. I love you.”
As fans worldwide continue to honor Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy, Tony Iommi’s tribute reminds us that behind the legend was a man and behind the man was a friendship forged in fire, music, and lifelong brotherhood.
Ozzy may be gone, but thanks to Iommi and the music they made together, his voice will echo for generations.
