Tony Iommi says Black Sabbath farewell show “meant everything” to Ozzy Osbourne
Since the passing of metal icon Ozzy Osbourne, long-time Black Sabbath bandmate Tony Iommi has opened up about the huge farewell show they pulled off earlier this month.
Iommi opened up to ITV News about Osbourne, who passed on July 22nd, just over two weeks after the Back to the Beginning farewell show on July 5th. In addition to performing a solo set, Osbourne reunited with Black Sabbath’s Bill Ward, Iommi, and Geezer Butler for the first time in more than 20 years and raised almost $200 million for charity in the process.
Though Iommi insisted that Osbourne enjoyed the huge farewell, he also noted that it was difficult for the singer. He said, “I think he was moved and frustrated as well, ’cause he wanted to stand up. You could see he was trying to get up.”
Nonetheless, he added, “It meant everything to him. This is what we built up for, for that big ending where he could see all the people and we could all see all the people, and close it in that way. But we didn’t expect to close it so quick with Ozz; we didn’t expect him to go that quick, really. Well, we didn’t expect him to go. So it’s been a shock.”
Despite grieving deeply for his good friend, Iommi is still happy that Black Sabbath performed again for a final time: “I’m really glad we did it, ’cause it was a final thing for everybody. 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.”
Osbourne’s cause of death is yet to be revealed. However, locals in Buckinghamshire have since confirmed to the Mail Online that an air ambulance arrived at his residence at around 10:15am on July 22nd. “We immediately feared it may be for him as he was known to be in fragile health,” an anonymous local said to the publication, “When we heard later that night that he had died it confirmed our worst fears.”
In a statement released on July 22nd, the Osbourne family eventually confirmed that Ozzy had passed away. They wrote, “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning.”
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