Tony Iommi’s Tribute to Ozzy Is the Saddest and Most Beautiful Thing You’ll Read Today

Tony Iommi, the iconic guitarist of Black Sabbath, has become the first member of the band to speak out following the passing of his longtime friend and frontman, Ozzy Osbourne.

In a heartfelt message posted to Instagram, Iommi shared his shock and sorrow:

“I just can’t believe it! My dear dear friend Ozzy has passed away only weeks after our show at Villa Park.”

“It’s just such heartbreaking news that I can’t really find the words,” he added. “There won’t ever be another like him. Geezer, Bill and myself have lost our brother.”

Iommi closed with a message to Ozzy’s loved ones:

“My thoughts go out to Sharon and all the Osbourne family. Rest in peace Oz. Tony.”

Fans and fellow musicians responded with messages of support. Artists like Andreas Kisser, Ihsahn, Rob Caggiano, and Alissa White-Gluz added their voices to the outpouring of grief.

A Bittersweet Reunion in Birmingham

Just weeks earlier, on July 5, the original Black Sabbath lineup reunited one last time for the Back to the Beginning concert in Birmingham. The show was especially significant, as it marked drummer Bill Ward’s return after missing the band’s previous farewell tour due to contract issues.

Ozzy had long expressed a desire to bring Ward back for a proper goodbye, and the Birmingham performance became that moment — one filled with nostalgia, power, and unity.

A Show With Purpose

Before agreeing to the concert, Iommi admitted to The Guardian that he had reservations. “I’m the one that said, ‘I don’t know if we should do it,’ because we did a farewell tour and I didn’t want to get into that thing like all the other bands are doing.”

What changed his mind? The cause. “No one’s getting paid or anything,” he explained. Proceeds from the show were directed to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Acorn Children’s Hospice, and Cure Parkinson’s.

The End, in Four Songs

The band closed their legacy with four iconic tracks: “War Pigs,” “N.I.B.,” “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid.” It was a powerful goodbye — one that now stands as a final tribute to the voice that helped define heavy metal.