TONY IOMMI On OZZY & Back To The Beginning: “I Think He Really Just Held Out To Do That Show”

Tony Iommi originally issued a brief statement on social media after the sudden death of Ozzy Osbourne on July 22. Now in a new interview with ITV News on July 23, Iommi captured the shock and sorrow felt by fans and musicians around the globe in his own words.

“Yeah, it was a shock for us [to find out that Ozzy had died]. I mean, when I heard yesterday, it couldn’t sink in. I thought, ‘It can’t be.’ I only had a text from him the day before. It just seemed unreal, surreal,” Tony shared. His reaction reflected what millions of fans felt — disbelief that the Prince of Darkness was truly gone.

Black Sabbath‘s original lineup reunited on July 5 for one final, emotional performance in their hometown of Birmingham, UK, for their Back to the Beginning farewell concert. According to Tony, Ozzy didn’t look well during rehearsals. Yet, he held on with sheer determination to give fans one last memory.

“I think he really just held out to do that show,” Iommi revealed. “Me and Geezer were talking about it last night, that we think he held out to do it, and just after that, he’s done it and said goodbye to the fans. And that was the end of it, really.” The concert, meant as a final bow for Black Sabbath, took on a far deeper meaning — it became Ozzy‘s final act, a heartfelt goodbye to the fans who had followed him for decades.

Playing that last show in Birmingham meant everything to Ozzy Osbourne. It was a full-circle moment for the band that began in the gritty heart of the UK’s industrial West Midlands. “Oh, he’s built up for it for a while now,” Iommi said. “He’s been sort of training and trying to do what he can, so he could do this gig. And that’s really what he wanted to do.” Iommi went on to suggest that Ozzy might have known this was the end. “Whether he thought he was gonna die or what, I don’t know. But he really wanted to do it and he was determined to do it. And fair dues, he’d done it.”

That final performance was deeply moving for the entire band. For Iommi, Butler, Ward, and Osbourne to stand on stage together in the place where it all began was surreal. “It was really moving, I think. We all felt like, ‘Wow.’ And again, it was almost like a dream. Before you know it, we’re off stage. And [we were thinking], ‘What happened?'” After the show, Ozzy made a quiet round to say goodbye. “He came around before he was leaving on a wheelchair that brought him in to say goodbye and have a little chat for a bit. And he seemed all right. He enjoyed it. And he said, ‘Oh, it went all right, didn’t it?’ I said, ‘Yeah, it did.'”

Yet, there were signs that Ozzy was struggling. Just the day before his passing, Iommi received a message from him. “He’s tired and he’s really got no energy,” the text read. Given Ozzy‘s health challenges, even attending rehearsals was a monumental task. “We didn’t want him there every day at rehearsal, because it’s too much. He just wouldn’t be able to stand it.” Still, every time he came in, he gave it his all — singing a few songs, joking with the guys, reminiscing about old times. Those rehearsals became moments of bonding, laughter, and reflection, not just preparation.

The reunion also marked the first time in 20 years that original drummer Bill Ward played with the group. “To have Bill with us as well after all these years… I can’t believe it’s 20 years, to be honest,” Tony said. They spent time talking about the early days — the gritty beginnings, the brotherhood, the memories that shaped rock and metal history. “You always remember that. You can’t remember what happened yesterday, but you could remember what happened all that time ago.” The stories flowed, the laughter returned, and for a moment, it was like being back in the early days of Sabbath.

Reflecting on that final show, Iommi shared how much it meant to Ozzy. “I think he was moved and frustrated as well, ’cause he wanted to stand up. You could see he was trying to get up. But yeah, it meant everything to him.” The performance was designed to be a send-off, a monumental farewell to their fans — but no one expected it to be Ozzy‘s last moment in the spotlight. “We didn’t expect him to go that quick, really. Well, we didn’t expect him to go.”

Tony Iommi is grateful they had that final opportunity to say goodbye on stage. “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.” That last chance to witness Black Sabbath with Ozzy at the front, in Birmingham, will forever remain etched in music history.

When asked how he’ll remember Ozzy, Tony became reflective. “God, we go back so many years. I knew Ozzy before everybody, ’cause we went to the same school. He was always funny. Ozzy was Ozzy. There’s never gonna be another Ozzy. He’s the only one — one Ozzy and that’s it.” With affection, Tony recalled the humor, the unpredictability, and the showmanship that defined his friend. “Many times we said to him, ‘Now, don’t get saying anything.’ And, of course, he does. But it was funny. He did do some funny antics. And we did have a laugh on stage.”

Ozzy Osbourne wasn’t just the frontman of Black Sabbath. He was the heart of heavy metal, a true original. His contributions to rock and metal are unparalleled. As Tony Iommi so perfectly put it, “He had a special way, and that was it. There’s not another Ozzy. And his antics and everything — we never knew what he was gonna do in all the years we’ve known him.”