Tony Iommi says he never expected Ozzy Osbourne to die so soon, despite years of watching his longtime friend battle serious health problems.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, the Black Sabbath electric guitar riff master has reflected on the band’s emotional farewell concert, revealed the contents of the final text message Osbourne sent him, and admitted he’s still struggling to accept that his bandmate of nearly 60 years is gone.
“I didn’t expect him to go overnight,” Iommi says. “Blimey. It was a hell of a shock, really.”
The two had been friends and collaborators since forming Black Sabbath in 1968, remaining close throughout their respective health battles and regularly checking in on one another.
Looking back on Black Sabbath’s farewell performance, Iommi says the show felt unlike anything the band had experienced before.
“On the night, it felt very strange for me because obviously we’d never been onstage with Ozzy in a throne before, sitting down,” he says. “He was always jumping around, pulling faces, and making me and Geezer laugh. But on this occasion, I couldn’t see him because he’s in that throne at the front.”
With drummer Bill Ward back behind the kit for the first time in two decades, Iommi also spent much of the set standing closer to his longtime bandmate.
“Bill wanted me to stand back by him just because he was unsure of some bits. And so I did.”
Watching the performance back has only made the experience more emotional. Although he knew Osbourne’s health had been deteriorating, Iommi says he “didn’t expect it to happen that quick.”
He also revealed the final exchange the pair shared before Osbourne’s death.
“He texted me the night before, funny enough, and said he weren’t feeling great and so on. But obviously, most of our conversations to each other have been, ‘How are you feeling? How’s this? How’s that?’ And so it was just another conversation,” Iommi recalls. “I didn’t expect him to go overnight. Blimey. It was a hell of a shock, really.”
The guitarist says the pair leaned on one another throughout years of health struggles.
“We did stay in touch a lot. And he was going through so many different things and constantly in and out of hospital and having this done and that done. And again, he stood by me when I was diagnosed with cancer. He called me every day. So we’ve been supportive of each other. I do miss our conversations.”
Months after Osbourne’s death, Iommi admits the loss still doesn’t feel real.
“It’s been really strange. I still don’t feel like he’s gone because when I look on YouTube or whatever, there’s something to do with Ozzy, and I see him again and again,” he says. “It’s almost like he’s still here. It’s really peculiar. Only we were in touch so many times. That’s what I miss.”
Iommi is preparing to release his first solo album in 21 years. From the Dark arrives October 23 via BMG and features Norwegian vocalist Jørn Lande, Mercyful Fate bass guitarist Becky Baldwin and former Robbie Williams drummer Karl Brazil.
