BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi has opened up about the heartbreaking loss of his longtime bandmate Ozzy Osbourne, saying the news has left him shaken and describing the grief as “like losing a brother.”
Ozzy died on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76 following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. The heavy metal pioneer passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family. Despite attempts to revive him, paramedics reportedly worked for nearly two hours before confirming his death. No official cause of death has been disclosed.
Speaking to BBC Midlands, Iommi said the news hit him hard: “It’s been difficult, because it’s just a shock, really. I haven’t been able to get myself organized properly since hearing this. It’s been really strange.”
He revealed that fellow SABBATH member Geezer Butler was experiencing a similar emotional struggle. “He’s much the same. You just can’t pull yourself together. It really has affected us bad.”
Iommi added that he continues to instinctively reach for his phone to text Ozzy, only to be reminded that he’s no longer there. “I still think he’s there. I still go to text him and stuff, [but] he’s not there anymore. It’s really weird. Really weird. And I think that’s gonna take a long time. ‘Cause it’s like losing a brother.”
When asked what kind of tribute he believes would suit Ozzy, Iommi reflected: “I don’t know. You know, you could say a statue or a figure. But I think also the band should have something like that. ‘Cause we’ve all been a team, and we’re [all] gonna go at some point. But I think that’d be the thing — probably a statue. I can’t think what else. I think he’d be happy that everybody remembers him and everybody loves him and everybody’s come out like they have.”
Ozzy’s death has sparked global mourning from fans, fellow musicians, and public figures, with tributes pouring in across the world. From viral petitions to rename Birmingham Airport to online memorials, it’s clear that the legacy of the Prince of Darkness will live on.
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