Tony Iommi has given his first interview following Ozzy Osbourne’s death. He discussed how the Black Sabbath frontman’s determination to perform their final concert may have prolonged his life, in a statement shared with ITV News.
The Black Sabbath guitarist reflected on the shock of losing his longtime bandmate. He shared his belief that Osbourne held on specifically to complete their farewell performance.
“It was a shock for us,” Iommi said. “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. And it really didn’t sink in. And in the night, I started thinking about it: ‘God, am I dreaming all this?’ But as I said before, he’s not looked well through the rehearsals.”
Iommi elaborated on his theory about Osbourne’s final motivation. He discussed conversations he had with bassist Geezer Butler about their bandmate’s condition.
“I think he really just held out to do that show,” he continued. “I really feel – and 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 guitarist shared his thoughts on what may have been going through Osbourne’s mind during their final performance together.
“I think he must have had something in his head that said, ‘Well, this is gonna be it, the last thing I’m ever gonna do,'” Iommi said. “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.”
Iommi also recalled their final interaction after the show. He described Osbourne’s visit to say goodbye to his bandmates.
“Well, he went to his dressing room and I went to mine and Geez went to his and so on,” he said. “And then he came over. 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.'”
Iommi’s emotional reflections provide context for what became one of the most significant farewell concerts in rock history. The event took on even greater meaning following Osbourne’s passing just seventeen days later.
The farewell concert, titled “Back to the Beginning,” took place on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Ozzy’s hometown. Wikipedia reported that the event was a monumental celebration featuring more than a dozen supporting acts. These included legendary bands like Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Slayer, as well as guest vocalists and supergroups performing Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne classics. The show lasted nearly ten hours and attracted an audience of 40,000 in person.
The scale of the event reflected the immense impact of Osbourne’s career and Black Sabbath’s legacy. Guitar World documented that an estimated 5.8 million viewers tuned in via livestream. This made it one of the largest celebrations of metal music ever witnessed. The concert was hosted by Jason Momoa. Ozzy performed with his solo band before joining Black Sabbath for their final set together.
The timing of Osbourne’s death adds weight to Iommi’s belief about his bandmate’s determination. Ultimate Classic Rock confirmed that Osbourne passed away on July 22, 2025, exactly seventeen days after the farewell concert. This timeline supports Iommi’s theory that Osbourne held on specifically to complete this final performance with his longtime bandmates.
The “Back to the Beginning” concert now stands as the ultimate tribute to both Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s enduring legacy. The event’s massive scale and emotional significance have cemented its place as one of rock music’s most memorable farewell performances. It was made even more poignant by the circumstances surrounding Osbourne’s passing shortly afterward.
This marks the first public statement from any Black Sabbath member following Osbourne’s passing after their final concert together.
