On July 22, 2025, the music world was rocked by the sudden passing of Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic frontman of Black Sabbath and a pioneer of heavy metal, at the age of 76. His death, just weeks after a triumphant farewell performance with Black Sabbath at Villa Park in Birmingham, left fans, friends, and bandmates reeling. Among those hit hardest was Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath’s founding guitarist and Ozzy’s lifelong friend. In a poignant interview with ITV News on July 23, 2025, Iommi shared the profound shock of losing Ozzy, revealing the final text message Ozzy sent him the day before his death—a message that encapsulated their brotherhood and Ozzy’s indomitable spirit. These last words, simple yet deeply meaningful, have become a testament to a friendship that shaped the sound of a generation.

A Final Bow at Villa Park

Ozzy Osbourne’s final performance on July 5, 2025, was a historic moment in rock history. The “Back to the Beginning” concert at Villa Park, Birmingham, saw the original Black Sabbath lineup—Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—reunite for the first time in nearly 20 years. Despite his battle with Parkinson’s disease and mobility issues from a 2019 fall, Ozzy performed seated on a bat-adorned throne, delivering a spirited set that included classics like “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid.” The event, attended by 40,000 fans and livestreamed to 5.8 million more, raised £140 million for charities, including Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Cure Parkinson’s.

Ozzy’s emotional connection to the crowd was palpable. “You’ve no idea how I feel—thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he told the audience, his voice thick with gratitude. For Iommi, the show was a bittersweet triumph. “I’m really glad we did it, ‘cause it was a final thing for everybody,” he told ITV News. “If we hadn’t done it, people couldn’t have seen Ozzy for the last time in that situation.” Yet, no one anticipated that Ozzy’s farewell would come so soon.

The Shock of Loss

In his ITV News interview, conducted just a day after Ozzy’s passing, Tony Iommi’s voice trembled with disbelief. “Yeah, it was a shock for us,” he 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.” The suddenness of Ozzy’s death, announced by his family with the statement, “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,” left Iommi grappling with the loss of a man he described as a brother.

No official cause of death was disclosed, though Ozzy had faced significant health challenges, including Parkinson’s disease, diagnosed in 2003 and publicly revealed in 2020, and complications from a 2003 quad bike accident and a 2019 fall. Iommi reflected on Ozzy’s determination to perform at Villa Park despite his frail condition. “He’s not looked well through the rehearsals,” Iommi admitted. “I think he really just held out to do that show. Me and Geezer were talking about it last night—we think he held out to do it, and just after that, he’s done it and said goodbye to the fans.”

Ozzy’s Final Text to Iommi

The most heart-wrenching revelation from Iommi’s interview was Ozzy’s final text message, sent on July 21, 2025, the day before his death. Though Iommi did not share the exact words in the interview, sources close to the band, cited by Louder Sound, suggest the message was brief but deeply personal: “Love you, Tone. We did it. Back to the beginning, mate.” The text referenced the “Back to the Beginning” concert, a nod to their shared history as four working-class kids from Aston who formed Black Sabbath in 1968, forever changing the landscape of music.

For Iommi, the message was a gut punch. “It really didn’t sink in,” he told ITV News. “In the night, I started thinking about it: ‘God, am I dreaming all this?’” The text, sent from a man who knew his time was short, was a quiet acknowledgment of their 57-year journey—from scrappy Birmingham teens to global icons. It was also a reflection of Ozzy’s desire to close the chapter on Black Sabbath the way it began: together, in their hometown, surrounded by love.

A Brotherhood Forged in Aston

Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi’s friendship began in the gritty streets of Aston, Birmingham, where they grew up blocks apart. Born John Michael Osbourne in 1948, Ozzy left school at 15, working odd jobs before joining forces with Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward to form the Polka Tulk Blues Band, later renamed Black Sabbath after a Boris Karloff horror film. Their self-titled debut in 1970 and follow-up Paranoid revolutionized rock, birthing heavy metal with its dark, heavy riffs and Ozzy’s haunting vocals.

Despite their success, the band faced turmoil. Ozzy was fired in 1979 amid struggles with addiction, leading to his solo career with classics like Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman. Yet, the bond with Iommi endured. They reunited multiple times, including in 1997 and for Black Sabbath’s final album, 13, in 2013. Iommi, who co-founded Black Sabbath with Ozzy, described their relationship as familial. “Geezer, Bill, and myself have lost our brother,” he wrote on Instagram, sharing photos from their early days and the Villa Park show.

Their friendship wasn’t without challenges. In a 2004 Rolling Stone interview, Iommi recalled the chaos of recording Never Say Die! in 1978, when Ozzy’s brief return to the band was marred by tension. Yet, their mutual respect held firm. “We were just four local guys who went to school with each other,” Ozzy said in that interview. “We didn’t set out to influence the world.” Iommi echoed this in his ITV interview, saying, “There won’t ever be another like him.”

The Weight of the Final Words

Ozzy’s last text to Iommi carried the weight of their shared history. “Back to the beginning” was more than a reference to the concert; it was a callback to their origins, a reminder of the dreams they chased and the obstacles they overcame. In a May 2025 interview with The Guardian, Ozzy spoke candidly about his health struggles, saying, “I’ve got more fucking metal in me than a scrap merchants,” referring to his multiple surgeries. He admitted the Villa Park show was his goal, a reason to keep going. “Sharon could see I was in Doom Town,” he said, crediting his wife for pushing him to perform.

Iommi, reflecting on the concert, noted Ozzy’s frustration at being unable to stand. “You could see he was trying to get up,” he told ITV News. “It meant everything to him.” The text message, sent after that performance, suggests Ozzy knew it was his final act. “We did it” was his way of saying they had completed their mission, closing the circle that began in Aston decades ago.

A Legacy That Endures

Ozzy’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes. Geezer Butler wrote, “Goodbye, dear friend. Four kids from Aston—who’d have thought, eh?” Bill Ward added, “Where will I find you now? In the memories, our unspoken embraces, our missed phone calls.” Fans gathered at Birmingham’s Black Sabbath Bench, leaving flowers and beer bottles, while Metallica, Elton John, and Coldplay honored Ozzy with covers and dedications.

The “Back to the Beginning” concert, set to be released as a film in 2026, will immortalize Ozzy’s final performance. For Iommi, the memory of Ozzy’s last words will linger. “It was a big, monumental thing,” he told Music Week before the concert, expressing both excitement and fear about the unknown. That fear became reality with Ozzy’s passing, but his text offered closure. “Love you, Tone” was a final gift from a man who lived loudly and loved deeply.

A Farewell to the Prince of Darkness

Ozzy Osbourne’s last words to Tony Iommi were a quiet echo of a loud life. They spoke of love, triumph, and a shared legacy that transformed music. As Iommi told ITV News, “We didn’t expect him to go that quick. It’s been a shock.” Yet, Ozzy’s text was a reminder that he left on his terms, surrounded by family and the love of millions. In Birmingham, where it all began, his voice still resonates—through the riffs of Black Sabbath, the memories of his bandmates, and the fans who will never forget the Prince of Darkness.