Tony Iommi has shared the details of his final conversation with Ozzy Osbourne. The Black Sabbath guitarist describes the news of his bandmate's death as a profound shock, noting that the two exchanged a text message only the night before the singer passed away.
Iommi and Osbourne maintained a close friendship for nearly six decades, formed during the early days of Black Sabbath in 1968. Despite Osbourne dealing with ongoing health issues in recent years, Iommi states he did not expect the end to come so suddenly. The two regularly communicated to check on one another's well-being, a habit that persisted even as their own professional paths diverged.
The guitarist also reflected on the band's final live performance. He recalled the unusual nature of that show, where Osbourne performed while seated due to his physical limitations. Iommi noted that he spent much of that final set standing near the drummer, Bill Ward, at the request of his longtime colleague. While he has watched the footage back since, he admits that seeing Osbourne on screen makes it difficult to process that his friend is gone.
This connection spanned years of medical challenges for both men. When Iommi received a cancer diagnosis, he relied on Osbourne for daily support and calls. The guitarist remains reflective about the loss, noting that the constant presence of Ozzy in videos and archival footage creates a sense of lingering disbelief.
Iommi is currently turning his focus toward new creative projects as a way to move forward. He is set to release a new solo album, From the Dark, which features contributions from Jørn Lande, Becky Baldwin, and Karl Brazil. The record marks his first solo release in over two decades.