Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has revealed he spoke to Ozzy Osbourne on the phone the night before the singer died, describing the loss as "a hell of a shock." Speaking on Eddie Trunk's Trunk Nation SiriusXM show, Iommi recalled the pair's regular calls checking in on each other's health, and said Osbourne had simply mentioned feeling tired shortly before his death. The revelation adds a poignant coda to Black Sabbath's farewell performance, which turned out to be the band's true final act together.

Osbourne died on 22 July 2025, just 17 days after performing at the "Back to the Beginning" charity concert, Black Sabbath's last-ever show, where he played both a solo set and a set with the reunited band. Iommi said he had urged Osbourne against performing twice given his declining health, having been shocked by his condition when the pair reunited for rehearsals after two years apart. He also spoke of his gratitude that the band got to "finish off where we started," while separately announcing his new solo album, From the Dark, due for release on 23 October.