“I spoke to him the night before he passed. The next day, gone.” Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi recalls heartbreaking final conversation with Ozzy Osbourne
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has shared details of his final phone conversation with bandmate Ozzy Osbourne, which took place the night before the singer died. Osbourne, known as the Prince of Darkness, passed away on 22 July last year, just weeks after performing at his Back To The Beginning farewell concert at Villa Park in his native Birmingham. The revelation offers a poignant insight into Osbourne's final hours and underscores the toll the emotional retirement show appeared to have taken on him.
Speaking to Loudwire Nights, Iommi recalled that Osbourne told him he felt "really tired and really worn out" during their call, which Iommi attributed to the stress of recent events. He said Osbourne was gone the very next day. Iommi has admitted he has found it difficult to come to terms with his old friend's death, saying he still sometimes senses Osbourne's presence.
- Iommi reveals his last chat with Ozzy Osbourne was the night before he died.
- Osbourne told Iommi he felt exhausted; he died the next day.
- Death came weeks after Osbourne's Villa Park farewell show in July 2025.