“He Held Out Just Long Enough”: Tony Iommi Speaks of Ozzy Osbourne’s Final Goodbye After Black Sabbath’s Emotional Last Show

Ozzy Osbourne, the irreplaceable voice of Black Sabbath and the man the world called the “Prince of Darkness,” has died at the age of 76—just weeks after reuniting with his bandmates for one final, soul-stirring performance in their hometown of Birmingham.

In an exclusive interview with ITV News, guitarist and co-founder Tony Iommi revealed what many fans had feared but hoped wasn’t true: that Ozzy had been battling serious health issues leading up to the band’s last concert. And yet, somehow, he endured—held on—until he could give fans one last, unforgettable moment.

“I think he really just held out to do that show,” Iommi said, his voice heavy with grief. “I really feel – and me and Geezer [Butler] 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.”

The farewell concert, held at Birmingham’s Villa Park, was more than just a performance. It was a reckoning. A closing of a chapter that helped define the heavy metal genre. Ozzy stood on stage surrounded by the men with whom he changed music history—Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and drummer Tommy Clufetos. Though visibly frail, he roared into classics like War Pigs and Paranoid with a raw power that belied his declining health.

Fans had no idea it would be the last time they’d ever see him perform.

A Final Act of Love for the Fans

Iommi’s words have sent shockwaves across the music world. “It’s incomprehensible,” he said of Ozzy’s passing. “Even when we knew he wasn’t well, we never expected he’d go so soon after that performance. But maybe… maybe that was his final gift.”

Geezer Butler echoed the sentiment in a brief statement shared online: “He gave every ounce of what he had left to that night. We saw it. We felt it. And now, looking back, it was his way of saying goodbye.”

The significance of the venue was not lost on fans or the band. Birmingham’s Villa Park sits just miles from where Black Sabbath was born in the late 1960s. Returning to their roots for one last explosive show created a powerful sense of full-circle closure—one now laced with deep sorrow.

Tributes Pour In Worldwide

The news of Ozzy’s passing has drawn heartfelt tributes from across the music industry and beyond. From Metallica’s James Hetfield to Paul McCartney, artists have praised Ozzy’s unparalleled influence and spirit. Sharon Osbourne, his wife and longtime partner, simply wrote, “He was magic until the end.”

Social media has been flooded with videos from the Villa Park concert. In one particularly moving clip, Ozzy pauses mid-song, gazes into the crowd, and whispers, “I love you. Always have.” The crowd roars back, unaware they’re witnessing the final moments of a titan.

The End of an Era

Ozzy Osbourne’s journey from Birmingham’s working-class streets to global superstardom is one of rock’s most iconic stories. As frontman of Black Sabbath, he helped forge the heavy metal blueprint with groundbreaking albums like Paranoid, Master of Reality, and Vol. 4. Later, his solo career would deliver hits like Crazy Train and No More Tears, solidifying him as a legend in his own right.

But it wasn’t just the music. It was the chaos, the charisma, the unapologetic authenticity. Ozzy was a force of nature—unfiltered, often controversial, but always loved.

A Legacy That Won’t Fade

Tony Iommi ended his interview with a line that now haunts and comforts in equal measure: “He did what he was born to do, right up until the very end. He lived for that stage, for those fans. And now… he’s at peace.”

For the millions who grew up on his voice, for the generations who found solace and strength in his music, Ozzy Osbourne is not gone. He’s echoing in every power chord, every mosh pit, every tear shed by fans around the world.

He didn’t just say goodbye.

He left a roar that will never die.