In the wake of his death, Ozzy Osbourne\u2019s Black Sabbath bandmate is shedding light on the quiet struggle behind the rock group\u2019s final show.<\/p>\n
Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath guitarist and co-founder, told UK broadcaster ITV<\/a> that Osbourne was \u201cfrustrated\u201d during the band\u2019s farewell concert<\/a> on July 5. The heavy metal icon died less than three weeks later, on July 22, at age 76.<\/p>\n Iommi told UK broadcast ITV that Osbourne was \u201cfrustrated\u201d during Black Sabbath\u2019s farewell concert. ITV News\/Youtube<\/p>\n \u201cI think he was moved and frustrated as well, \u2019cause he wanted to stand up,\u201d Iommi, 77, told the outlet on July 23. \u201cYou could see he was trying to get up.\u201d<\/p>\n The \u201cCrazy Train\u201d singer, who had struggled with Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/a> since his diagnosis in 2020, performed from a black leather chair during the show at Villa Park in Birmingham.<\/p>\n Though the throne, decorated with a bat motif, was classic Ozzy, Iommi told BBC Radio 4\u2019s \u201cToday\u201d<\/a> on July 23 that sitting onstage wasn\u2019t quite what his bandmate wanted.<\/p>\n Osbourne performed from a black leather chair during the show. Greg Draven\/X<\/p>\n \u201cI think of him and the fun we had, really. That\u2019s what was weird about this show because Ozzy was seated in a throne, and that\u2019s the last thing that Ozzy would have ever wanted to be but it had to,\u201d he said. \u201cNormally, he\u2019s bouncing around onstage and coming up to me and pulling faces. He\u2019d always have a laugh.\u201d<\/p>\n Iommi told ITV that Osbourne had texted him the day before he died, saying he was tired and had no energy.<\/p>\n \u201cWe could see it in rehearsal,\u201d he explained. \u201cWe didn\u2019t want him there every day at rehearsal because it\u2019s too much. He just wouldn\u2019t be able to stand it.\u201d<\/p>\n Black Sabbath\u2019s final performance took place on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham. REUTERS<\/p>\n He continued, \u201cThey\u2019d bring him in, and he\u2019d sit down and sing a few songs. And then, we\u2019d talk about some rubbish, old times, or whatever, have a laugh, and then he\u2019d go.\u201d<\/p>\n Still, Iommi said the final performance \u201cmeant everything to [Osbourne].\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is what we built up for \u2014 for that big ending, where he could see all the people, and we could all see all the people and close it in that way,\u201d he added. \u201cWe didn\u2019t expect to close it so quick with us. We didn\u2019t expect him to go that quick, really. We didn\u2019t expect him to go, so it\u2019s been a shock.\u201d<\/p>\n Osbourne\u2019s Black Sabbath bandmates paid tribute to him on social media. WireImage<\/p>\n After news broke of the Prince of Darkness\u2019 passing, Iommi took to Instagram to pay tribute<\/a> to his late bandmate.<\/p>\n Alongside a carousel of throwback photos of Osbourne and Black Sabbath, he wrote: \u201cI just can\u2019t believe it! My dear dear friend Ozzy has passed away only weeks after our show at Villa Park. It\u2019s just such heartbreaking news that I can\u2019t really find the words, there won\u2019t ever be another like him. Geezer, Bill and myself have lost our brother. My thoughts go out to Sharon and all the Osbourne family. Rest in peace Oz.\u201d<\/p>\n Iommi and Osbourne performing onstage. Redferns<\/p>\n Fellow Black Sabbath members bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward also shared heartfelt messages in the wake of Osbourne\u2019s death.<\/p>\n Butler, 76, for his part, posted on Instagram<\/a>: \u201cGoodbye dear friend- thanks for all those years- we had some great fun. 4 kids from Aston- who\u2019d have thought, eh? So glad we got to do it one last time, back in Aston. Love you.\u201d<\/p>\n