The metal world has lost one of its most enduring and irreplaceable voices. Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, passed away on the morning of today (July 22, 2025), at the age of 76. His death comes just weeks after an unforgettable final appearance onstage: his last bow, fittingly, alongside Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward in their hometown of Birmingham, UK.
The reunion took place at Villa Park, a venue only miles from the streets where heavy metal itself was born. The show, titled Back to the Beginning, was a global event: a livestreamed farewell that drew over 40,000 in person and nearly 6 million viewers online. Tributes poured in from artists like Metallica, Tool, and Guns N’ Roses, framing the night as both a celebration of Black Sabbath’s legacy and an unintentional send-off to its most famous voice.
For many fans and peers, the grief is heavy, but not just for the loss of a man, it’s the departure of a myth, a symbol, a cultural force who helped invent an entire genre.
Longtime friend and bandmate Tony Iommi shared his heartbreak: “I just can’t believe it! My dear dear friend Ozzy has passed away only weeks after our show at Villa Park. It’s just such heartbreaking news that I can’t really find the words; there won’t 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.”
Geezer Butler also looked back on their unlikely rise from working-class Aston to international acclaim: “Goodbye dear friend — thanks for all those years — we had some great fun. 4 kids from Aston — who’d have thought, eh? So glad we got to do it one last time, back in Aston. Love you.”
But it was Bill Ward, the drummer who shared the stage with Ozzy for the first time in decades at Villa Park, who offered perhaps the most moving words: “Where will I find you now? In the memories, our unspoken embraces, our missed phone calls, no, you’re forever in my heart. Deepest condolences to Sharon and all family members. RIP. Sincere regrets to all the fans. Never goodbye. Thank you forever.”
As fans around the world grapple with the news, there’s comfort in knowing that Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy is indelible. From Paranoid to Master of Reality, from “War Pigs” to “Iron Man,” his voice carved out a sonic space that generations of musicians would follow.
His death marks the end of an era, but not the end of the story. Ozzy remains immortal in the riffs, in the screams, in the thunder of every metal anthem that dares to defy silence.
