Ozzy Osbourne, the “Prince of Darkness,” passed away on July 22, 2025, after battling Parkinson’s disease for years. In his final months, Ozzy knew his time was running out and shared deeply personal conversations with those closest to him, including his lifelong friend Tony Iommi. One of his most poignant moments came when Ozzy revealed a final wish to Tony, asking for one last chance to perform.
On July 5, 2025, Ozzy’s wish was granted at Villa Park Stadium in Birmingham, where Black Sabbath reunited for the Back to the Beginning concert. Ozzy, battling physical limitations, performed sitting in a custom-designed leather throne, symbolizing his defiance and dedication to his music. This final performance was not just a celebration of his career but a heartfelt goodbye to fans and his roots. Though frail, Ozzy poured his soul into the performance, singing with all the passion and power that had made him a legend.
After the concert, Ozzy, exhausted but content, smiled at Tony and quietly asked, “It went all right, didn’t it?” Those simple words would be among his last before he passed away peacefully on July 21, 2025, surrounded by his family.
The concert raised millions for Parkinson’s research, but its true legacy lay in Ozzy’s final act of defiance and love for the music and fans that defined his life. Tony Iommi later shared that Ozzy had known it was his last performance, and this knowledge made the farewell even more powerful. Ozzy’s final wish to perform in Birmingham, the city where it all began, was a deeply personal and symbolic end to his extraordinary life.
Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy lives on not just in the music he created but in the way he inspired generations to embrace their flaws and power. His final bow was a tribute to his life’s work and the bond with Tony, which started in their childhood and endured through decades of success, struggles, and triumphs. As the world mourns his passing, Tony Iommi’s words echo: “There will never be another Ozzy.”