Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward Honor Ozzy Osbourne One Year After His Death

Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward each posted personal tributes to Ozzy Osbourne on July 22, 2026, exactly one year after the Black Sabbath frontman died at his family home near Chalfont St. Giles in Buckinghamshire, England, at age 76. Birmingham, the band’s hometown, marked the occasion with its first-ever “Ozzy Day,” a citywide celebration organized by Birmingham City Council.

• Ozzy Osbourne died July 22, 2025, just over two weeks after Black Sabbath’s farewell concert on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park.
• Geezer Butler is 77; he shared a photo of Osbourne from the final show alongside his tribute.
• Birmingham’s “Ozzy Day” included performances by Bostin Brass and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra at Bullring.
• A limited-edition shirt sold during the event lists all 52 shows, Black Sabbath and solo, that Osbourne performed in Birmingham.

What Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward Said About Ozzy Osbourne

Iommi posted a message describing how he still struggles to accept his old friend is gone. “It’s now a year since Ozzy’s passing and I still can’t believe that he’s not with us. I watch him on YouTube and it feels like he’s still here with us. We always stayed in touch, almost every week or so and we’d usually talk about our ailments and then about what we’d been doing that particular week,” he wrote. He added praise for fans’ devotion and closed with, “I’m so glad that we were able to play one final show with the original line up of Sabbath at the Back To The Beginning show in our home town of Birmingham! There will never be another Ozzy. I miss you my dear friend.”

Butler, who turned 77 this year, posted on Instagram alongside a photo of Osbourne from the band’s farewell concert. “One year ago today, hard to believe. I am so glad we were able to do the final show, back in our hometown, just a couple of weeks before Ozzy left us. Gone in body, but his legend lives on. Such incredible memories. Ozzy forever!” he wrote.

Ward’s tribute was brief and directed toward the Osbourne family. “Every day, there is a persistent silence. We miss you so much. Respectfully, with love to the Osbourne family. Bill and Jackie Ward family,” he wrote.

Sharon Osbourne Reflects on Ozzy’s Legacy

Sharon Osbourne spoke with the BBC on the anniversary and encouraged fans to honor her late husband through his music. She recalled him telling her, “When you want to remember me, just yank up the music really loud, as loud as you can get it, and just headbang.”

She also described what made him unique as a person. “He was authentic. He never tried to be anything other than what he was, and he would tell you the truth about everything,” she said. “He was just genuine, so genuine and funny… we would end up laughing because he would say something so ridiculous that we would just crack up.”

Black Sabbath’s Final Show at Back To The Beginning

Osbourne’s death came just over two weeks after Black Sabbath played what became its farewell concert, Back To The Beginning, on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham. The bill also featured Metallica, Slayer, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Mastodon and Anthrax.

During the show, Osbourne performed a five-song solo set backed by guitarist Zakk Wylde, bassist Mike Inez, keyboardist Adam Wakeman and drummer Tommy Clufetos, drawing on material from 1980’s “Blizzard Of Ozz” and 1991’s “No More Tears.” Iommi, Butler and Ward then joined him for four Black Sabbath staples: “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “N.I.B.” and “Paranoid.”

The performance reunited all four founding members for the first time in 20 years, since Ward had sat out the band’s 2017 farewell tour. The night ended with fireworks and Butler presenting Osbourne with a cake bearing the words “The Final.”

Birmingham’s First “Ozzy Day” Celebration

Birmingham City Council organized the city’s inaugural “Ozzy Day” on July 22, 2026, filling the city centre with free live music, public art and special performances honoring Osbourne’s roots. Bostin Brass, the brass band that played at Osbourne’s funeral procession, staged pop-up shows throughout the day, while the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra performed at Bullring.

Organizers also dressed up Ozzy The Bull, a mechanical bull originally used during the 2022 Commonwealth Games and named after Osbourne in 2023, for the occasion. A limited-edition shirt sold exclusively during the celebration featured an image of Osbourne from Back To The Beginning on the front, with all 52 Birmingham shows, Black Sabbath and solo, that he performed over his career printed on the back.

Cause of Death

Osbourne’s death certificate, filed in London, listed a heart attack as the cause of death. The certificate also noted that he had been living with coronary artery disease and Parkinson’s disease.

More Info

• "I still can’t believe that he’s not with us. There will never be another Ozzy." Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward share reflections on Ozzy Osbourne on the first anniversary of their friend’s passing | Louder / Classic Rock
• Ozzy Osbourne’s Black Sabbath Bandmates Mark Anniversary Of His Death With Touching Tributes | JamBase
• TONY IOMMI And SHARON OSBOURNE Pay Tribute To OZZY OSBOURNE On First Anniversary Of His Death | Blabbermouth
• Black Sabbath Members Each Share Messages on First Anniversary of Ozzy’s Death | Loudwire
• “I still can’t believe that he’s not here with us. There will never be another Ozzy”: Tony Iommi shares Ozzy Osbourne tribute on the first anniversary of his death | Guitar World
• OZZY OSBOURNEs Family and BLACK SABBATH Bandmates Remember Him One Year After His Passing | Metal Injection
• ‘I Still Can’t Believe That He’s Not With Us’: Iommi, Butler, Ward Pay Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne Year After His Passing | Ultimate Guitar News
• Sharon Osbourne shares advice Ozzy left to remember him by as Black Sabbath bandmates pay tribute on anniversary of death | NME