Black Sabbath musicians are mourning the death of founding vocalist Ozzy Osbourne.
The surviving members of the pioneering heavy metal band posted social media tributes to the “Iron Man” singer, who died on Tuesday at age 76 — just 17 days after their reunion performance in Birmingham, England, during their farewell concert.
Tony Iommi, who served as the band’s lead guitarist, shared his surprise at the news of the singer’s death.
“I just can’t believe it! My dear dear friend Ozzy has passed away only weeks after our show at Villa Park,” the musician wrote in the caption of a post containing several photos of the singer and himself. “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.”
Iommi continued, “My thoughts go out to Sharon and all the Osbourne family. Rest in peace Oz.”
Geezer Butler, the group’s original bassist, also wrote a message wishing Osbourne farewell. “Goodbye dear friend- thanks for all those years- we had some great fun,” he wrote in the caption of a photo of Osbourne on stage. “4 kids from Aston- who’d have thought, eh? So glad we got to do it one last time, back in Aston. Love you.”
Bill Ward, who played drums in the band’s original lineup, also posted a poetic tribute to the late singer. “Where will I find you now? In the memories, our unspoken embraces, our missed phone calls, no, you’re forever in my heart,” he wrote in the caption of a photo of himself next to Osbourne. “Deepest condolences to Sharon and all family members. RIP Sincere regrets to all the fans. Never goodbye. Thank you forever.”
In the late 1960s, Osbourne and Butler first collaborated in the band Rare Breed, and they later joined Iommi and Ward, who had previously played together in Mythology, to form Polka Tulk Blues. They eventually renamed the band Earth, and changed it once more to Black Sabbath.
Chris Walter/WireImage
Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, and Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath
The band’s earliest albums are considered some of the earliest (and best) examples of heavy metal as the genre evolved out of blues and rock traditions in the late ’60s and early ’70s. Sabbath maintained their original lineup (save for a few months when Dave Walker filled in on lead vocals) until 1979, when Osbourne was expelled from the band after the tumultuous recording of their eighth studio album, Never Say Die!
The original quartet briefly reunited for a performance at Live Aid in 1985, and all shared the stage at Osbourne’s first farewell concert in 1992. (The singer ultimately stayed retired for less than three years, and returned to live performances with the aptly titled Retirement Sucks Tour in 1995).
The band reunited again during 1997’s Ozzfest tour (without Ward, who then joined the lineup at two Birmingham shows at the end of the year that were recorded and released as the Reunion album).
The four founding members headlined Ozzfest twice more in 2004 and 2005, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. After several years pursuing other projects separately, they embarked on a reunion tour in 2012 and released the album 13 in 2013, with Rage Against the Machine’s Brad Wilk filling in on drums. The Ward-less trio later embarked on a final tour, appropriately called The End Tour, in 2016 with Tommy Clufetos on drums.
Ross Halfin
Ozzy Osbourne at the Back to the Beginning concert in Birmingham, England, on July 5, 2025
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Earlier this month, the original Sabbath lineup reunited one last time at Back to the Beginning, the band’s farewell concert in Villa Park, Birmingham. After performances by groups like Alice in Chains, Slayer, Guns N’ Roses, and Metallica, Osbourne played five songs from his solo career, followed by performances of “War Pigs,” “N.I.B.,” “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid” with the original Black Sabbath lineup.
“I just want to say to you on behalf of the guys in Black Sabbath and myself, your support over the years has made it all possible for us to live the lifestyle that we do,” Osbourne said just before the final song. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you. We love you.”
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