Ozzy Osbourne’s Black Sabbath Bandmates Mark Anniversary Of His Death With Touching Tributes
Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward each took to social media to remember “The Prince Of Darkness,” as did his widow Sharon and daughter Kelly.
By Scott Bernstein Jul 22, 2026 • 1:36 pm PDT
One year ago today, the music world lost one of its most iconic characters when Ozzy Osbourne died at age 76. “The Prince Of Darkness'” Black Sabbath bandmates each honored the anniversary by posting a remembrance of Osbourne on social media.
Ozzy Osbourne founded Black Sabbath in the late 1960s with bassist Geezer Butler, guitarist Tommy Iommi and drummer Bill Ward. The quartet’s dark, heavy sound laid the groundwork for what would become known as heavy metal music.
While Osbourne was fired by Black Sabbath in 1979, Ozzy reunited with the other original members in 1997. Several variations of the lineup toured sporadically over the years that followed through 2017. The final Black Sabbath concert, Back To The Beginning, which was also Osbourne’s last show, took place in Birmingham, England just 17 days before Ozzy died of complications from Parkinson’s Disease.
“Every day, there is a a persistent silence. We miss you so much, Respectfully, with love to the Osbourne Family, Bill and Jackie Ward Family,” wrote Bill Ward.
Tony Iommi shared video footage of Black Sabbath in action during the 2010s. “Hi everyone. Well, it’s now a year since Ozzy’s passing and I still can’t believe that he’s not with us,” the guitarist wrote. “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.”
“The fans have been absolutely brilliant and the love and respect that they have shown for him has just been amazing,” Iommi continued. 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.”
Geezer Butler posted a photo of Ozzy Osbourne performing on his throne at Back To The Beginning. “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!” the bassist wrote in a caption accompanying the shot.
Ozzy’s widow, Sharon Osbourne, spoke about Ozzy with the BBC on the anniversary of his passing. She told BBC Radio WV she hopes people “remember how funny he was – funny and charismatic and real.”
“As Ozzy would say, ‘when you want to remember me, just yank up the music really loud, as loud as you can get it, and just head bang’,” Sharon continued.
“He was authentic,” she recalled.
“He never tried to be anything other than what he was, and he would tell you the truth about everything and that was him, you knew where you were with him.
“He was just genuine, so genuine and funny,” Osbourne added.
Sharon and Ozzy’s youngest daughter, Kelly Osbourne, posted a message describing the grief she has experienced since she lost her dad.
“There is a grief that steals more than the person you love. It quietly takes the light from your laughter, the innocence from your hope, and the stranger you become is someone you’ll spend a lifetime trying to recognize,” Kelly explained. “People think grief is missing someone who is gone, but the deepest sorrow is waking each day longing for the version of yourself who died with them.”
Osbourne’s life, legacy and roots were celebrated with Ozzy Day today in Birmingham.
