The three surviving founding members of Black Sabbath have each honored Ozzy Osbourne on the one-year anniversary the singer’s death.
Ozzy passed away at the age of 76 on July 22nd, 2025, following a bout of health issues in his final years. Still, he was able to perform at the “Back to the Beginning” concert, including a solo set and a set with the original lineup of Black Sabbath, just 17 days before his passing.
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Drummer Bill Ward wrote via X/Twitter, “Every day, there is persistent silence. We miss you so much. Respectfully, with love to the Osbourne Family, Bill and Jackie Ward Family.”
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Bassist Geezer Butler took to Instagram to say, “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!
And guitarist Tony Iommi delivered his own message via Instagram:
“Hi everyone. Well, 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.
The fans have been absolutely brilliant and the love and respect that they have shown for him has just been amazing.
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.
Tony”
These statements in memoriam follow similar sentiments from the three Black Sabbath members shortly after Ozzy’s passing last year. They also show that despite their often contentious history together over the decades, the four members of Black Sabbath shared an powerful bond as the godfathers of heavy metal.
See the posts from the Black Sabbath members in memory of Ozzy Osbourne below.
Every day, there is a persistent silence,
We miss you so much,
Respectfully, with love to the Osbourne Family,
Bill and Jackie Ward Family
— Bill Ward (@billwarddrums) July 22, 2026