Geezer Butler Remembers Black Sabbath's Final Rehearsals Before Ozzy's Passing

A Final Farewell and Reflections on a Legendary Friendship

Black Sabbath co-founder Geezer Butler recently shared some heartfelt memories about the band’s final concert, which took place on July 5. He described how surprised he was by how "frail" Ozzy Osbourne appeared in the weeks leading up to the show.

Butler recalled the rehearsals for the performance, which were held at Villa Park in Birmingham, England. This location was close to where he and Osbourne had grown up. The band members, including Butler, Tony Iommi, and Bill Ward, had started rehearsing about a month before the event.

"Of course, not having played together for 20 years, it took a couple of days to get rid of the rust," Butler wrote. "Then it was time for Ozzy to join us. I knew he wasn't in good health, but I wasn't prepared to see how frail he was. He was helped into the rehearsal room by two helpers and a nurse and was using a cane - being Ozzy, the cane was black and studded with gold and precious stones. He didn't really say much beyond the usual greetings and when he sang, he sat in a chair. We ran through the songs but we could see it was exhausting him after six or seven songs. We had a bit of a chat, but he was really quiet compared with the Ozzy of old. After a couple more weeks we were ready for the show."

The show, titled "Back to the Beginning," went on as planned and featured a wide array of celebrities. Fans who attended the 10-hour concert described it as an unforgettable experience.

"The love from the fans and all the bands, musicians, singers and solo artists that night was incredible," Butler wrote. "Everyone had come to pay homage to the Prince. I am so privileged to have spent most of my life with him."

However, for Butler, the strangest part of the show was its ending. "Normally, we would all hug each other and take a bow to the audience. But Ozzy was on his throne and we hadn't thought that out. What do we do? Tony shook his hand, I presented him with a cake, but it was such a strange feeling to end our story like that. I wish I'd had more time backstage with Ozzy, but wishes are redundant now. As Ozzy used to say: ‘Wish in one hand and shit in the other and see which comes first.'"

Butler also reflected on the early days of Black Sabbath and the bond he shared with Osbourne. He remembered another side of Osbourne, who earned the nickname "The Prince of Darkness."

"To me, Ozzy wasn't the Prince of Darkness - if anything he was the Prince of Laughter," Butler wrote. "He'd do anything for a laugh, a born entertainer. We became inseparable brothers in arms, always looking out for each other. People always thought Ozzy was a feral wild man, but he had a heart of pure gold."

Butler also highlighted Osbourne's loyalty and kindness. "Most of his infamous antics - the bat saga, biting the head off a dove, pissing on the Alamo, snorting lines of ants and the rest - came in his solo years, away from the restraints of the Sabbath crew. But if you were a friend in need, Ozzy was always there for you. When my son was born with a heart defect, Ozzy called me every day to see how I was coping, even though we hadn't spoken for a year."

In addition to his personal reflections, Butler expressed gratitude for the support from fans during the final concert. "The love from the fans and all the bands, musicians, singers and solo artists that night was incredible," he wrote. "I am so privileged to have spent most of my life with him. Of course there are millions of things I will think of that I should have written, but how can I sum up 57 incredible years of friendship in a few paragraphs? God bless, Oz, it has been one hell of a ride! Love you!"

Butler, Iommi, and Ward also paid tribute to Osbourne on social media. Their words served as a touching reminder of the impact Osbourne had on the music world and those who knew him personally.