Ozzy Osbourne's Black Sabbath Bandmate Shares Heartbreaking Final Performance Insights

A Glimpse into Ozzy Osbourne’s Final Days

Ozzy Osbourne’s health decline was a sobering reality for his bandmate Geezer Butler, especially in the lead-up to Black Sabbath's farewell performance on July 5. The bassist shared his reflections on the iconic rock star’s final appearance in an essay for the Sunday Times, detailing how visibly weakened Osbourne had become.

Butler described the physical challenges Osbourne faced during rehearsals, noting that he required assistance from three people just to move around. “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,” Butler wrote. This unique detail highlighted how even in his declining health, Osbourne maintained his signature flair.

During the rehearsals, Osbourne sat while singing, which made the process exhausting for him after only a few songs. “We ran through the songs but we could see it was exhausting him after six or seven songs,” Butler added. He also observed that Osbourne was less talkative than usual, a stark contrast to his usual outgoing personality.

The final show, held in Birmingham, England, where the band was originally formed, ended in an awkward manner. Normally, the band would embrace each other and take a bow, but this time, the dynamic was different. “Ozzy was on his throne and we hadn’t thought that out,” Butler said. “What do we do? Tony [Iommi] shook his hand, I presented him with a cake, but it was such a strange feeling to end our story like that.”

Butler expressed regret over not having more time to connect with Osbourne backstage. “I wish I’d had more time backstage with Ozzy, but wishes are redundant now,” he said. He recalled one of Osbourne’s famous quotes: “Wish in one hand and s–t in the other and see which comes first.”

Despite his struggles, Butler also spoke about the softer side of Osbourne, describing him as having “a heart of gold.” He shared a personal story about how Osbourne supported him when his son was born with a heart defect. “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,” Butler wrote.

Ozzy passed away on July 22 at the age of 76. A source told Page Six that his final Black Sabbath concert, which took place just two weeks before his death, left him feeling “re-energized.” “It energized him — it filled him with life,” a longtime friend said. “He’d really been slowing down, and then after the show he was really back to being himself. It’s a beautiful ending.”

Osbourne had dealt with health issues for years prior to his death. In January 2020, he revealed he had secretly battled Parkinson’s disease for over 15 years. He also sustained serious neck injuries from a 2003 quad biking accident. In May 2022, he announced that he could no longer walk properly and would undergo a “life-altering” neck surgery.

His family, including wife Sharon Osbourne and children Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis, released a statement saying he died with his family and “surrounded by love.” According to a source, Osbourne spent his final days “in peace” in his home country. “Ozzy’s final days were spent in England, surrounded by family, music and in the place he called home,” the source said. “He was in peace.”