‘It’s like losing a brother’

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has said the loss of his bandmate Ozzy Osbourne is “like losing a brother”.

The pair, who met at school in Aston, Birmingham, before being catapulted into the limelight with Black Sabbath and forging the heavy metal genre, were best friends for 57 years.

Osbourne’s family announced his death on Tuesday, just a few weeks after performing for the last time with Black Sabbath for their farewell show at Birmingham’s Villa Park.

“It’s been difficult, because it’s just a shock really. I haven’t been able to get myself organised properly since hearing this. It’s been really strange,” Iommi said.

He added that Sabbath bandmate Geezer Butler had expressed a similar feeling when the pair spoke following Osbourne’s death.

“He’s much the same, just can’t pull yourself together. It really has affected us bad,” he said.

“I find it difficult at the moment to really accept that. I still think he’s there, I still go to text him and stuff – [but] he’s not there any more.”

The pair were rehearsing together just two weeks ago for the band’s farewell gig for charity.

“We’d rehearse and then Ozzy came down – but we didn’t want to do too much with Oz because he was under a lot of pressure,” Iommi said.

“And he really wanted to do it, but at the same time we didn’t want to push him into ‘let’s do that again’.

“But I’m glad we did it, and I’m glad we did it for Oz because it really did motivate him.”

Iommi said the gig gave his friend renewed direction in recent years and “something to work towards”.

“It was really worth doing for all of us, for the band to be together on our final thing, not knowing Ozzy was gonna pass away shortly afterwards, but just to get together again because we’ve been trying to get the original four back for years.”

The pair would often speak on the phone over the years, but Iommi laughed: “What Ozzy and I talk about – ‘I’ve had this pain in my side, oh my arm’s playing up, oh my foot’. It’s been one of them. We always start off like that.

“Then ‘what’s the weather like there?'”

Since Osbourne’s passing, Birmingham has been flooded with fans wanting to pay tribute to the heavy metal legend.

Hundreds have flocked to sites such as the Black Sabbath bridge, the recently painted mural of the band on Navigation Street, and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery where an official book of condolence has been placed.

Many in the city have asked what would be a fitting tribute to the man who has secured his place in music history, while always remaining proud of his roots and his beloved Birmingham.

Some have called for a statue and others an annual day of remembrance.

Iommi said perhaps a statue was appropriate, but also believed there should be a statue of the full band.

“We’ve all been a team and we’re gonna go at some point,” he said.

“I think he’d be happy that everybody remembers him and everybody loves him and everybody’s come out like they have.”