**“I Knew That Was The Last Time”**
Tony Iommi’s voice cracked as he relived the final moments he shared with Ozzy Osbourne — his bandmate, his brother, his closest friend of over fifty years. The indestructible guitarist of Black Sabbath, known for his iron will and legendary riffs, broke down remembering the July 5th reunion show in Birmingham. It was meant to be a celebration. Instead, it became a farewell.
Backstage, after the final bow, Ozzy took Tony’s hand. His voice trembled. “If this is the last time… thank you for never leaving me.” That hug, Tony recalled, was different. Tighter. Longer. Neither said much, but Tony saw it in Ozzy’s eyes — he knew.
Two nights later, the phone rang at 2 a.m. Ozzy’s voice, though faint, was still unmistakably him. “Thank you for putting up with me all these years,” he said. “If there’s an afterlife… I hope we’re still in the same band.” Tony sat there, numb. “I thought we had more time,” he now says, wiping away tears. “I should’ve said more.”
From wild teenage dreams in Birmingham to stadiums and immortality, Tony and Ozzy were more than rock legends — they were soulmates in chaos, survivors of storms, brothers in riff and rebellion.
“He wasn’t just a singer,” Tony says softly. “He was a miracle.”
Now, with the amps silent and the lights down, Tony’s voice echoes one last promise. “If there’s another gig somewhere out there… I’ll hit the first chord. Just walk on stage. Like always.”
And in that eternal silence, somewhere beyond the curtain, maybe Ozzy is already waiting.
