The world of heavy metal lost one of its most iconic figures on July 22 with the passing of Ozzy Osbourne. In a deeply personal and heartfelt tribute, Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler has opened up about the final days he spent with his legendary bandmate, offering fans an emotional glimpse into their long-standing friendship and historic final performance together. Butler‘s reflections were recently shared in The Times, shedding light on Ozzy‘s character, their last rehearsal sessions, and the powerful energy of their final stage appearance.
Butler‘s tribute begins by dispelling the myth behind Ozzy‘s infamous nickname, the “Prince of Darkness.” To Butler, this label never captured the true spirit of the man he had known for decades. “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.”
The poignant reflections continue as Butler recounts the rehearsals leading up to what would become one of Ozzy Osbourne‘s final public appearances. The Back To The Beginning live extravaganza, held on July 5 in Birmingham, UK, was billed as the last ever live performance for both Ozzy as a solo artist and with the original Black Sabbath lineup — a farewell to the city and the fans that shaped the band’s legacy. That show would tragically become a final farewell in more ways than anyone could have anticipated.
Butler recalls that rehearsals for the concert began a month earlier at a countryside studio in Oxfordshire. Reuniting with Tony Iommi and Bill Ward, the original members of Black Sabbath worked to recapture the magic of their early years.
“Of course, not having played together for 20 years, it took a couple of days to get rid of the rust,” Butler admitted. Yet it wasn’t until Ozzy arrived that the emotional weight of the reunion began to set in. “I knew he wasn’t in good health, but I wasn’t prepared to see how frail he was,” Butler shared, painting a sobering image of his friend needing assistance to walk, supported by two helpers and a nurse, with his signature black cane adorned in gold and precious stones.
Despite the evident toll on his body, Ozzy‘s commitment to the music and to his fans never wavered. Sitting in a chair while singing, he pushed through exhaustion during rehearsals. “We ran through the songs but we could see it was exhausting him after six or seven songs,” Butler remembered. “We had a bit of a chat, but he was really quiet compared with the Ozzy of old.” Still, the original lineup pressed forward, determined to deliver a meaningful and unforgettable show.
The tribute culminates with Butler expressing both shock and gratitude — shock at losing Osbourne so soon after their last performance, and gratitude for the opportunity to share one last moment in the spotlight with his friend.
“Nobody knew he’d be gone from us little more than two weeks after the final show. But I am so grateful we got to play one last time together in front of his beloved fans. The love from the fans and all the bands, musicians, singers and solo artists that night was incredible. Everyone had come to pay homage to the Prince.”
Ozzy Osbourne‘s legacy as a pioneer of heavy metal is firmly cemented in music history, but Geezer Butler‘s reflections reveal a more intimate portrait of the man behind the legend.
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