Tony Iommi says the loss of Ozzy Osbourne and other close friends has him thinking about his own mortality far more often — a subject he now discusses with Queen guitarist Brian May.
“`The Black Sabbath guitarist spoke to The Telegraph shortly before the release of his new solo album, more than a year after Osbourne died on 22 July 2025 at the age of 76. The two had known each other since their school years in Birmingham. «Quite a few friends have gone now, and you think: ‘Hold on, I’m 78, how much longer?’», Iommi said, adding that he has that conversation with Brian May, who in his view is even more downbeat. Of his old companion he said that «he was part of my life for 60 years. I miss him».
Osbourne died 17 days after Black Sabbath‘s farewell show, «Back To The Beginning», at Villa Park in Birmingham on 5 July 2025. Iommi said it was the first time he had seen the singer in three years and that his condition shocked everyone working on the production, as he needed help to get in and sit down. He had also raised his doubts about Ozzy‘s double set that night: «I told him: ‘I don’t think you should do two sets’». In the end he did it, playing solo first and then again with Sabbath. Playing without him beside him, he remembers feeling as if he was not there — for so many years he had been used to seeing him run onto the stage and laugh.
Iommi is now preparing «From The Dark», his first solo album since «Fused» in 2005, coming out on 23 October via BMG. It features Norwegian singer Jorn Lande, bassist Becky Baldwin and drummer Karl Brazil, known for his work with Robbie Williams. Production is credited to Mike Exeter, and the singles «World Alone» and «Stormwatcher» have already come out.
See also
Becky Baldwin Thought Tony Iommi’s Email Was a Scam Before Joining His Solo Album and Black Sabbath’s «Lost» 1970 Dutch TV Appearance Surfaces On Unofficial Vinyl.
Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/interviews/black-sabbath-tony-iommi-interview-ozzy-osbourne/
