
Black Sabbath bassist remembers 'frail' Ozzy Osbourne in heartbreaking account of rock legend's final show
Butler reminisced about his time with Osbourne – nearly six decades after the band formed in 1968 – and the significance of their last show together near their hometowns.
The Prince of Darkness died on Tuesday, July 22, after battling a number of health issues over the years. He was 76.
The bassist noted that Ozzy was a "born entertainer" who would "do anything for a laugh." He coined his friend the "Prince of Laughter."
Prior to the July 5 concert, Butler admitted he was aware the lead singer had health issues, but admitted he was shocked to see how "frail" Ozzy had become in his final days.
"I knew he wasn't in good health, but I wasn't prepared to see how frail he was," Butler wrote in an essay published in The Sunday Times.
"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 continued, "He didn't really say much beyond the usual greetings and when he sang, he sat in a chair. We ran through the songs but we could see it was exhausting him after six or seven songs. We had a bit of a chat, but he was really quiet compared with the Ozzy of old. After a couple more weeks we were ready for the show."
The 10-hour show was hosted by Jason Momoa and featured performances from Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Jack Black, Steven Tyler and others. At one point during the show, which was livestreamed in the U.K., legendary drummers, including Tool's Danny Carey, Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith and Blink-182's Travis Barker, battled with their drumsticks while playing a cover of Sabbath's "Symptom of the Universe."
For the closing set, the legendary rock star was lifted to the stage while sitting on a black throne accompanied by skulls and topped with a black bat. He sang hits like "Crazy Train" and "Mama I'm Coming Home" while remaining seated during the entire set.
"You have no idea how I feel," Osbourne told the crowd. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Butler remembered the "strangest part of the show was the end."
"Normally, we would all hug each other and take a bow to the audience," Butler wrote. "But Ozzy was on his throne and we hadn't thought that out. What do we do? Tony shook his hand, I presented him with a cake, but it was such a strange feeling to end our story like that.
"I wish I'd had more time backstage with Ozzy, but wishes are redundant now. As Ozzy used to say: 'Wish in one hand and s--t in the other and see which comes first.'"
Butler added, "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.
WATCH: Ozzy Osbourne during his final performance with Black Sabbath
"Everyone had come to pay homage to the Prince. I am so privileged to have spent most of my life with him. Of course, there are millions of things I will think of that I should have written, but how can I sum up 57 incredible years of friendship in a few paragraphs? God bless, Oz, it has been one hell of a ride! Love you!"
Born in Aston, West Midlands, U.K., Ozzy was drawn to the theater as a child, but he ultimately turned to music after listening to one particular song from The Beatles.
"When I heard 'She Loves You,' my world went up like a shooting star," Osbourne once told Esquire. "It was a divine experience. The planets changed. I used to fantasize that Paul McCartney would marry my sister."
After leaving school as a teenager, Osbourne spent six weeks in prison after being convicted of robbing a clothing store. It was in 1967 he was recruited by Butler to be a vocalist in a band that would become Black Sabbath.
Years before his death, Osbourne reflected on the lasting legacy he wished to leave on the world as his Parkinson's disease progressed.
"Survival is my legacy," he told People magazine. "I mean, I'm 73. People go, 'Well, you're 70 … why don't I throw the towel in?' Why should I? People still want to buy my records. People still want to see me, so why should I? It motivates me to get off my backside and do something. I mean, if my career had gone down the toilet and I knew it was the end, I'd be pretty miserable."
Osbourne is survived by wife Sharon, daughters Kelly and Aimee, and son Jack, in addition to daughter Jessica, and sons Elliot and Louis from his first marriage to Thelma Riley.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Newsweek
28 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Teen Writes to Ozzy Osbourne for Class Project—2 Years Later Mail Arrives
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. In a middle school computer class in Millis, Massachusetts, a then-teenaged Chad Hill was given a simple assignment: write a letter to a company, athlete, or celebrity using the school's computer lab. While most of his classmates aimed for free candy or Nike swag, Hill chose something different. He wrote to his hero—Ozzy Osbourne. "I told him how much I loved his music and how Randy Rhoads inspired me to play guitar," Hill, now 46, told Newsweek. "And I asked for an autograph." While his classmates received responses to their letters, Hill didn't. That was until two years later when an unexpected package arrived on his doorstep. Inside was a typed letter thanking him for being a fan and an autographed 8x10 photo of Ozzy himself. "I was absolutely shocked," Hill said. "The fact that it took so long told me that he truly loved his fans... It meant the absolute world to me." A picture of the Ozzy Osbourne signed picture that the teen fan received in the '90s and still treasures today. A picture of the Ozzy Osbourne signed picture that the teen fan received in the '90s and still treasures today. Haunting-Working5463/Reddit The moment stuck with him, and the picture has remained framed and proudly displayed in every place he's lived over the last 30 years. "It's the only piece of 'art' that has always been on my wall. Usually it's hung near my guitars. It reminds me that music has real power, and that acts of kindness do too," Hill said. "To go through what must have been thousands upon thousands of letters and actually read them... I mean that costs money, takes time and effort. That told me a lot." The rock world has been mourning the Black Sabbath legend, who died on July 22 at the age of 76, just weeks after reuniting with his bandmates for a farewell concert in his hometown and receiving the Freedom of the City of Birmingham on June 28. Hill recently posted his story to Reddit after seeing negative comments about the Prince of Darkness following his death. "I wanted to share something positive about him," Hill said. "Also, I wanted to thank Ozzy... He changed my life... he added a sense of magic, wonder and excitement to my childhood." The post resonated deeply with fellow fans, many of whom shared their admiration for the rock icon. One commenter wrote: "This is beyond cool," while another Redditor said: "That's so special, wow." "It was emotional to read the responses," Hill said. "He was so much more to people than just a catchy song. It was as if he was our friend, but also beyond any 'ordinary man.'"


New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
David Rendall, Tenor Who Suffered 2 Operatic Mishaps, Dies at 76
David Rendall, a British tenor who gained starring roles in Mozart, Verdi and Donizetti on both sides of the Atlantic thanks to a light, clear voice, but who found life uncomfortably imitating art in a pair of career-altering stage mishaps, died on July 21 at his home in New Forest, England. He was 76. His death was announced on Facebook and Instagram by Glyndebourne, the British opera company Mr. Rendall joined in 1974. His son Huw Montague Rendall, an acclaimed baritone, said in an interview that he had died after a 'long complicated illness.' Mr. Rendall was a regular at the Metropolitan Opera throughout the 1980s, singing in 134 performances as Ernesto in 'Don Pasquale,' Tamino in 'The Magic Flute,' Alfredo in 'La Traviata,' Don Ottavio in 'Don Giovanni' and in other works, and earning mixed reviews. He performed some of the same roles at the Royal Opera House in London in that decade, though British critics were generally more enthusiastic. He also sang at La Scala in Milan, the Vienna State Opera and Opéra Bastille in Paris, among other venues. But it was in two stage accidents, the second of which, in 2005, curtailed his singing career, that Mr. Rendall gained notoriety and unwittingly illustrated the perils of operatic life. In April 2005, Mr. Rendall was singing Radamès in Verdi's 'Aida' at the Royal Danish Theater in Copenhagen when part of the stage collapsed, destroying the set. He was 'knocked down at least 15 feet and tried to crawl to safety to avoid being crushed,' he later told The Telegraph of London. 'I thought I was going to die,' a fate that awaits Radamès in the opera but is not normally faced by tenors singing the role. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Spider-Man 4 Set Video Shows The Punisher's Vehicle of Choice
A new set video is out, and shows off what The Punisher will be driving around in the upcoming MCU movie. What happens in the Spider-Man 4 set video? The new set video comes from an action scene that is set to be filmed this week, and according to insider Daniel Richtman, will see Spider-Man and The Punisher fighting over a DODC transport convoy. The DODC, in Marvel Comics, stands for the United States Department of Damage Control, a subsidiary of S.H.I.E.L.D. that deals with enhanced battles. In the video, a large militarized truck can be seen being rolled onto the street from a tow truck. The scene itself comes from footage taken by Scottish fans, as Spider-Man: Brand New Day is currently filming in Glasgow. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is being directed by Destin Daniel Cretton from a screenplay written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. The movie will once again be led by Tom Holland as he reprises his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Emmy winner Zendaya and Jacob Batalo are also expected to return for the sequel. They will be joined by recently announced new cast members Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) and Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear), with Jon Bernthal set to make his movie debut as Frank Castle/Punisher. The latter recently played the anti-hero again in Daredevil: Born Again Season 1. The movie is produced by Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal, Rachel O'Connor, and Avi Arad. Spider-Man 4 will be released in United States theaters on July 31, 2026 ahead of Avengers: Doomsday (December 18, 2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (December 17, 2027), following Doomsday's delay. Solve the daily Crossword