Black Sabbath Bassist Geezer Butler Reflects on 57 Years of Friendship with Late Frontman Ozzy Osbourne

The legendary bassist shared the stage for what would be the last time with his bandmate and friend earlier this month. He remembered their friendship and the days leading up to their final gig in a poignant and reflective piece.

Geezer Butler is mourning one of his oldest friends, legendary rocker and Prince of Darkness Ozzy Osbourne. The Black Sabbath frontman died on the morning of Tuesday, July 22, 2025. He was 76.

In an essay published by The Sunday Times on July 27, Butler began by recalling when Aston Villa's publicity department contacted him and asked if he was interested in launching the new Villa Adidas kit.

"They explained the scenario: Ozzy Osbourne would call me asking whether I'd play Villa Park with him and I would reply: 'As long as I play left wing,'" Butler wrote. Indeed, that was the scenario the pair portrayed in the ad.

"Of course, that video went viral and had the biggest views of any football kit launch for that season. That was the power of Ozzy," Butler acknowledged. He and Osbourne had been huge fans of Aston Villa, and they both lived a few hundred yards from the team's stadium.

Butler, who remains an Aston Villa fanatic, said he went to as many matches "as my pocket money would stretch to." Meanwhile, Osbourne would "look after" supporters' cars for some change.

"So it was quite fitting for Ozzy and Black Sabbath to end the long journey from our beginning in 1968 to our final show back in Aston at Villa Park, on July 5. I didn't realise then that I would never see Ozzy again after that night," Butler shared.

The 76-year-old revealed that rehearsals for Osbourne's farewell gig began a month prior at a studio in the Oxfordshire countryside, with original Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi and Bill Ward. After 20 years of not performing together, Butler admitted it took some practice "to get rid of the rust."

"Then it was time for Ozzy to join us. I knew he wasn't in good health, but I wasn't prepared to see how frail he was," Butler recalled. He said Osbourne was assisted into the rehearsal by two helpers and a nurse, and was using a cane. And when he sang, he sat in a chair.

Butler shared that he had a small chat with Osbourne afterward, but noted, "He was really quiet compared with the Ozzy of old." Still, he remembered Osbourne, not as a Prince of Darkness, but a "Prince of Laughter."

"He'd do anything for a laugh, a born entertainer," Butler said. He went on to recount the early days of their friendship, the rise of Black Sabbath— which they formerly called Earth — and their last show together.

"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," Butler said. He felt privileged to have spent much of his life with Osbourne.