Even after years of watching Ozzy Osbourne battle well being issues, Tony Iommi says the Black Sabbath frontman’s demise nonetheless got here as “a hell of a shock”.

Having fashioned Black Sabbath collectively in 1968, the pair spent almost six a long time as bandmates, collaborators and shut pals, remaining in common contact all through their respective well being struggles.

In a brand new interview with Rolling Stone, Iommi displays on Black Sabbath’s emotional farewell present, the ultimate textual content message he acquired from Osbourne, and why he nonetheless struggles to imagine his longtime bandmate is absolutely gone.

Wanting again on Black Sabbath’s farewell efficiency, Iommi admits the present felt in contrast to something the band had completed earlier than.

“On the night time, it felt very unusual for me as a result of clearly we’d by no means been onstage with Ozzy in a throne earlier than, sitting down,” says Iommi. “He was all the time leaping round, pulling faces, and making me and Geezer snort. However on this event, I couldn’t see him as a result of he’s in that throne on the entrance.”

With drummer Invoice Ward returning to the fold for the primary time in 20 years, Iommi additionally spent a lot of the set positioned nearer to the drum package: “Invoice wished me to face again by him simply because he was not sure of some bits. And so I did.”

Watching the efficiency again has solely made it extra emotional. Whereas he knew Osbourne’s well being had been declining, Iommi says he “didn’t count on it to occur that fast.”

The guitarist additionally shared particulars of the ultimate trade the pair had earlier than Osbourne’s passing.

“He texted me the night time earlier than, humorous sufficient, and stated he weren’t feeling nice and so forth. However clearly, most of our conversations to one another have been, ‘How are you feeling? How’s this? How’s that?’ And so it was simply one other dialog,” Iommi remembers. “I didn’t count on him to go in a single day. Blimey. It was a hell of a shock, actually.”

The 2 had remained shut all through their respective well being battles, with Iommi recalling how they frequently checked in on each other over time.

“We did keep in contact quite a bit. And he was going via so many alternative issues and continuously out and in of hospital and having this completed and that completed. And once more, he stood by me after I was identified with most cancers. He referred to as me day-after-day. So we’ve been supportive of one another. I do miss our conversations.”

Requested how he’s coped within the months since Osbourne’s demise, Iommi admits the loss nonetheless hasn’t totally sunk in.

“It’s been actually unusual. I nonetheless don’t really feel like he’s gone as a result of after I look on YouTube or no matter, there’s one thing to do with Ozzy, and I see him many times,” he says. “It’s virtually like he’s nonetheless right here. It’s actually peculiar. Solely, we had been in contact so many instances. That’s what I miss.”

Away from Black Sabbath, Iommi is getting ready to launch his first solo album in 21 years. From the Darkish arrives on 23 October by way of BMG and options Norwegian vocalist Jørn Lande, Mercyful Destiny bassist Becky Baldwin, and former Robbie Williams drummer Karl Brazil.