What did Geezer Butler say about Ozzy Osbourne’s final show with Black Sabbath? Details explored

Geezer Butler had a few words to say about Ozzy Osbourne after the "Back to the Beginning" show and his bandmate's passing. Geezer, Ozzy, Tony, and Will came together as Black Sabbath one last time to give fans their final show at Villa Park in Birmingham, on July 5, 2025.

After Black Sabbath's last show together, Geezer Butler noted that Ozzy Osbourne had looked "frail". But after their performance on the show, Bulter shared in a post on The Sunday Times:

"The strangest part of that show was the end... Normally, we would all hug each other and take a bow to the audience. But Ozzy was on his throne and we hadn't thought that out."

He elaborated on their slight confusion about what to do next:

"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 shit in the other and see which comes first.'"

As for the "Back to the Beginning" show, Geezer said:

"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. 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!"

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Butler Geezer shares what happened during Black Sabbath's rehearsal for their final show

Before the show, the band members started rehearsals a month before the scheduled date. Geezer Butler shared how the rehearsals went in The Sunday Times. He wrote:

"Of course, not having played together for 20 years, it took a couple of days 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."

He described how Ozzy was still Ozzy in his own way, despite the health issues. Geezer elaborated:

"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."

Additionally, he noticed that Ozzy got tired quickly than he had expected. He was different from the old Ozzy that he knew. Geezer Butler elaborated:

"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."

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What was Geezer Butler and Ozzy Osbourne's relationship like?

Having been in each other's lives for more than five decades, Geezer Butler and Ozzy Osbourne's relationship was tight-knit. In the same post, he wrote:

"To me, Ozzy wasn't the Prince of Darkness — if anything he was the Prince of Laughter. He'd do anything for a laugh, a born entertainer."

He further elaborated on the kind of friendship they shared, as well as the kind of man Ozzy was. He said:

"We became inseparable brothers in arms, always looking out for each other... People always thought Ozzy was a feral wild man, but he had a heart of pure gold. Most of his infamous antics — the bat saga, biting the head off a dove, pissing on the Alamo, snorting lines of ants and the rest — came in his solo years, away from the restraints of the Sabbath crew."

Geezer Butler concluded:

"But if you were a friend in need, Ozzy was always there for you. When my son was born with a heart defect, Ozzy called me every day to see how I was coping, even though we hadn't spoken for a year."

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Ozzy Osbourne passed away when he was 76 years old on July 22, 2025, surrounded by his family and loved ones. He died 17 days after the "Back to the Beginning" show.