“TONY IOMMI – THE LATE ONE TO OZZY’S FUNERAL”
After everyone had left the cemetery, Tony Iommi appeared alone, placing an old contract on Ozzy’s tombstone, tearing it in half.
Sources revealed that it was the 1979 Black Sabbath band deal – which Sharon had secretly negotiated to get Tony off the tour.
Was this forgiveness, or a final message?
👉 Full story in the first comment.

TONY IOMMI – THE LATE ONE TO OZZY’S FUNERAL

On July 29, 2025, the heavy metal world gathered in Birmingham, England, to bid farewell to John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, who passed away on July 22 at the age of 76. The funeral, held at St. Mary’s Church and followed by a private burial, was a somber affair attended by family, friends, and music icons. Yet, it was a solitary act after the mourners had departed that captured the attention of those close to the scene: Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath’s iconic guitarist, appeared alone at Ozzy’s gravesite, placing an old contract on the tombstone and tearing it in half. Sources close to the band revealed that this was the 1979 Black Sabbath band deal, a document tied to Ozzy’s controversial dismissal from the band—a decision secretly influenced by Sharon Osbourne. Was Iommi’s gesture an act of forgiveness, a final message, or something more complex? This article explores the significance of Iommi’s actions and the tangled history behind them.

The Funeral and Iommi’s Solitary Moment

Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral was a poignant event, marked by tributes from bandmates Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, as well as heartfelt words from Sharon Osbourne and their children, Aimee, Kelly, and Jack. The service celebrated Ozzy’s legacy as the Prince of Darkness, with fans lining the streets of Birmingham to honor the man who helped birth heavy metal. The Back to the Beginning concert on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park—where Ozzy, Iommi, Butler, and Ward reunited for a final performance—served as a fitting prelude to his passing, a moment Iommi later described as Ozzy’s “last mission” to say goodbye to fans.

After the cemetery cleared, Iommi returned alone, a figure shrouded in the weight of over five decades of shared history. Witnesses reported that he placed a weathered document on Ozzy’s tombstone, identified later as the 1979 Black Sabbath band deal, and tore it in half before leaving in silence. This act, laden with symbolism, has sparked intense speculation about Iommi’s intentions and the unresolved tensions from the band’s past.

The 1979 Black Sabbath Band Deal

The 1979 contract is a pivotal artifact in Black Sabbath’s history. By the late 1970s, Black Sabbath was unraveling. Their early albums—Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1970), and Master of Reality (1971)—had defined heavy metal, but by 1978, internal strife and Ozzy’s escalating substance abuse strained the band. The recording of Never Say Die! (1978) was fraught with tension, with Ozzy’s erratic behavior clashing with Iommi’s drive for musical evolution. In 1979, Iommi, Butler, and Ward made the painful decision to fire Ozzy, replacing him with Ronnie James Dio.

Sources now reveal that Sharon Osbourne, then Ozzy’s manager and soon-to-be wife, played a clandestine role in this decision. Sharon, who began managing Ozzy in 1979, reportedly negotiated with the band’s management to secure his exit, ensuring he could launch a solo career. The 1979 band deal formalized Ozzy’s departure, outlining financial settlements and rights to the Black Sabbath name. While it allowed Ozzy to reinvent himself with albums like Blizzard of Ozz (1980), it also left lingering bitterness, particularly between Ozzy and Iommi, who felt the weight of leading the band without its iconic frontman.

Sharon’s Secret Negotiations

Sharon Osbourne’s role in the 1979 deal adds a layer of intrigue to Iommi’s gesture. As Ozzy’s manager, Sharon was instrumental in his solo success, guiding him through the creation of albums that rivaled Black Sabbath’s commercial achievements. Her negotiations to secure Ozzy’s exit were kept under wraps, known only to a small circle within the band’s management. This secrecy fueled tensions, as Iommi and the others were unaware of Sharon’s influence at the time, believing the decision was driven solely by Ozzy’s behavior and their creative differences.

Sharon’s strategic maneuvering ensured Ozzy’s financial stability and artistic freedom, but it also deepened the rift between him and Iommi. In later years, Iommi expressed mixed feelings about the split, acknowledging Ozzy’s irreplaceable presence while defending the need for change to keep Black Sabbath viable. The 1979 deal, therefore, was not just a legal document but a symbol of betrayal, ambition, and the fracturing of a brotherhood that had shaped heavy metal.

Forgiveness or Final Message?

Iommi’s act of tearing the contract in half has been interpreted in multiple ways. For some, it was a gesture of forgiveness—a release of the grudges that lingered since 1979. Iommi’s tributes to Ozzy after his death were heartfelt, calling him a “dear dear friend” and a “brother.” In an interview with ITV News, Iommi reflected on their final performance, suggesting Ozzy “held out” to complete the Back to the Beginning show, a testament to their enduring bond. Tearing the contract could symbolize Iommi letting go of past grievances, honoring their reconciliation through reunions in 1997, 2011, and 2025.

Others see the gesture as a final message, a pointed acknowledgment of the pain caused by the 1979 split. By destroying the contract, Iommi may have been signaling that its terms—and the divisions it created—no longer held power. The act could also be read as a critique of Sharon’s role, given her secret negotiations. Iommi’s solitary appearance at the gravesite, after others had left, suggests a private reckoning, perhaps a way to close a chapter that had haunted him for decades.

The Context of Their Relationship

Iommi and Ozzy’s relationship was complex, marked by camaraderie, conflict, and mutual respect. They formed Black Sabbath in 1968 as teenagers in Birmingham, with Iommi’s groundbreaking riffs and Ozzy’s raw vocals creating a sound that revolutionized music. Their friendship predated the band, as they attended the same school, and Iommi often recalled Ozzy’s humor and unpredictability, both on and off stage.

The 1979 firing was a low point, but reunions in later years—particularly the Reunion album (1998) and the 13 album (2013)—healed some wounds. The Back to the Beginning concert, which included a four-song set of “War Pigs,” “N.I.B.,” “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid,” was a triumphant farewell, with Iommi noting Ozzy’s determination despite his Parkinson’s and physical struggles. Iommi’s reflections suggest he valued their final moment together, making his gravesite gesture all the more poignant.

The Broader Impact

Iommi’s act resonates beyond personal sentiment, touching on Black Sabbath’s legacy as heavy metal pioneers. The band sold over 70 million records and earned inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2006) and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Ozzy’s departure in 1979 marked a turning point, but it also launched his solo career, which introduced guitarists like Randy Rhoads and Zakk Wylde to the world. Iommi’s gesture at the gravesite may reflect an acknowledgment of this dual legacy—Black Sabbath’s continued evolution and Ozzy’s individual triumphs.

Fans and the music community have reacted strongly to the story, with social media posts praising Iommi’s emotional depth while speculating about his intentions. Some see the torn contract as a final act of closure, others as a symbolic rejection of the business machinations that strained their bond. A forthcoming documentary on the Back to the Beginning concert, set for release in 2026, may offer further insight into Iommi’s mindset.

Conclusion

Tony Iommi’s solitary act at Ozzy Osbourne’s gravesite—placing and tearing the 1979 Black Sabbath band deal—encapsulates the complexity of their relationship and the band’s storied history. Whether an act of forgiveness, a final message, or both, it underscores the deep bond between two men who changed music forever. The 1979 deal, influenced by Sharon Osbourne’s hidden negotiations, was a turning point that shaped their paths, but Iommi’s gesture suggests a desire to move beyond its shadow. As Black Sabbath’s legacy endures, Iommi’s quiet moment at the tombstone stands as a testament to their brotherhood, forged in the fires of Birmingham and immortalized in the sound of heavy metal.