The rock world still mourns the death of Ozzy Osbourne, the eternal "Prince of Darkness", who passed away last July 22 at the age of 76, leaving behind an immense legacy and a void impossible to fill. However, few have shared such an intimate perspective on his last days as his lifelong companion and friend, Geezer Butler, bassist of Black Sabbath.

Ozzy Osbourne was unwell for years ahead of his devastating death, but Black Sabbath bandmate Geezer Butler has admitted he was shocked by how ‘frail’ the icon had become. Ozzy died aged 76 on July 22, mere weeks after the War Pigs legends had performed their final show in their home town of Birmingham.

Geezer Butler penned a piece for The Times U.K. that served as a career and life-spanning tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, his Black Sabbath bandmate.

While the world mourns the "Prince of Darkness" (in German: "Fürst der Finsternis"), Terence "Geezer" Butler (76) describes his deceased bandmate Ozzy Osbourne (1948-2025) as the "Prince of Laughter" (in German: "Fürst des Lachens"). Just a few weeks after Black Sabbath's final performance together, the frontman passed away at the age of 76.

Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler has paid a tender tribute to his friend and former bandmate Ozzy Osbourne, sharing his memories of how "the most incredible journey of our lives" began. Butler's recollections come in an essay penned for The Sunday Times, published yesterday, July 27.