Ozzy Osbourne's heartbroken Black Sabbath's bandmates have lost their "brother" and insisted "there won't ever be another like him"

In a post on X, Iommi wrote: "I just can't believe it! My dear dear friend Ozzy has passed away only weeks after our show at Villa Park.

"It's just such heartbreaking news that I can't really find the words, there won't ever be another like him. Geezer, Bill and myself have lost our brother. My thoughts go out to [Ozzy's wife] Sharon and all the Osbourne family. Rest in peace Oz."

Butler added in a message shared on Instagram: "Goodbye dear friend- thanks for all those years- we had some great fun. 4 kids from Aston - who'd have thought, eh? So glad we got to do it one last time, back in Aston. Love you."

Ward had a rocky relationship with Osbourne over the years, but he admitted he was glad they were able to put the past behind them. In a post on X, he wrote: "Where will I find you now? In the memories, our unspoken embraces, our missed phone calls, no, you're forever in my heart.

"Deepest condolences to Sharon and all family members. RIP Sincere regrets to all the fans. Never goodbye. Thank you forever. Bill Ward."

The band previously posted a picture of Ozzy on stage at their final gig and simply wrote: "Ozzy Forever."

Ozzy's death was confirmed by his family in a statement which read: "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love.

"We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis."

It has since been reported that Ozzy passed away at his home in Buckinghamshire, UK and his daughters had flown in from Los Angeles to be with him.

A source told MailOnline: "[His passing was] unexpected to be this soon."

The insider added that daughters Aimee, 41, and Kelly, 40, had come from Los Angeles to be with their father and Ozzy's son Jack, 39, had flown in from his home in Idaho to watch his father perform at his final Black Sabbath gig in Birmingham on July 5.

The source said: "Ozzy was always meant to come back to Britain to live in Buckinghamshire, it was where Sharon had spent so long preparing their family home for him.

"There was much hope that he would be around for a lot longer than this but at one point there were fears they would not get him back from Los Angeles for the concert earlier this month.

"Kelly has been at the house a lot in the last week or so, so has Aimee. It is terribly sad for all of them, they really hoped he would be able to carry on for a bit longer.

"But it's so lovely that he had his children around him during his last days."