“If you have got to go — I mean, I wish Ozzy that lived another 30 years — but if you’ve got to go out…” Morello reflected

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Tom Morello, who organized Ozzy Osbourne’s record-breaking final show with Black Sabbath, reflected on the production during a recent interview
While he said that it was “a miracle” Osbourne lived as long as he did, Morello noted it seemed like the rocker “knew” his time was limited when he took the stage
“If you have got to go — I mean, I wish Ozzy that lived another 30 years — but if you’ve got to go out, it really felt like he knew,” Morello reflected

Ozzy Osbourne was aware he was enjoying his final time on stage when he performed with Black Sabbath just weeks before his death at the age of 76, according to organizer and friend Tom Morello.

During an appearance on Chicago’s Q101 radio station, Morello reflected on having the opportunity to serve as musical director for the benefit concert in Birmingham, England on July 5.

Describing Osbourne as “one of the all-time greats,” Morello — a guitarist for Rage Against the Machines and Audioslave — said he wanted to put together “the greatest day in the history of heavy metal” when he was offered the job by Ozzy and his wife Sharon Osbourne.

“I laid out to make it a great show for fans and for them,” he said, adding that the band “got to play and feel the love not just from the bands, not just from the 40,000 people in the stadium but from people all over the world.”

During the concert, Ozzy took the stage and sat in a black throne to perform his own hits and songs released when he was a member of the iconic heavy metal band.

“On the day, a million things could have gone wrong, and maybe like three things did. But it felt like a spiritually great moment for all fans of rock and roll,” Morello reflected, adding, “Ozzy and Sabbath could not be more important to me personally as a fan and as an artist.”

Although he described the rocker’s death as “a tragedy,” Morello also acknowledged it was “a miracle” Ozzy “lived as long as he did.”

“Ozzy Osbourne’s lived a pretty on-the-edge lifestyle for a long time,” he explained.

Ozzy Osbourne with Tom Morello.Tom Morello/Instagram

Morello felt like Ozzy viewed the show as an opportunity to go out on a high note.

“The fact that he lived to play and feel that love and to one more time… You know, to do ‘Paranoid;’ to do ‘Crazy Train.’ If you have got to go — I mean, I wish Ozzy that lived another 30 years — but if you’ve got to go out, it really felt like he knew,” he said.

The musician noted Ozzy even attended the afterparty, where they had a chance to interact.

While it seemed to Morello that Ozzy was aware of his impending death, he still described getting the news a mere three weeks after the concert as “a terrible and tragic surprise.”

“He had been frail for a while, but friends of mine saw him a week later. He was at another event in Birmingham a week later,” he said.

Morello reflected on the opportunity to organize the show in a post on Instagram in early July. He even shared a photo taken with Ozzy backstage.

“THANKYOU @ozzyosbourne for trusting me to be the Musical Director of the ‘Back To The Beginning’ show. It was over a year of hard work but heavy metal was the music that made me love music and it was a labor of love,” he said. “We raised a ton of money for a great cause and so many great musicians & bands & fans all over the world paid tribute to the ALL TIME greats.”

According to reporting by Billboard, the show became the highest-grossing benefit concert of all time and generated more than $190 million. The funds were split between three charities: Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Acorn Children’s Hospice and Cure Parkinson’s.

Ozzy died at the age of 76 on July 22. His cause of death was ruled to be “out of hospital cardiac arrest” and “acute myocardial infarction,” with coronary artery disease and Parkinson’s disease with autonomic dysfunction listed as “joint causes.”

Ozzy Osbourne onstage.Ross Halfin

“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,” the rock star’s family told PEOPLE in a statement confirming his passing. “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”

Before the show took place, Ozzy vowed to give “120%” of himself at the show during an episode of his show SiriusXM’s Ozzy Speaks.

“If my God wants me to do the show, I’ll do it,” he said, adding, “By hook or by crook, I’m gonna make it there.”

Ozzy continued, “I’ve got this trainer guy who helps people get back to normal. It’s hard going, but he’s convinced that he can pull it off for me. I’m giving it everything I’ve got.”