Geoff Nicholls, who played keyboards with Black Sabbath from 1979-2004 died on January 28 of lung cancer.
Ex-Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Ozzy Osbourne expressed their grief on social media.
Tony Iommi posted on Facebook, “I’m so saddened to hear the loss of one of my dearest and closest friends Geoff Nicholls,” he wrote. “He’s been suffering for a while now with lung cancer and he lost his battle this morning. Geoff and I have always been very close and he has been a real true friend to me and supported me all the way for nearly 40 years. I will miss him dearly and he will live in my heart until we meet again. Rest in peace, my dear friend.”
Bassist Geezer Butler also shared his thoughts, “Very sad to hear of old friend and Sabbath keyboard player Geoff Nicholls passing. RIP Geoff.” Ozzy Osbourne tweeted “Geoff Nicholls was a great friend of mine for a long time. He will be greatly missed. I’m very saddened at the news.”