ZAKK WYLDE Reflects on Friendship with Ozzy Osbourne: “An Incredible Master. What an Incredible Life.”

Guitarist and vocalist Zakk Wylde, longtime collaborator and close friend of the late Ozzy Osbourne, has shared heartfelt reflections on his time with the Prince of Darkness, who passed away last week on July 22nd at age 76.

Wylde, who affectionately referred to Osbourne as ‘the boss,’ played alongside him for decades — including on the solo set of Ozzy’s final live performance, July 5th’s ‘Back To The Beginning’.

Speaking with Guitar World, Wylde recalled their early days together, their enduring friendship, and the final moments he shared with the multi-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer.

When asked about his last memories of the farewell show, Wylde said:

“…They’re ingrained in my head. With ‘Mama, I’m Coming Home,’ when we got the acoustic out, I had to be like, ‘Keep the guitar away from the microphone so I can sing,’ because Oz’s voice was having trouble at certain notes. It was like juggling chainsaws on a skateboard… the most important show ever, but everything’s on the fly!

I was like, ‘I need to make sure I’m always there so I can double him.’ I was like three feet away from the microphone when I started playing the song. I was like, ‘I gotta get near the microphone,’ so I had to almost stop playing, lift the guitar up and put it over the mic.”

On the last time he spoke with Ozzy, Wylde shared:

“Everybody and their mother were in the backstage dressing room and I just wanted to give him a break. I figured we’d see him later on – the next day or whatever. But no. The last text I got from Oz was saying, ‘Zakky, sorry, it was like a madhouse back there. I didn’t see you.’ He goes, ‘Thanks for everything.’ It was just us talking, saying, ‘I love you, buddy.’ That was it.”

Reflecting on how meeting Ozzy shaped his life, Wylde said:

“I always say, to have music be the thing that turns the lights on at the end of the day, instead of some job that you can’t stand, it’s everything. Everything revolves around playing and music.

If I didn’t have Oz, without a doubt, I’d continue playing… but it’s how Ozzy would say what The Beatles did for him, you know? What he gave me with Sabbath, and then with Randy and Jake, it’s a beacon of light. It gives you purpose. So even if I hadn’t played with him, he gave me purpose to be a musician. And without a doubt, that’ll always be with me.”

On his time spent with Osbourne, Wylde concluded:

“I’m blessed and grateful, man. Anything other than that would be selfish. And on top of it, to go out with what’s the biggest-grossing charity event of all? That’s unbelievable. He helped a whole lot of people instead of making a profit. My God, what an incredible master. What an incredible life.”

The final farewell show, ‘Back To The Beginning’, raised over $190 million for Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.

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