Zakk Wylde Shares Final Text with ‘Older Brother’ Ozzy Osbourne

Throughout Ozzy Osbourne’s solo career, Zakk Wylde became a vital component. While most people think of Randy Rhoads when they think of Ozzy’s guitarists, Wylde’s professional and personal life constantly intersected and diverged during the three decades they knew each other.

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He played on the albums “No Rest for the Wicked,” “No More Tears,” and “Ozzmosis,” before going off to do his own thing for a while. But he kept returning to Ozzy after time would pass, and was there at the end for his final show on July 5.

“It was definitely pretty amazing,” Wylde recalled to “Guitar World” about that last night. “Seeing Oz onstage when Sabbath got done, that’s the last time I saw him.” Despite knowing about his health problems, Wylde was as shocked as everyone when he died on July 22—Wylde shares Ozzy’s last text and why the two got along so well.

Zakk Wylde Thanks Ozzy Osbourne for His Musical Journey

Wylde remembered the dressing room at the “Back to the Beginning” farewell show was chaos. So he decided to cut out, thinking that he’d see Ozzy later.

“The last text I got from Oz was saying, ‘Zakky, sorry, it was like a madhouse back there. I didn’t see you,'” Wylde shared. “He goes, ‘Thanks for everything.’ It was just us talking, saying, ‘I love you, buddy.’ That was it.”

When asked what life would be like if he hadn’t met Ozzy, Wylde answers thoughtfully.

“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?” Wylde said. “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.”

From Bandmates to Beloved Family: Wylde’s Bond With Ozzy

Besides their professional relationship, Wylde thought of Ozzy as family, and the feeling was mutual.

“Yeah, that’s how I’ve always looked at it. Ozzy is the godfather of our oldest son,” Wylde explained. “Whether I was playing with him or not, if Sharon [Osbourne] called me and my wife up and said, ‘Guys, can you watch the house while we’re away on a business trip?’ I’d do it. It’s like, ‘If you need me to bring milk and eggs over, I’ll do it.’”

“Ozzy was the easiest-going, warmest guy,” he added. “He was so easy to get along with.”