Few bonds in rock music rivaled the brotherhood between Ozzy Osbourne and his longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde.
After the Prince of Darkness’s loss of life on July 22 at age 76, Wylde has now opened up about their final dialog, sharing an emotional textual content message that gives each closure and a gut-punch reminder of Ozzy’s enduring legacy.
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The Ultimate Textual content That Stated It All

Chatting with Guitar World, Wylde recalled the final time he heard from Ozzy Osbourne following Black Sabbath’s ultimate efficiency at England’s Villa Park on July 5.
“The final textual content I acquired from Oz was saying, ‘Zakky, sorry, it was like a madhouse again there. I didn’t see you.’ He goes, ‘Thanks for every little thing.’ It was simply us speaking, saying, ‘I like you, buddy.’ That was it,” Wylde revealed.
Though the backstage was chaotic, Wylde thought he would get one other likelihood to attach. Nevertheless, that chance by no means got here.
“All people and their mom have been within the backstage dressing room, and I simply needed to present him a break,” he defined. “I figured I’d see him in a while, however that didn’t occur.”
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Wylde described the present as “enterprise as common,” however emphasised the main target was all the time “ensuring that Oz was okay.”
He added, “It was positively fairly superb. Seeing Oz onstage when Sabbath acquired performed, that’s the final time I noticed him.”
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A Bond Past The Stage

For Wylde, his reference to Ozzy Osbourne was by no means simply skilled; it was household.
“Ozzy is the godfather of our oldest son,” he shared. “Whether or not I used to be enjoying with him or not, if Sharon known as me and my spouse up and stated, ‘Guys, are you able to watch the home whereas we’re away on a enterprise journey?’ I’d do it. It’s like, ‘In the event you want me to carry milk and eggs over, I’ll do it.’”
That deep private loyalty outlined their decades-long friendship, even through the years when Wylde wasn’t a part of the band.
Wylde first joined Black Sabbath in 1987 and remained one in every of Ozzy’s closest collaborators, working with him all through the ’90s and early 2000s.
He returned for the No Extra Excursions II run, which started in 2018, and was by Ozzy’s facet throughout his Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame induction in 2024.
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Reflecting on these moments, Wylde expressed gratitude for being a part of the journey and for witnessing Ozzy’s highly effective presence till the very finish.
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Sharon Breaks Down As Household Honors Ozzy Osbourne In Birmingham

Sharon Osbourne was visibly emotional as she joined 1000’s of followers paying tribute to her late husband in Birmingham metropolis centre.
The 72-year-old matriarch, supported by her kids Kelly, Jack, Aimee, and Louis from Ozzy’s first marriage, made the troublesome stroll to the rising memorial of flowers, playing cards, and candles honoring the rock legend.
In line with the Daily Mail, Sharon appeared frail and stumbled barely as she stepped from the van, clutching a bouquet wrapped in black and a tissue in her hand.
Jack shortly rushed to regular her whereas Kelly held her hand, guiding her towards the ocean of tributes. Followers lining the road shouted, “We love you,” as she struggled by means of her grief.
Overcome with emotion, Sharon laid her flowers among the many 1000’s already positioned in reminiscence of the Black Sabbath frontman. Her kids adopted carefully behind, including their very own heartfelt tributes earlier than surrounding their mom as soon as extra.
After laying their choices, the Osbournes quietly returned to the automobile, forsaking a shifting reminder of tolerating love and loss.
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Followers Line Streets To Honor Ozzy Osbourne’s Legacy

Tributes lined the “Black Sabbath Bridge” on Broad Avenue, the place flowers and heartfelt messages have been positioned in his honor.
The cortege paused on the web site, permitting the Osbourne household to acknowledge the help of grieving followers.
Main the procession was a Jaguar hearse carrying Ozzy on his ultimate journey, adorned with a putting floral show in purple, his favourite coloration, that merely spelled “OZZY.”
His son Louis, from his first marriage to Thelma Riley, paid a refined tribute by sporting a purple tie patterned with skull-and-crossbones.
Native brass band Bostin’ Brass accompanied the cortege, performing renditions of Black Sabbath classics that echoed by means of the streets, making a shifting soundtrack to the second.
Ozzy Osbourne’s Ultimate Journey By way of Birmingham

The procession additionally handed Ozzy’s childhood house on Lodge Street in Aston.
The present residents honored him by putting {a photograph} of the rock icon of their entrance window, a reminder of his humble beginnings earlier than world stardom.
Earlier this 12 months, Ozzy returned completely to the UK after receiving medical clearance to depart the U.S.
He had lengthy battled Parkinson’s illness and power accidents stemming from a 2003 quad bike crash and a 2019 fall.