A longtime compatriot of the late, great Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist/vocalist Zakk Wylde has reflected on his life and times with the Prince Of Darkness, who passed away last week on July 22nd at the age of 76.
Wylde, who affectionally referred to Osbourne at ‘the boss’, spent decades playing with the heavy metal icon, including performing alongside him during the solo set portion of Osbourne‘s final live show, July 05th’s ‘Back To The Beginning‘.
Speaking with Guitar World, Wylde reflected on the early days they spent together, their longstanding friendship and even touched upon the final moments he shared with the storied multi-time Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer.
When asked what his final memories are of the aforementioned ‘Back To The Beginning‘ farewell show, Wylde stated:
“…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:
“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.”
When asked where he would be now if he had never met and joined forces with Ozzy, he replied:
“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.”
As for the time he got to spend with Ozzy, he stated:
“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 ‘Back To The Beginning‘ final live sendoff for Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath raised over $190 million for Cure Parkinson’s, the Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice.
