Ozzy Osbourne’s long-term guitarist Zakk Wylde has spoken publicly for the first time about the death of The Prince of Darkness.
Zakk joined Ozzy Osbourne’s band almost four decades ago in 1987, and he forged a close friendship with Ozzy and the entire Osbourne family. He also formed a Black Sabbath covers band, Zakk Sabbath, in 2014.
The guitar behemoth’s final performance with Ozzy was at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park on Saturday 5th July, just 17 days before Ozzy’s death.
In a new interview with the Los Angeles Times to promote Black Label Society’s new single ‘Broken and Blind’, Zakk spoke in detail about his bond with Ozzy.
Commenting on Ozzy’s “toughness” in the face of adversity, Zakk said: “If he was a fighter, a boxer, no matter how lumped up he was, he would just continue. But he also had the biggest heart in the world. He hated seeing people being upset and things like that. So, yeah, he had a heart of gold.
“(Ozzy had) all the best qualities you could ask for in somebody — super giving, had a heart of gold and just tough as nails. And to carry on without a doubt. Those are all redeeming qualities. They’re just awesome.”
Ozzy Osbourne and Zakk Wylde in 2006
Asked if he thinks Ozzy knew the end was near following Back to Beginning, Zakk replied: “No, I don’t think so. The way I always felt, all the things that I’ve gone through with them, it was always — if it was a setback or anything like that — it was more of a speed bump and it was just like, ‘All right, we’ll fix the flat tire on the truck and then we’ll just keep moving.’
“So, I think it was more like that, because I knew he still wanted to make records and things like that. But I was just thinking, ‘Who knows, man, hopefully if this thing goes over well, then we might be able to do some other shows or do select shows throughout the year.’ Like these Ozzfest-type things, just so Ozz can still keep doing gigs, but maybe not touring in the capacity of doing four shows a week or whatever.”
Explaining that he thought Ozzy was “indestructible”, Zakk went on: “It’s just like with The (Rolling) Stones, you just always think they’re going to be there. I felt like that with us. Even when we were doing that show, I didn’t go, ‘Oh, this is the last time I’m ever going to play ‘Mama, I’m Coming Home’ with him or ‘Crazy Train’ with him’ or anything. You’re in the moment anyways. You’re playing, so my concern was making sure he was okay.
“I wasn’t thinking about any of that, because it’s like you’re playing a game. You never think it’s your last Super Bowl; you’re playing and you’re playing to win. So, yeah, I didn’t think about it, and like I said, I’ve always been optimistic. I would always tell him, no matter how bummed he got, ‘Just keep doing therapy and keep doing everything you’ve got to do because what’s the option? Then you just quit in the corner, and you whine about it. Or you could do something about it, with therapy and hitting the weights and doing everything you got to do.’
“There was no quit in him. So, that’s where we were at. I never thought like, ‘Oh, yeah, this was the last gig.’ I didn’t think after we did the show, two weeks from now, he was gonna be gone. I wasn’t thinking that at all.”
Black Label Society play the Ronnie James Dio Stage at Bloodstock on Sunday 9th August 2026 before special guests Body Count and headliners Judas Priest.