Ozzy Osbourne’s Final Text to Bandmate Revealed – Newsweek
Zakk Wylde, Ozzy Osbourne’s longtime friend and guitarist, has opened up about the final message he received from the late rock legend—and it’s as touching as it is simple.
In a recent interview with Guitar World, Wylde revealed the last text Ozzy sent him after Black Sabbath’s farewell concert on July 5 in Birmingham, England.
“The last text I got from Oz was, ‘Zakky, sorry, it was like a madhouse back there. I didn’t see you. Thanks for everything,’” Wylde shared. “It was just us talking, saying, ‘I love you, buddy.’ That was it.”
Ozzy Osbourne, the voice of Black Sabbath and a heavy metal icon for over five decades, passed away on July 22 at the age of 76. Wylde, 58, said he had hoped to see Ozzy one more time after the final show but understood the backstage chaos made things difficult.
“Everybody and their mother were back there,” Wylde said. “I just wanted to give him a break. Our main concern was always making sure Oz was okay.”
Zakk first joined Osbourne’s band in 1987 and remained one of his closest collaborators. Their bond, Wylde said, went far beyond music.
“Oz was just the best,” he recalled. “I have my father, who was a World War II vet, and then Ozzy—who was like an older brother. There was almost a 20-year age gap, but if I ever needed advice, I could go to him. Sure, there were fun times and partying, but there was also real heart.”
Their final exchange may have been brief, but it carried a lifetime of love, respect, and brotherhood.
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