Zakk Wylde says Ozzy Osbourne planned to make a new album before he died
Zakk Wylde has shared that, before his death, Ozzy Osbourne wanted to make a new album with him.
Speaking with NJ.com, Wylde, who acted as the Prince of Darkness’ lead guitarist since 1987, revealed that Osbourne wanted to make a new album before he passed away from Parkinson’s Disease.
Wylde shared, “He was texting me, ‘Zakk, let’s do another record. Because I really loved it when you were going through your Allman Brothers [Lynyrd] Skynyrd phase when we did No More Tears. It’s heavy, but it’s more melodic. It’s not pummeling heavy.'”
In response, Wylde said, “‘All right, Oz. Whatever you want.'” Unfortunately, Osbourne passed before the idea could come to fruition.
Wylde last saw the metal icon at the Back to the Beginning concert on July 5th. Previously, the guitarist revealed the poignant final messages the pair ever exchanged following the gig, recalling: “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.”
He continued: “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.”
Wylde featured on Osbourne’s last album, 2022’s Patient Number 9. During the Black Sabbath farewell show, the guitarist also doubled Osbourne’s vocals during his swan song, ‘Mama I’m Coming Home’.
Two documentaries, which investigate the life and legacy of the Black Sabbath frontman, have recently been released. Ozzy: No Escape From Now aired on Paramount+ on October 7th. Coming Home aired on the BBC on October 2nd.
The Osbourne family originally confirmed Osbourne’s death on July 22nd in a statement which read, “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning.”
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