Zakk Wylde shares poignant final text he received from Ozzy Osbourne: “Thank you for everything”
Zakk Wylde has revealed the final text that Ozzy Osbourne ever sent him, following the death of the heavy metal icon on July 22nd at the age of 76.
Wylde, who acted as the Prince of Darkness’ lead guitarist since 1987, opened up on his emotional final interaction with the frontman in a recent interview with Guitar World, having seen him for the last time at the Back to the Beginning concert on July 5th.
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.”
Despite not being able to say their final goodbyes to one another face to face, Wylde noted that he had no regrets about the experience and that the memories of the night are “ingrained in my head.”
On being included as an integral part of Black Sabbath’s final show, he explained: “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.”
It comes after Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler recently reflected on the band’s farewell show, revealing that during rehearsals, “He was helped into the rehearsal room by two helpers and a nurse and was using a cane – being Ozzy, the cane was black and studded with gold and precious stones.”
Butler also opened up about his shock at seeing Osbourne struggling with his health, stating, “I knew he wasn’t in good health, but I wasn’t prepared to see how frail he was.”
Osbourne’s funeral is set to take place on July 30th, with a huge procession with his hearse set to travel through the centre of Birmingham and over Black Sabbath Bridge before heading for a private service.
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