Longtime Ozzy Osbourne Friend Shares Final Text Message
Ozzy Osbourne died on July 22, 2025, and his funeral is being held on Wednesday, July 30. Following his death, Osbourne's many friends and colleagues have been commenting on what he meant to them, both on a personal and professional level.
Guitarist Zakk Wylde joined Ozzy Osbourne's solo band in 1987. During his time with Ozzy, he performed on countless of the metal icon's popular solo records, including 1988's No Rest for the Wicked, 1991's No More Tears and 1995's Ozzmosis.
Speaking with Guitar World magazine in an interview, Wylde revealed that he was more than just a guitarist to Osbourne. "It was definitely beyond just us playing in a band together and making music," he said.
Wylde also revealed the final text message that he got from Osbourne. It came after Black Sabbath's final show together.
"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," Wylde said. "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."
Wylde also revealed that he and Ozzy kept in touch even when he wasn't playing with his solo band.
"We'd always keep in touch," he said. "People were always like, 'Zakk, why doesn’t Ozzy have you writing on all his stuff?' It's because the songs would often already be written, and Oz would say, 'Zakk, can you just come in and play?' I'd go, 'Yeah, whatever you need me to do.'"
Wylde also fronts his own band, Black Label Society, who played on the same bill as Ozzy many times.
Related: Ozzy Osbourne Revealed If He Believed in God Before He Died