The Heartbreaking Final Text Between Ozzy Osbourne And Guitarist Zakk Wylde Revealed

Few bonds in rock music rivaled the brotherhood between Ozzy Osbourne and his longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde.

After the Prince of Darkness’s death on July 22 at age 76, Wylde has now opened up about their last conversation, sharing an emotional text message that offers both closure and a gut-punch reminder of Ozzy’s enduring legacy.

Speaking to Guitar World, Wylde recalled the last time he heard from Ozzy Osbourne following Black Sabbath’s final performance at England’s Villa Park on July 5.

“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 revealed.

Although the backstage was chaotic, Wylde thought he would get another chance to connect. However, that opportunity never came.

“Everybody and their mother were in the backstage dressing room, and I just wanted to give him a break,” he explained. “I figured I’d see him later on, but that didn’t happen.”

Wylde described the show as “business as usual,” but emphasized the focus was always “making sure that Oz was okay.”

He added, “It was definitely pretty amazing. Seeing Oz onstage when Sabbath got done, that’s the last time I saw him.”

For Wylde, his connection with Ozzy Osbourne was never just professional; it was family.

“Ozzy is the godfather of our oldest son,” he shared. “Whether I was playing with him or not, if Sharon called me and my wife up and said, ‘Guys, can you watch the house while we’re away on a business trip?’ I’d do it. It’s like, ‘If you need me to bring milk and eggs over, I’ll do it.’”

That deep personal loyalty defined their decades-long friendship, even during the years when Wylde wasn’t part of the band.

Wylde first joined Black Sabbath in 1987 and remained one of Ozzy’s closest collaborators, working with him throughout the ’90s and early 2000s.

He returned for the No More Tours II run, which began in 2018, and was by Ozzy’s side during his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2024.

Reflecting on those moments, Wylde expressed gratitude for being part of the ride and for witnessing Ozzy’s powerful presence until the very end.

Sharon Osbourne was visibly emotional as she joined thousands of fans paying tribute to her late husband in Birmingham city centre.

The 72-year-old matriarch, supported by her children Kelly, Jack, Aimee, and Louis from Ozzy’s first marriage, made the difficult walk to the growing memorial of flowers, cards, and candles honoring the rock legend.

According to the Daily Mail, Sharon appeared frail and stumbled slightly as she stepped from the van, clutching a bouquet wrapped in black and a tissue in her hand.

Jack quickly rushed to steady her while Kelly held her hand, guiding her toward the sea of tributes. Fans lining the street shouted, “We love you,” as she struggled through her grief.

Overcome with emotion, Sharon laid her flowers among the thousands already placed in memory of the Black Sabbath frontman. Her children followed closely behind, adding their own heartfelt tributes before surrounding their mother once more.

After laying their offerings, the Osbournes quietly returned to the car, leaving behind a moving reminder of enduring love and loss.

Thousands of devoted fans gathered in Birmingham to bid farewell to Ozzy.

Tributes covered the “Black Sabbath Bridge” on Broad Street, where flowers and heartfelt messages were placed in his honor.

The cortege paused at the site, allowing the Osbourne family to acknowledge the support of grieving fans.

Leading the procession was a Jaguar hearse carrying Ozzy on his final journey, adorned with a striking floral display in purple, his favorite color, that simply spelled “OZZY.”

His son Louis, from his first marriage to Thelma Riley, paid a subtle tribute by wearing a purple tie patterned with skull-and-crossbones.

Local brass band Bostin’ Brass accompanied the cortege, performing renditions of Black Sabbath classics that echoed through the streets, creating a moving soundtrack to the moment.

The procession also passed Ozzy’s childhood home on Lodge Road in Aston.

The current residents honored him by placing a photograph of the rock icon in their front window, a reminder of his humble beginnings before global stardom.

Earlier this year, Ozzy returned permanently to the UK after receiving medical clearance to leave the U.S.

He had long battled Parkinson’s disease and chronic injuries stemming from a 2003 quad bike crash and a 2019 fall.