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Zakk Wylde<\/a> has now opened up to Guitar World<\/em><\/a> after the death of Ozzy Osbourne<\/a> and revealed his final interaction with the metal icon through text message in the process.<\/p>\n Within the interview, Wylde reveals that as so many had so much to say to Ozzy<\/a> during the Back to the Beginning concert, he was cognizant of letting others have their time and not overwhelming Ozzy on such a big day.<\/p>\n Wylde recalled, \u201cEverybody and their mother were in the backstage dressing room and I just wanted to give him a break. I figured we\u2019d see him later on \u2013 the next day or whatever. But no. The last text I got from Oz was saying, \u2018Zakky, sorry, it was like a madhouse back there. I didn\u2019t see you.\u2019 He goes, \u2018Thanks for everything.\u2019 It was just us talking, saying, \u2018I love you, buddy.\u2019 That was it.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Wylde, the last time he actually saw Ozzy was when they played together onstage at the Back to the Beginning<\/a> concert on July 7.<\/p>\n He shares with Guitar World<\/em> that the memories of that night are “ingrained in my head.”<\/p>\n “With ‘Mama, I\u2019m Coming Home,’ when we got the acoustic out, I had to be like, \u2018Keep the guitar away from the microphone so I can sing,\u2019 because Oz\u2019s voice was having trouble at certain notes,” says Wylde. \u201cI was like, \u2018I need to make sure I\u2019m always there so I can double him.\u2019 I was like three feet away from the microphone when I started playing the song. I was like, \u2018I gotta get near the microphone,\u2019 so I had to almost stop playing, lift the guitar up and put it over the mic.”<\/p>\n \u201cIt was like juggling balls or chainsaws while being on a skateboard! It was actually pretty funny \u2013 but it was business as usual. It\u2019s supposed to be the most important show ever, but everything\u2019s on the fly!\u201d<\/p>\n He says of his inclusion in Ozzy’s final show,\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m blessed and grateful, man. Anything other than that would be selfish. And on top of it, to go out with what\u2019s the biggest-grossing charity event of all? That\u2019s unbelievable. He helped a whole lot of people instead of making a profit. My God, what an incredible master. What an incredible life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was definitely pretty amazing. Seeing Oz onstage when Sabbath got done, that\u2019s the last time I saw him,\u201d he concludes.<\/p>\n Within the chat, Wylde also shared his appreciation for what Ozzy meant both personally and professionally to his life and career.<\/p>\n \u201cI always say, to have music be the thing that turns the lights on at the end of the day, instead of some job that you can\u2019t stand, it\u2019s everything. Everything revolves around playing and music,” says Wylde, adding,\u00a0\u201cIf I didn\u2019t have Oz, without a doubt, I\u2019d continue playing\u2026 but it\u2019s how Ozzy would say what The Beatles did for him, you know? What he gave me with Sabbath, and then with Randy [Rhoads] and Jake [E. Lee], it\u2019s a beacon of light. It gives you purpose. So even if I hadn\u2019t played with him, he gave me purpose to be a musician. And without a doubt, that\u2019ll always be with me.\u201d<\/p>\n He added of his relationship with the singer,\u00a0\u201cOz was just the best. I have my father, who was a World War II veteran; and then Ozzy, who was almost like an older brother. There was almost a 20-year age gap between us. With our relationship, there was the fun drinking \u2013 but if I ever needed advice, I could talk to him. There were issues on how to drink and how not to drink; you know, the important factors in life!\u201d<\/p>\n But, he adds, \u201cIt felt natural with Oz. Very rarely would things turn into a math equation, where you needed a manual to figure out a part. If that starts it\u2019s probably not going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n At the July 5 Back to the Beginning concert, the penultimate set of the night was Ozzy taking the stage with members of his solo band throughout the years. This included Wylde.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Geezer Butler Pens Heartfelt Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The big finish started with a\u00a0five-song solo set<\/a>\u00a0from Ozzy that featured the songs “I Don’t Know,” “Mr. Crowley,” “Suicide Solution,” “Mama I’m Coming Home” and “Crazy Train.”<\/p>\n Ozzy Osbourne\u00a0died 17 days after his final performance\u00a0<\/a>with Black Sabbath. Tributes have continued to roll in from the\u00a0rock and metal community<\/a>\u00a0as well as\u00a0fans<\/a>. John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne was 76 at the time of his death.<\/p>\n The songs Ozzy played the most and least from each of his albums through the years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Rob Carroll<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhat Was Ozzy Osbourne’s Final Communication With Zakk Wylde<\/h3>\n
What Does Zakk Remember From Back to the Beginning Concert?<\/h3>\n
What Ozzy Osbourne Did for Zakk Wylde’s Career<\/h3>\n
How Did Zakk Wylde Finish His Time Playing With Ozzy?<\/h3>\n
Most + Least Played Songs From Every Ozzy Osbourne Album<\/h2>\n