Ozzy Osbourne’s Family Tearfully Says Goodbye at Public Service Procession
Zakk Wylde is sharing his final moment with Ozzy Osbourne.
The guitarist, who worked on and off with the “Crazy Train” singer since 1987, recently reflected on playing Osbourne’s final show with Black Sabbath on July 5, admitting he had no idea how impactful the moment would become.
“Everybody and their mother were in the backstage dressing room and I just wanted to give him a break,” Zakk recalled in an interview with Guitar World published July 29. “I figured we’d see him later on—the next day or whatever. 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.’”
And while it was an otherwise normal exchange for the musicians, Zakk shared it gave him the closure he needed.
“It was just us talking, saying, ‘I love you, buddy.’” he recalled. “That was it.”
Ozzy’s last show—which saw him play to 45,000 people in his hometown of Birmingham, England—felt like “business as usual” for Zakk, who rejoined Ozzy’s team in 2017 after parting ways in the 2000s. Still, the musician admitted he didn’t feel as focused on his performance but rather, “making sure that Oz was okay.”
“It was definitely pretty amazing,” Zakk recalled. “Seeing Oz onstage when Sabbath got done, that’s the last time I saw him.”
In Zakk’s eyes, that final memory with the musician was perfect.
“I’m blessed and grateful,” he continued. “Anything other than that would be selfish.”
Indeed, Zakk and Ozzy remained close confidants despite their ebbs and flows of working together, with the 58-year-old always considering Ozzy one of his closest mentors.
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“Oz was just the best,” he said. “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—but if I ever needed advice, I could talk to him.”
In addition to his millions of fans, Ozzy touched many stars’ hearts. Keep reading for more heartfelt tributes to the late rocker…
Stephen Lovekin
Metallica
The heavy metal band shared a throwback photo of Ozzy Osbourne with a simple broken heart emoji as the caption.
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Elton John
“He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods – a true legend,” he wrote. “He was also one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. I will miss him dearly. To Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love.”
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Questlove
“Love Live The Oz,” he wrote. “Rest In Melody.”
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Jason Momoa
“Love you @ozzyosbourne All my aloha @sharonosbourne and ohana,” he wrote alongside a picture with Ozzy and wife Sharon Osbourne. “So grateful. RIP.”
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Flavor Flav
“Man,,, real heart broken over the passing of OZZY OSBOURNE,” the rapper shared on X. “We go way back and it was a real honor to watch him get inducted into the @rockhall last year. Sending my love and prayers to Sharon and his kids and whole family. RIP.”
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Bret Michaels
“One of the greatest rock legends to ever live…” the Def Leppard member wrote, noting the band would dedicate their upcoming shows to Ozzy. “And to my friend @sharonosbourne and the entire Osbourne family, sending my deepest condolences. Ozzy, may you forever rest in peace and thank you for rocking our world.”
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Ice T
“RIP Ozzy,” he wrote on X. “Right after the recent huge Black Sabbath final concert. Sad.. In my opinion the Creators of Heavy Metal.”
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Paul Feig
“He was such a sweet guy and so up for having fun with his image,” the director recalled. “He was a true legend and the music world wouldn’t have been the same without him. RIP Ozzy.”
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Smashing Pumpkins
Alongside a video of Sharon and Billy Corgan, the band wrote, “We [heart] you too, Ozzy.”
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Mike McCready of Pearl Jam
Writing on behalf of the band, lead guitarist Mike McCready detailed when he first discovered Black Sabbath in high school.
“‘War Pigs’ was terrifying and mesmerizing at the same time,” he wrote. “It was Ozzy’s voice that took me away to a dark universe. A great escape. Then when The ‘Blizzard of Ozz’ record came out I was instantly a fan. Thanks for the music, Ozzy it makes our journey in life better.”
New Line Cinema
Adam Sandler
Of his Little Nicky costar, the actor wrote, “Whether we were in our basements with our brothers, in the woods with our buddies, in the car, at a keg party, on a boat, at football practice, at a sleepover….Nobody was more badass to crank up on our speakers than the one and only prince of darkness – Ozzy Osborne! Loved him a lot like we all did!”
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Josh Brolin
“What a talent and what an impact on me,” the Goonies star wrote, “and so many others that found it him a thriving misfit with the voice of the grimy blood in our darkest vein. He was circus and theatre and love and loyalty and the everyman’s talent.”
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Ronnie Wood
“I am so very sad to hear of the death of Ozzy Osbourne,” the Rolling Stones’ guitarist wrote. “What a lovely goodbye concert he had at Back To The Beginning in Birmingham.”
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