“Zakky, Thank You for Everything”: How Zakk Wylde and Ozzy Osbourne Forged One of Rock’s Most Powerful Bonds

Few guitarists in rock history were as closely intertwined with a frontman as Zakk Wylde was with Ozzy Osbourne. While Ozzy always stood alongside legendary players – Tony Iommi, Randy Rhoads, Brad Gillis, Jake E. Lee, Gus G – Wylde was far more than a hired gun. He became family.

Entering Ozzy’s world in 1987, Zakk Wylde quickly proved he wasn’t just there to play riffs. “This was never just about being in a band,” he reflects. “It was deeper than that.”

His guitar work helped define Ozzy’s modern era, from No Rest for the Wicked (1988) through No More Tears (1991) and Ozzmosis (1995). Rooted deeply in Black Sabbath DNA, Wylde never hid his influences. “Anything I write has Lord Iommi at the core. That’s just who I am.”

Growing up in Bayonne, New Jersey, Wylde – like many players of his generation – was profoundly shaped by Ozzy’s work with Randy Rhoads and Jake E. Lee. When Lee exited the band, Wylde stepped into one of the most coveted roles in rock.

“Oz was incredible,” Wylde says. “I had my father, a WWII veteran, and then I had Ozzy – almost like an older brother. There was a big age gap, but if I needed advice, he was always there.”

The bond went far beyond music. “Sure, there was drinking and fun, but when it mattered, Oz was someone you could talk to. About life. About mistakes. About everything.”

Musically, their chemistry was effortless. “It never felt forced. If something turns into math, it’s probably not going to work,” Wylde explains. “With Oz, it always felt natural.”

Throughout the ’90s and early 2000s, Wylde drifted in and out of Ozzy’s orbit, returning fully in 2017 for No More Tours II, Ozzy’s farewell tour. He stood beside him again during Ozzy’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2024 and during the final performance on July 5, 2025, in Birmingham.

Looking back, Wylde describes that last show as “business as usual,” though the real focus was making sure Ozzy was okay. “Seeing Oz onstage after Sabbath finished – that was the last time I saw him.”

Wylde intentionally kept his distance backstage that day, knowing Ozzy was unwell and overwhelmed. “I’m just grateful,” he says. “Anything else would be selfish.”

The event itself was monumental – one of the largest charity concerts ever. “Instead of taking profit, he helped people. What a life. What a master.”

Their relationship was undeniably familial. Ozzy was the godfather to Wylde’s eldest son. “Whether I was playing with him or not, if Sharon needed help, I was there. That’s family.”

Their connection was immediate from the first meeting. “Lions attract lions,” Wylde says. “Oz was warm, easygoing, and real.”

Ozzy also offered wisdom, often in his own way. “He’d poke me and say, ‘Life’s tough!’ Then tell me to make him a sandwich – easy on the Coleman’s!”

Asked why Ozzy chose him after giants like Rhoads and Lee, Wylde jokes: “Because of my ham sandwiches!” But seriously, he adds, chemistry matters. “If it works and it’s easy, that’s how it should be.”

Recording No Rest for the Wicked was raw and direct. “We were just in a room, jamming,” he recalls. Their first collaboration was Miracle Man. “Nine times out of ten, the first thing Oz sang was the final take.”

That instinctive process continued on No More Tears, an album many fans rank alongside Ozzy’s earliest classics. Wylde sees it as part of a natural evolution. “You don’t jump straight to lifting 500 pounds. You build up to it.”

His playing expanded too, drawing from country and southern influences, especially on tracks like I Don’t Want to Change the World and Mama, I’m Coming Home.

Even during periods apart, they stayed close. Ozzy once said, “Zakk’s flown the nest.” Wylde understood completely. “If it sounds like my band instead of his, that’s not right.”

The final performance remains etched in Wylde’s memory – juggling vocals, guitars, and emotions. “It was chaos. The most important show ever, completely on the fly.”

The last message Wylde received from Ozzy says everything:

“Zakky, sorry – it was a madhouse back there. I didn’t see you. Thanks for everything.”

“Just us saying ‘I love you, buddy,’” Wylde says quietly. “That was it.”

Reflecting on life without Ozzy, Wylde is clear: “Music gave me purpose. Ozzy gave me direction. That stays with me forever.”