Zakk Wylde recently opened up about what losing Ozzy Osbourne really means to him, offering reflections that go far beyond the stage. In an interview with Los Angeles Times (published online October 9, 2025), Wylde spoke of Ozzy’s resilience—how even after being fired from Black Sabbath, losing guitarist Randy Rhoads, and battling numerous health issues, Ozzy kept going.
“What always struck me was his fortitude to just keep going forward,” Wylde said. “… He had that one thing alone, like, ‘We’re not going to quit.’”
Wylde remembered recording the Black Rain album with Ozzy in 2007—it was the first record Ozzy made sober after a long time, and Wylde says it showed a determination that was deeply inspiring.
He also shared moments of Ozzy’s humor: how, despite everything, Ozzy could make everyone laugh. Even when life got heavy, or the road got rough, Ozzy’s spirit and want to still perform were unmistakable. “He hated seeing people being upset … super giving … heart of gold and just tough as nails,” Wylde said.
Wrapping up his reflections, Wylde admitted he never expected their final show together to be the final. But Ozzy’s mindset—always pushing, always hopeful—made Wylde believe that until the very end, Ozzy was giving it everything.
