{"id":299376,"date":"2025-10-13T07:41:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T07:41:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/299376\/"},"modified":"2025-10-13T07:41:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T07:41:11","slug":"he-had-a-heart-of-gold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/299376\/","title":{"rendered":"‘He Had a Heart of Gold’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although guitarist Zakk Wylde<\/a> had shared his thoughts on the passing of Ozzy Osbourne<\/a> via social media, he hadn\u2019t yet commented publicly on the loss of his friend, mentor and bandmate. That is, until now, as Wylde recently reflected on Ozzy\u2019s resilience, \u201cheart of gold\u201d and much more during an interview with the Los Angeles Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Zakk Wylde\u2019s First Public Statements About Ozzy<\/strong><\/p>\n

During his chat with the publication (published online on Oct. 9), Wylde \u2013 who\u2019d sporadically been in Ozzy\u2019s band since 1987 and who performed at Black Sabbath<\/a>\u2019s Back to the Beginning<\/a> final show \u2013 started by looking back on making 2007\u2019s Black Rain<\/a>. (It was Wylde\u2019s first record with the Prince of Darkness since 2001\u2019s Down to Earth<\/a> and his last until 2022\u2019s Patient Number 9<\/a>. Plus,\u00a0it was\u00a0Ozzy’s first LP done sober<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat always struck me was his fortitude to just keep going forward,\u201d Wylde said of Ozzy\u2019s strength in the face of hardships such as being fired from Black Sabbath<\/a> and losing Randy Rhoads<\/a>. He continued:<\/p>\n

\n

Like I said, I always feel like he was my hero for his toughness as well. Even down to the last show, he willed himself, like, \u201cI\u2019m going to do this show.\u201d And he did it. He had that one thing alone, like, \u201cWe\u2019re not going to quit.\u201d And I told him, after the gig when I texted him, I was like, \u201cOzzy, you never quit, man. You did great.\u201d So, yeah, without a doubt, man, it just is toughness alone. . . . If he was a fighter, a boxer, no matter how lumped up he was, he would just continue.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Of course, Wylde commended Ozzy\u2019s self-deprecating humor, too: \u201cOh, my God. [He was] so hilarious, man. He always made fun of himself all the time. I always said it was a miracle any work ever got done just because we\u2019d always be on the floor crying, laughing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wylde also touched upon what\u2019s arguably Ozzy\u2019s most beloved and characteristic personal trait by explaining why he \u201chad the biggest heart I the world\u201d:<\/p>\n

\n

He hated seeing people being upset and things like that. So, yeah, he had a heart of gold. And all the best qualities you could ask for in somebody \u2014 super giving, had a heart of gold and just tough as nails. And to carry on without a doubt. Those are all redeeming qualities. They\u2019re just awesome.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

When asked about Ozzy\u2019s \u201csense of wonder\u201d in conjunction with his famous proclivity for partying, Wylde was equally blunt and endearing. \u201c[W]hen I joined the band, it was still beyond silly. But it never got in the way of shows, and he would never drink before the gigs,\u201d he clarified, adding:<\/p>\n

\n

There\u2019s only one time in Japan where we got beyond blasted above the berserker radar. And I remember the next day, he was like, \u201cZakk, you got any beers?\u201d I remember that was on the train on the way to the gig. I hooked him up, but aside from that, we were actually in the bathroom. I remember he was just like, \u201cI\u2019ll meet you in the bathroom.\u201d Because I was just like, \u201cWhat, are you trying to get us both fired?\u201d<\/p>\n

So, I end up going into the bathroom and actually I\u2019m in one bathroom stall. He goes into the other bathroom. He\u2019s like, \u201cAll right, Zakk. I\u2019m ready and I toss over a Kirin beer. He downs it in one [makes gulping sounds], slides the can back over like, \u201cAll right, Zakk, have a good show.\u201d Just hilarious, man, and I\u2019m just thinking, \u201cIf people only knew what\u2019s going on.\u201d It\u2019s like we were 14 years old trying to sneak it from your parents. But that was his gift to himself, like, \u201cAfter we get done with the show, now I can have a cocktail.\u201d But yeah, no matter how lumped up he got it never got in the way of gigs.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In fact, Wylde remembered how Ozzy \u201cloved doing gigs\u201d because being on stage was \u201cwhere he wanted to be\u201d (which is why he\u2019s \u201calways smiling\u201d and \u201calways happy\u201d in pictures).<\/p>\n

Looking about on the Back to the Beginning show, Wylde explained that Ozzy was determined to do it despite his medical issues. \u201cI would text Sharon [Osbourne]<\/a>. And I would just say, \u2018Hopefully the game plan is we do this show, Back to the Beginning. Then it goes over great. And then we just book a tour and then just have the chair, have the throne. So, it\u2019s hydraulic,\u201d he told the Los Angeles Times.<\/p>\n

He elaborated:<\/p>\n

\n

I was like, \u201cMan, I wonder if we\u2019re going to do this gig\u201d before it even happened because it was so far out, like a year. And then Oz was like, \u201cOh, man, my neck is still killing me. I can\u2019t walk.\u201d And I was just like, \u201cMan, I wonder if this thing\u2019s even going to get off the ground.\u201d But he was just adamant about doing it.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

On a more somber note, Wylde then discussed whether Ozzy and Sharon knew Back to the Beginning would truly be Ozzy\u2019s final professional endeavor:<\/p>\n

\n

No, I don\u2019t think so. The way I always felt, all the things that I\u2019ve gone through with them, it was always \u2014 if it was a setback or anything like that \u2014 it was more of a speed bump and it was just like, \u201cAll right, we\u2019ll fix the flat tire on the truck and then we\u2019ll just keep moving.\u201d So, I think it was more like that, because I knew he still wanted to make records and things like that. But I was just thinking, \u201cWho knows, man, hopefully if this thing goes over well, then we might be able to do some other shows or do select shows throughout the year.\u201d Like these Ozzfest-type things, just so Oz can still keep doing gigs, but maybe not touring in the capacity of doing four shows a week or whatever.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Wylde also admitted that Ozzy kind of felt invincible to him:<\/p>\n

\n

Even when we were doing [Back to the Beginning], I didn\u2019t go, \u201cOh, this is the last time I\u2019m ever going to play \u2018Mama, I\u2019m Coming Home\u2019 with him or \u2018Crazy Train\u2019 with him or anything. . . . You never think it\u2019s your last Super Bowl; you\u2019re playing and you\u2019re playing to win. So, yeah, I didn\u2019t think about it, and like I said, I\u2019ve always been optimistic. I would always tell him, no matter how bummed he got, \u201cJust keep doing therapy and keep doing everything you\u2019ve got to do because what\u2019s the option? Then you just quit in the corner, and you whine about it. Or you could do something about it, with therapy and hitting the weights and doing everything you got to do.\u201d . . . I didn\u2019t think after we did the show, two weeks from now, he was gonna be gone. I wasn\u2019t thinking that at all.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Ultimately, Wylde concluded, he hopes people remember that Ozzy \u201chad a heart of hold, man,\u201d adding: \u201cIt was that he had all the best qualities you\u2019d want in somebody; his heart of gold, and then you couple that with him just being hard as nails and tough, no quit ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE: 10 Things We Learned From Ozzy Osbourne’s New ‘Last Rites’ Book<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Wylde\u2019s Prior Remarks About Ozzy\u2019s Life + Legacy<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the day Ozzy died<\/a> (July 22, 2025), Wylde paid tribute to him via social media, sharing a video clip of the two performing together in 2010. Alongside it, Wylde wrote:<\/p>\n

\n

THANK YOU FOR BLESSING THE WORLD w\/YOUR KINDNESS & GREATNESS OZ – YOU BROUGHT LIGHT INTO SO MANY LIVES & MADE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE – YOU LIVED w\/THE HEART OF A LION – I THANK THE GOOD LORD EVERY DAY FOR BLESSING MY LIFE w\/YOU IN IT –
I LOVE YOU OZ
BEYOND FOREVER
ZAKK
XOXO<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

A week later (on July 29), Loudwire<\/a> reported on Wylde revealing Ozzy\u2019s final text message to him (during the Back to the Beginning show):<\/p>\n

\n

Everybody 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<\/blockquote>\n

Other Ozzy News<\/strong><\/p>\n

It seems like there\u2019s new news about Ozzy at least a few times a week (which certainly isn\u2019t a bad thing).<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, for example, an excerpt from Ozzy\u2019s new memoir \u2013 Last Rites<\/a> \u2013 shows him contemplating why \u201cthe best drug [he] ever took\u201d and \u201cthe best medicine [he\u2019d] had since all [his] medical shit started back in 2019\u201d was the adulation he received during Back to the Beginning:<\/p>\n

\n

[A]s soon as the curtain went up I forgot about my nerves. Suddenly I was looking out over 42,000 faces, with another 5.8 million watching online. That was when the emotion really hit me. I\u2019d never really taken it on board that so many people liked me \u2013 or even knew who I was.<\/p>\n

I choked up when I started \u2018Mama, I\u2019m Coming Home.\u2019 I mean, it\u2019s Sharon\u2019s song, y\u2019know? One of her favourites. Lemmy [Kilmister]<\/a> wrote it with the two of us in mind. But the feeling I had was about more than that. It was my last hurrah. I\u2019d made it to the stage after six traumatic years, after losing the ability to walk or do anything on my own. It was just the whole thing, all of it coming together. There was so much love in that stadium, coming at me in waves\u2026 The crowd noticed I was struggling and they started singing back the words. I\u2019ve been so lucky to have had so many wonderful fans. God bless you all.<\/p>\n

What I\u2019ve realized is that the one place where I\u2019m free of all my demons is on a stage\u2026 I spent my whole life trying to get high from every substance known to man. \u2026 I was just trying to get back the feeling of when I was up there onstage, doing my job. The packed arena; The thump of the bass drum you can feel in your stomach. Forty or fifty thousand voices singing back your words. All along, that\u2019s what I was chasing. It was the best drug I ever took.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Last Rites also reveals Sharon Osbourne\u2019s backup plan in case Ozzy couldn\u2019t sing at Back to the Beginning<\/a>: \u201cEventually Sharon said, \u2018Look, there\u2019ll be no backup plan. No video. No prerecorded anything. If you can\u2019t sing on the night, just talk to the crowd and thank them. All you need to do is get up there and be Ozzy.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s plenty more to discover in Last Rites, too, which is why you should check out our feature on 10 [other] things we learned from it<\/a>!<\/p>\n

The 13 Most Shocking Lineup Departures in Rock + Metal History<\/p>\n

Some of these rockers left on their own and others were fired but\u00a0their departures still shocked the rest of the world regardless.<\/p>\n

Gallery Credit: Lauryn Schaffner<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Although guitarist Zakk Wylde had shared his thoughts on the passing of Ozzy Osbourne via social media, he…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":299377,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[171,981,975,983,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-299376","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-music","8":"tag-entertainment","9":"tag-metal","10":"tag-music","11":"tag-rock","12":"tag-united-states","13":"tag-unitedstates","14":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115365733003769089","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299376","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=299376"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299376\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/299377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=299376"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=299376"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=299376"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}