Metal Anarchy

During a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, Ozzy Osbourne’s longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde opened up about the singer passing away shortly after his and Black Sabbath’s farewell concert. Wylde says he “didn’t think after [they] did the show, two weeks from now, he was gonna be gone.”

Wylde said the following when asked if Osbourne knew the show was going to be his last:

“No, I don’t think so. The way I always felt, all the things that I’ve gone through with them, it was always — if it was a setback or anything like that — it was more of a speed bump and it was just like, ‘All right, we’ll fix the flat tire on the truck and then we’ll just keep moving.’ 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, ‘Who 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.’ 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.”

He continued when asked about Osbourne’s “indestructible” nature:

“It’s just like with the Stones, you just always think they’re going to be there. I felt like that with us. Even when we were doing that show, I didn’t go, ‘Oh, this is the last time I’m ever going to play ‘’Mama, I’m Coming Home‘ with him or ‘Crazy Train‘ with him or anything.’ You’re in the moment anyways. You’re playing, so my concern was making sure he was OK. I wasn’t thinking about any of that, because it’s like you’re playing a game.

You never think it’s your last Super Bowl; you’re playing and you’re playing to win. So, yeah, I didn’t think about it, and like I said, I’ve always been optimistic. I would always tell him, no matter how bummed he got, ‘Just keep doing therapy and keep doing everything you’ve got to do because what’s 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.’ Like you said, there was no quit in him. So, that’s where we were at. I never thought like, “Oh, yeah, this was the last gig.” I didn’t think after we did the show, two weeks from now, he was gonna be gone. I wasn’t thinking that at all.”

He also added the following when asked what he wants people to remember about Osbourne:

“Like I said, he had a heart of gold, man. It was that he had all the best qualities you’d want in somebody; his heart of gold, and then you couple that with him just being hard as nails and tough, no quit ever.”