Ozzy Osbourne died on July 22, 2025, at age 76, but he’s still top of mind for those who knew him best. That includes guitarist Zakk Wylde, 58, who had nothing but positive things to say about the Black Sabbath frontman on the Rock Feed podcast.
“I look at the time I had with him and I’m truly blessed—I thank God every day,” the rock star said. “I thank him in the morning when I wake up, in the afternoon, brunch, linner, dinner, midnight snack, and before I put my head on the pillow at night.”
Osbourne died after suffering an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest caused by an acute myocardial infarction. His long-term health struggles, including coronary artery disease and Parkinson’s disease with autonomic dysfunction, were listed as contributing factors.
Just weeks earlier, Osbourne performed with the original Black Sabbath lineup in Birmingham for the Back to the Beginning event, which became his final show, which Wylde was part of.
So many tributes have poured in from rock stars who were close with the Prince of Darkness. But when asked if he’s upset about losing Osbourne, Wylde said: “I never look at things like that.”
He elaborated: “I’m always grateful and thankful that God let me have that time with him.” The two met in 1987 after Jake E. Lee’s departure from Osbourne’s band. Wydle resembled the late guitarist Randy Rhoads, but his powerful playing proved he had his own sound and his sandwich-making abilities were a nice-to-have for the “Crazy Train” singer, too.
