Latest news with #BlackLabelSociety
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ozzy Osbourne Had Help From Zakk Wylde During His Iconic Final Show
Ozzy Osbourne Had Help From Zakk Wylde During His Iconic Final Show originally appeared on Parade. Ozzy Osbourne delivered his legendary final show on July 5—just weeks before his tragic death. The rock icon, who suffered from Parkinson's disease, had some help from guitarist Zakk Wylde while performing his 1991 hit, "Mama, I'm Coming Home." A clip from the concert, taken by a fan, shows Wylde, 58, playing his acoustic guitar away from his vocal microphone so that his instrument can be picked up by a second mic, Ultimate Classic Rock reported. The Black Label Society founder—who is still wearing his electric guitar underneath his acoustic—then looks around before he pauses his playing and moves the acoustic mic closer to the vocal mic. He then resumes playing and sings along with Osbourne. Fans reacted to the heartwarming moment on Facebook, with one writing, "Zakk started with Ozzy at the age of 19. He would've done anything in the world for the boss. They had a remarkable relationship!" Another said, "Look at Zack stepping up to help back up Ozzy Singing. There was a lot of love in that moment." A third wrote, "Zakk was MVP that night. He played his heart out for Ozzy and loved him dearly. It showed every second of that show." In an interview with Guitar Worldpublished on July 29, Wylde spoke about that final performance with the Black Sabbath lead vocalist, saying, "With 'Mama, I'm Coming Home,' when we got the acoustic out, I had to be like, 'Keep the guitar away from the microphone so I can sing,' because Oz's voice was having trouble at certain notes." He continued, "I was like, 'I need to make sure I'm always there so I can double him.' I was like three feet away from the microphone when I started playing the song. I was like, 'I gotta get near the microphone,' so I had to almost stop playing, lift the guitar up and put it over the mic." The rocker added, "It was like juggling balls or chainsaws while being on a skateboard! It was actually pretty funny—but it was business as usual. It's supposed to be the most important show ever, but everything's on the fly!" Wylde and Osbourne had a long history, as the former began playing for the "Crazy Train" singer in 1987 and played with him regularly until 2009. The pair formed a close bond over the years, with Wylde telling Guitar World, "So even if I hadn't played with him, he gave me purpose to be a musician. And without a doubt, that'll always be with me." Following an extremely successful career, Osbourne died on July 22, 2025 at age 76 from cardiac arrest. Ozzy Osbourne Had Help From Zakk Wylde During His Iconic Final Show first appeared on Parade on Aug 13, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ozzy Osbourne's longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde reveals emotional final text message from late rocker
Zakk Wylde revealed his final text with Ozzy Osbourne. The Prince of Darkness' longtime guitarist shared the last words they ever exchanged just weeks before Osbourne's death on July 22 at the age of 76. Wylde, 58, said their emotional text conversation took place after Black Sabbath's farewell concert in Birmingham, England, on July 5, marking what became the heavy metal legend's last performance of his lifetime. While the musician was there to watch Osbourne and his bandmates — Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler — perform at Villa Park, he didn't get to see the rocker backstage after the show because it was so hectic. 'Everybody and their mother were in the backstage dressing room and I just wanted to give him a break,' the Black Label Society musician explained to Guitar World in an interview published on Tuesday, July 29. Wylde knew Osbourne was ill but figured he'd see him in the coming days, although that never happened. Instead, the two swapped loving text messages. 'The last text I got from Oz was saying, 'Zakky, sorry, it was like a madhouse back there. I didn't see you.' He goes, 'Thanks for everything.' It was just us talking, saying, 'I love you, buddy.' That was it,' he revealed of their last communication. The guitarist reflected on the Black Sabbath concert. 'It was definitely pretty amazing. Seeing Oz onstage when Sabbath got done, that's the last time I saw him,' Wylde stated. Calling it 'business as usual,' the musician said his priority was 'making sure that Oz was okay.' Wylde also spoke about his close relationship with Osbourne, who was the godfather of his oldest child. 'Oz was just the best,' he said. 'I have my father, who was a World War II veteran; and then Ozzy, who was almost like an older brother. There was almost a 20-year age gap between us. With our relationship, there was the fun drinking – but if I ever needed advice, I could talk to him.' 'I'm blessed and grateful, man. Anything other than that would be selfish,' Wylde noted of their friendship. 'And on top of it, to go out with what's the biggest-grossing charity event of all? That's unbelievable. He helped a whole lot of people instead of making a profit. My God, what an incredible master. What an incredible life,' he added of Osbourne's final concert. When the interviewer told Wylde that his working relationship with the 'Crazy Train' singer seemed 'more familial' than any of Osbourne's other guitarists, he agreed. 'Yeah, that's how I've always looked at it. Ozzy is the godfather of our oldest son. Whether I was playing with him or not, if Sharon called me and my wife up and said, 'Guys, can you watch the house while we're away on a business trip?' I'd do it. It's like, 'If you need me to bring milk and eggs over, I'll do it,'' he stated. He noted that their chemistry was instant. 'It was – with all your friends in your life, lions attract lions, you know? And the hyenas you hang out with, that sorts itself out later! But Ozzy was the easiest-going, warmest guy. He was so easy to get along with,' Wylde shared. The New Jersey native teamed up with the Black Sabbath frontman in 1987, replacing Jake E. Lee after he exited the group. 'I was always like, 'Guys, I worship Sabbath,' the musician remembered. 'Anything I'm gonna write will have Lord Iommi as the base of the soup. It's in my DNA.' To Wylde, his bond with Osbourne was unmatched. 'It was definitely beyond just us playing in a band together and making music,' he said elsewhere in the interview. Wylde made a name for himself when he debuted his guitar skills on Osbourne's 1988 album, 'No Rest for the Wicked.' He was also featured on the two records that followed: 'No More Tears' in 1991 and 'Ozzmosis' in 1995. Wylde was replaced by former Lizzy Borden guitarist Joe Holmes after 'Ozzmosis,' but it didn't last long. He returned to Osbourne's band in 2001 and continued weaving in and out of the 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' singer's orbit through the next several years until returning in 2017 for the 'No More Tours II' tour. Wylde was also part of the all-star performance that paid tribute to Osbourne at his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2024, his second after being inducted with Black Sabbath in 2006. Osbourne passed away with his loved ones by his side last week. 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,' his family confirmed in a statement to The Post. 'He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis.' On Wednesday, July 30, thousands of fans lined the streets for the rocker's funeral procession in his hometown of Birmingham, England. His wife of over 40 years, Sharon Osbourne, 72, and four of his six children, including Kelly, Aimee, Jack and Louis, the latter from his first marriage, were also in attendance. Osbourne's family broke down and sobbed as they viewed the tributes to Ozzy left by his fans. They also paid homage to their patriarch by wearing several items belonging to the rock icon during the procession. Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Zakk Sabbath is paying tribute to Ozzy Osbourne on tour this fall. Get tickets
Vivid Seats is the New York Post's official ticketing partner. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. There's no replacing Ozzy Osbourne. The inimitable Black Sabbath frontman, who helped define and popularize heavy metal, passed away at 76 on July 22, 2025. A few weeks before his death, the 'Prince of Darkness' headlined his final concert, 'Back to the Beginning,' in his Birmingham hometown for 45,000 adoring fans. Over two sets — one with the members of Black Sabbath and another comprised of solo tracks — Osbourne performed ten classic songs including 'Paranoid,' 'Iron Man,' 'War Pigs,' 'Mr. Crowley' and 'Crazy Train.' And, while the world will never see another frontman quite like Ozzy, Zakk Sabbath will pay his respects to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group on tour with special guest tribute acts Bonfire (AC/DC), Use Your Illusion (Guns 'N Roses) and Dark Label Society (formed by a Black Label Society member) this fall and winter. That includes Tri-State-based concerts at Waterloo, NY's The Vine at Del Lago Resort and Casino on Saturday, Nov. 22. After that, they hit Brooklyn's Warsaw on Sunday, Nov. 23 and Atlantic City's Caesar's on Saturday, Nov. 29. Zakk Wylde's faithful recreation of Black Sabbath is made up of metal vets like Danzig drummer Joey Castillo and Black Label Society bassist John 'JD' DeServio as well as Wylde himself, who served as Osbourne's guitarist for years and shared the stage with him at the 'Back To The Beginning' concert. 'Thank you for blessing the world with your kindness [and] greatness Oz — you brought light into so many lives [and] made the world a better place — you lived [with] the heart of a lion — I thank the Good Lord every day for blessing my life with you in it. I love you Oz. Beyond forever,' the 58-year-old shared via Instagram over video of the two jamming together in 2010. At all Zakk Sabbath shows, the group typically performs 13 blistering renditions of tracks originated by Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler. One recent gig in Munich included 'N.I.B.,' 'War Pigs,' 'Supernaut,' 'Snowblind' and 'Behind The Wall of Sleep' among others, according to Set List FM. For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about Zakk Sabbath's 2025 tour below. Zakk Sabbath tour schedule 2025 A complete calendar including all tour dates, venues and links to buy tickets can be found below. Zakk Sabbath set list On March 23, Zakk Sabbath headlined at Munich, DE's Backstage Werk. According to Set List FM, here's what they faithfully recreated onstage that evening. 01.) 'Supernaut' (Black Sabbath cover) 02.) 'Snowblind' (Black Sabbath cover) 03.) 'Under the Sun/Every Day Comes and Goes' (Black Sabbath cover) 04.) 'Tomorrow's Dream' (Black Sabbath cover) 05.) 'Wicked World' (Black Sabbath cover) 06.) 'Fairies Wear Boots' (Black Sabbath cover) 07.) 'Into the Void' (Black Sabbath cover) 08.) 'Children of the Grave' (Black Sabbath cover) 09.) 'Lord of This World' (Black Sabbath cover) 10.) 'Hand of Doom' (Black Sabbath cover) 11.) 'Behind the Wall of Sleep' (Black Sabbath cover) 12.) 'N.I.B.' (Black Sabbath cover) 13.) 'War Pigs' (Black Sabbath cover) Zakk Sabbath new music On Sept. 17, 2024, Zakk Sabbath released 'Greatest Riffs,' featuring a collection of Black Sabbath's most well-known songs. For those wondering, they sound simply smashing. Note perfect, spot-on vocals and just the right amount of attitude seal the deal here. To see if your favorite Sabbath classics made the album, check out the track listing below: 01.) 'The Wizard' 02.) 'N.I.B.' 03.) 'Iron Man' 04.) 'Fairies Wear Boots' 05.) 'War Pigs' 06.) 'Sweet Leaf' 07.) 'Into The Void' 08.) 'Solitude' Zakk Sabbath special guests Curious what Sabbath's support acts look and sound like? To get you up to speed, here are videos of each group. Bonfire (AC/DC tribute band) Use Your Illusion (Guns 'N Roses tribute band) Dark Chapel (formed by a longtime member of Black Label Society) Heavy rockers on tour in 2025 There's never been a better time to rock. While many huge metal groups are heading out on tour this year, we've whittled our list down to five of our favorites you won't want to miss live. • System of a Down • Judas Priest with Alice Cooper • Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine • Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden • David Lee Roth of Van Halen Who else is on the road? Take a look at this list of all the biggest classic rockers on tour in 2025 to find the show that best suits your sensibilities. This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Zakk Wylde on the time he almost joined Slash and co in Guns N' Roses
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Zakk Wylde has opened up on time he came close to joining Guns N' Roses, and revealed how the ill-fated audition to link-up with Slash and co ultimately resulted in his departure from Ozzy Osbourne's band – and the formation of Black Label Society. The Pantera electric guitar veteran recalled his experiences of jamming with GNR during a new interview with Billy Corgan, whose podcast is becoming something of a hot spot for high-profile tidbits. In the past, Gene Simmons has discussed Ace Frehley's near-disastrous Kiss audition, while Corgan spoke about the differences between rock and 'indie' guitarists with Richie Sambora. With Wylde in the intervew chair, Corgan zoomed in on a lesser-known footnote in his storied career, which took place during the recording of Ozzy's 1995 album, Ozzmosis. At the time, Guns N' Roses were a guitar player down, and Wylde was on a list of potential recruits. 'I think Gilby [Clarke] had left the band and so Axl [Rose] was like, 'Well, who are we going to get on guitar?'' Wylde recalls. 'I guess Slash just threw around and my name came in the mix.' It was Rose who reached out to him. The band was eager to test the waters with a guitarist who had previously been able to fill the sizable shoes of Randy Rhoads and Jake E. Lee in Ozzy's band. 'I knew Slash when I first joined Ozzy, that's when Guns were blowing up,' he continues. 'I knew Steven [Adler] and then I obviously knew Matt [Sorum] from when he was with the Cult. So everybody kind of knows each other. Axl called me up. He was like, 'Zakk, do you want to get together and jam?' I was like, 'Alright, yeah, we'll see what happens.'' Wylde met the group at a rehearsal space and started 'jamming and noodling ideas'. He also recalls they went as far as 'recording a couple of riffs', one of which became The Rose Petalled Garden from Black Label Society's debut LP, Sonic Brew. After their jam, Wylde notes 'nothing was materializing', to the point where Ozzy was left quizzing him over his availability: 'Are you going to do this thing with the fellas or are we doing this thing?' Wylde recalls Ozzy asking him. The guitarist, however, was equally in the dark about the situation. 'Nothing [with Guns N' Roses] was happening,' he continues. 'I remember Oz was getting ready to release the Ozzmosis album and getting ready to tour. Oz was like, 'Zakk, sit down. I'm going to get Joe Holmes to come play for a little while and then we'll see where it happens from there.'' Ultimately, the GNR gig didn't come through for Wylde, he was no longer 'playing with the boss', and the guitarist was left in a difficult spot. He needed another creative outlet to turn his attentions to. 'When we were doing Ozzmosis, there was this place called Bruise on 34th in Lexington,' he goes on. 'The pub had been there since 1908. So, I would go after we got done tracking and I'd be drinking till six in the morning every night, hanging out at the jukebox. 'They had the Stones on there, Bob Seger, Neil Young, the Eagles, all this amazing mellow acoustic stuff. I remember just going back into my room with my acoustic and writing. That's when I did [my solo album] Book of Shadows.' After a short tour in support of the album, Wylde realized he 'wasn't ready to be a singer-songwriter yet'. He wasn't, however, willing to accept that 'the dream was over', despite acknowledging that Ozzy and GNR were moving on without him. And so, he set about building Black Label Society from the ground up. 'I went from playing with Ozzy in arenas, stadiums, and festivals to playing in clubs with like five people,' he says. 'There were no other eggs in my basket.' History dictates that BLS would ultimately be a success, and Wylde would even later return to the Prince of Darkness – but his tale may have been very different if the GNR gig worked out.
