Ozzy Osbourne’s longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde has opened up about the late rocker’s final show, saying he had to help him out during the performance
Ozzy Osbourne’s longtime collaborator and guitarist Zakk Wylde has opened up about the metal legend’s vocal struggles during what would be his final show at the Back To the Beginning concert on July 5 in Villa Park, Birmingham.
The 58-year-old musician stood alongside Ozzy, who passed away on July 22 at age 76, as the Prince of Darkness belted out classics like Mama, I’m Coming Home, and Crazy Train, admitting he had to step in vocally during several moments.
“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 revealed. “I was like, ‘I need to make sure I’m always there so I can double him.’… 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,” he detailed.
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Speaking to Guitar World magazine about the challenging performance, he 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!”
Concert-goers witnessed Ozzy reaching for throat spray multiple times throughout the evening. The rock icon performed a medley of his solo material before reuniting with his Black Sabbath bandmates for a final farewell, reports the Express.
Zakk’s partnership with Ozzy began in 1987 when he took over from Jake E. Lee.
Their collaboration produced albums including No Rest for the Wicked and No More Tears until their professional relationship ended in 1995. However, he rejoined Ozzy’s band again from 2001 to 2009 and finally from 2017 until his most recent show.
In the same interview, he also admitted he never got a chance to say a proper goodbye to his longtime friend and collaborator.
Revealing that the backstage area was jam-packed, he resolved to give Ozzy a break because he assumed he would see him later on.
Sadly, that was not to be the case. He revealed that Ozzy did text him after the madness had died down, apologizing for not getting a chance to speak with him and thanking him for everything.
Zakk was among the invited guests at Ozzy’s private burial on Thursday, July 31, and was spotted entering the Osbournes’ Buckinghamshire mansion carrying two 12-string guitars.
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