*Jason Merritt/FilmMagic*

Zakk Wylde Ozzy Osbourne text messages have surfaced, revealing a touching final exchange between the longtime collaborators. Wylde, who played guitar in Ozzy’s solo band for years, shared the message with Guitar World, offering fans a poignant glimpse into their last interaction. The bittersweet moment followed their performance at the July 5 Back to the Beginning concert, announced in advance as Ozzy’s final live appearance and a farewell for the original Black Sabbath lineup.

Wylde played both during Ozzy’s solo set and alongside Pantera during the emotional farewell show. The backstage scene afterward, however, was too chaotic for a quiet goodbye.

“Everybody and their mother were in the backstage dressing room and I just wanted to give [Ozzy] a break,” Wylde said. “I figured we’d see him later on—the next day or whatever. But no.”

Just over two weeks later, on July 22, Ozzy Osbourne passed away.

Reflecting on their final interaction, Wylde shared the last message Ozzy sent him:

“‘Zakky, sorry, it was like a madhouse back there. I didn’t see you,’” Ozzy wrote. “‘Thanks for everything.’ It was just us talking, saying, ‘I love you, buddy.’ That was it.”

In the wake of the loss, Pantera has canceled and postponed tour dates, citing the need “to take time and space to grieve.”

The message serves as a powerful reminder of the deep bond between Wylde and Osbourne, built over decades of music, tours, and friendship. As fans and fellow musicians continue to process Ozzy’s passing, stories like these offer a heartfelt tribute to his legacy and the personal impact he had on those around him.

Content for this summary was derived from original reporting by ABC Audio, as featured on 105.7 The Point