Zakk Wylde spent much of his musical life playing alongside Ozzy Osbourne, and during a recent chat with Full Metal Jackie, he reflected on the Ozzy that he knew as a person and the qualities that Osbourne embodied.

While speaking about Ozzy’s appreciation for the fans, Wylde shared, “He was always cool to everybody. I would always tell everybody he had basically all the best qualities you would want in somebody. Just his kindness, his compassion, and his resilience and his toughness, man. It was truly unbelievable.”

When asked for a favorite moment seeing Ozzy do something for his fans, he went with the most recent option shouting out the Back to the Beginning concert and how Osbourne willed himself to make it happen. “There was never any quit in him,” shared the guitarist. “Those are like some of the best qualities you want in a person, and he had them all. He was the best for sure, without a doubt.”

Within the chat, Wylde discusses his ongoing love for the Ozzy-era Sabbath music as he continues to play with his Zakk Sabbath tribute band and the impact that Black Sabbath had on his life. The guitarist also spoke about stepping into the Pantera world for their ongoing celebration and what he’s most come to appreciate about Dimebag Darrell’s work in the band since taking it on while on tour.

And Zakk also gave us an update on where things stand with Black Label Society as he starts to map out his 2026 plans. Check out more of the chat below.

It’s Full Metal Jackie and always excited to welcome the one of a kind, one and only, I’m gonna call him Mr. New Jersey. Welcome back to the show, Zakk Wylde. You’ve got this Zakk Sabbath tribute band and this tour. This started out of your love for Black Sabbath, but now knowing that Black Sabbath have played their final show, how much pride do you take in being able to represent Black Sabbath’s legacy and keep it going in the live space for fans to appreciate?

It’s always a blast. Nothing’s really changed. That just goes to show you how timeless Sabbath’s music is. When we were playing keg parties when we were like 16 years old and I remember playing Ketchum’s Kitchen, we played the kitchen, basements, backyard keg parties, barbecues when I was 16, 17. And now I’m 58. In dog years that would be 523. We’re still playing the same songs, except there’s just a couple more people.

It’s awesome. We have a blast every time we go out and do it. It’s great.

Black Label Society, “The Gallows”

Zakk Wylde with us this week. Zakk, there’s the great line in that Almost Famous movie about going to the record store when you wanna see your friends. In coming back to Zakk Sabbath, it gives you that opportunity to play the music that has become like a friend to you over the years. Is there a song in the Sabbath catalog that personally makes you feel more connected to the group whenever you play it?

I think with everybody the music that you usually loved when you were probably from when you were like a little kid to 14 years old and high school or whatever, I think you carry that with you your entire life. It never goes outta style. It brings back great memories and things like that. So you know exactly where you were when certain records were going on. With pop culture, movies or whatever, it just brings you back to great times that you had with your friends.

But when we talk about Sabbath’s career, it really is truly amazing. From like 1970 to basically the bulk of their work is from ’70 to ’75 really. The five years between the first album and Paranoid, then ’71 was Masters of Reality, and then ’73 was Volume 4. Then after that you had Sabotage in ’75. Those five records were done from ’70 to ’75, so which is absolutely insane the amount of production and quality of the records.

So there’s five albums right there. But I still enjoy Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die. I remember when we would [talk about] Never Say Die, I was like, “I really love that album.” But you have great memories attached to them and I remember going home from school just to put the record on. But Ozzy goes, “Yeah, it’s like that album didn’t even go tin, let alone platinum or gold. It went tin.” Ozzy’s freaking hilarious.

But every time we go out and do the shows, we always have a great time.

Zakk, I have to say I love that this tour has Bonfire and Use Your Illusion, two groups that are clearly tributes to AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses respectively, along with Dario [Lorina]’s Dark Chapel joining you guys as well. What a great night representing some of the greatest rock music ever performed. We know your love for Sabbath, but have you talked with the Bonfire or Use Your Illusion guys about the passion for the music that it takes to essentially become a tribute band?

Yes and it is also our passion for dancing. Fred and Gregory Hines are some of our favorites,’cause we just bring the soft shoe and tap dancery to another level. And we just go after combining that to Richard Simmons fitness as well.

Oh, of course.

It’s a high-calorie burning event.

Black Label Society, “Broken and Blind”

Zakk, obviously this tour we’re talking about comes after a time of mourning for you. You couldn’t have had a more interesting or educational proving ground than working with Ozzy. What elements of who Ozzy was and how he did it have you tried to emulate in your own career?

It truly is mind-blowing, even down to the last show that we did at the Back to the Beginning thing. So Oz got a chance to say goodbye to everybody and then he finished the book right before he passed away.

It was almost like as if he made sure he had to get all this stuff done; then he was like, “All right, well I’m gonna stop seeing you guys on the other side. I’m gonna check out now. I just had to make sure I got all this stuff done before I left.” It’s really pretty insane.

I think it’s just the joy of playing music because it truly is amazing having Ozzy in my life. There’s a side of if [of what if] I had ever got a chance to play in the band with him and gotten to know him; just the impact he had on my life just from Black Sabbath and then when he started with Randy and Jake and everything like that—just the influence and inspiration he had on me as a musician—just that alone.

That’s why so many people felt like they knew him just because they did because of music; he was so much a part of their life even though they never met him—just from always listening to his music all the time and just all the amazing memories they have attached to those records.

We were just talking about Ozzy Osbourne and Zakk; those of us who’ve interacted with him in person have seen it; fans have experienced some moments through reality shows. Ozzy truly did have a humbleness and appreciation for fans who helped put him where he was. In all your years with Ozzy, do you have a favorite moment that shows his humanity and love for fans?

Just even that last show truly; he just loved it playing instead of just going “Well, you know what? Instead of just like I did it already.” Instead of just enjoying your life or whatever; he was just like “No, I love doing it so we’re gonna do this show.” And I was just like wow; he willed himself to do that last gig.

But he was always cool to everybody; I would always tell everybody he had basically all the best qualities you would want in somebody—just his kindness, compassion, resilience, toughness—man; it was truly unbelievable.

There’d be certain times at shows where if his voice was banged up; I was sending out prayers to John Paul II and Mother Teresa to get him through this thing—and to the big guy.

But he’d always pull through; there was never any quit in him; those are like some of the best qualities you want in a person—and he had them all; he was definitely without a doubt—the best.

Zakk; there’s been a lot said about Back to The Beginning show but I know your reverence for guitarists who came before you; did you have a chance to connect with Jake E Lee at all over course of that week?

I told Jake—the last Red Dragon Cartel he just put out—I was like “Man—that record came out great Jake.” I’ve always been a fan of Jake ever since when he first started with Oz after Randy—we were all like “Oh check out new guy that’s playing with Ozzy.” So ever since we heard “Bark at The Moon” and “Rock ‘n Roll Rebel,” I love everything on that record—but Jake’s playing is awesome.

And when I got see Jake there; I just told him how awesome I thought new Red Dragon Cartel record was—and other one.

It was great seeing Jake there—and Jake getting up there throwing down—it was great.

Zakk while we’re on topic Back To The Beginning obviously played with Ozzy hold deep reverence for music—even have Zakk Sabbath salute his Sabbath years—you bring your own certain thing music how much were paying attention other acts throughout day as they paid tribute Ozzy Sabbath just see their approach when they covered material? And are someone who studies others especially there’s so much great talent all one place like this?

Oh it’s great—it just goes show how individual everybody’s approach is—everybody could play same chords—you can give everybody three chords whether it’s AC/DC Black Sabbath Led Zeppelin The Allman Brothers Skynyrd Elton John it’s gonna sound different—that’s beautiful thing about music cause everybody’s personality gonna come through it.

READ MORE:

Zakk Wylde Confirms He + Ozzy Were Planning A New Album Before Ozzy’s Death

That’s why it’s always great when see everybody doing covers songs—everybody’s interpretation them—it truly was great day hearing everybody paying tribute Sabbath.

Zakk you’ve been at it few years now Pantera celebration—but having stepped into Pantera music what is greatest appreciation what Dimebag Darrell able do musically player what has been biggest challenge bringing his music stage?

I think greatest thing about what makes Dime great aside from technique all stuff is just like all those guys came before him—all heroes—so there’s Eddie [Van Halen] Randy [Rhoads], but just Jimi Hendrix Tony Iommi Jimmy Page Eric Clapton all legendary guys—it’s what Dime wrote.

Becase all guys we love it’s great could play obviously work technique so have more options—but whole thing is what wrote—that’s why he’s still spoken about revered sits table all those guys—because writing aside having great chops technique everything like that’s what Dime wrote—that’s what always stands test time like Beatles Stones Sabbath Zeppelin all stuff we love Elton John everything Eagles Allman Brothers everything talking about because songs they wrote.

I had chance see Pantera celebration couple times genuinely looks you’re having good time up there playing those songs.

Yeah without doubt—I think it’s beautiful thing Philip [Anselmo] Rex [Brown] wanted do regard whole community culture Pantera created which beautiful thing—it’s like Grateful Dead when they go out do Dead Company whether John Mayer’s up there playing them—it’s just great because all Deadheads faithful new Deadheads can get together they have somewhere go—and it’s celebration what Dead created—to me same thing Pantera celebration coming together celebration what Dime Vinnie Philip Rex awesome thing they created—it really truly beautiful—Pantera faithful gang seen them when they were like “Zakk saw Pantera when it was three us bar grill shooting pool tables hanging out there nobody there.”

Then it’s just see them when first started making their records then know having success then have all younger kids coming out who were “Yeah my dad listened them or my uncle older brother told me how awesome Pantera everything like that”—so they’re seeing them first time ever—to me that’s beautiful thing—all awesome celebrating Dime Vinnie every night—it’s win-win—it’s beautiful thing.

Zakk you’re consistently busy Zakk Sabbath now Pantera some 2026 where things stand terms Black Label Society what does next year start look—is something even beyond established acts you’d like do point?

Well know girls like your Jordache jeans candy shoes so gotta take Barb slice pizza soda pop so gotta keep working but love—as musician love playing—we just got new Black Label—we’ve got third song off new record coming out “Broken Blind” out right now new album Engines Demolition. That’ll be new record so that’ll probably coming out—we’ll keep dropping singles until maybe 2035 then put new album out so should be enough time make work.

Exactly.

So that’s where got plans right now—we’re gonna go back after Zakk Sabbath run until Dec 16—we go back then guess 2026 Black Label will be going road then.

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