Ozzy Osbourne (left) and Zakk Wylde perform at the Brixton Academy in 1992 (Image credit: Mick Hutson/Redferns) You could go the David Coverdale route and hire established guitarists, yet you seem to prefer to discover new talent. Zakk Wylde is an American musician, song writer and actor and the founder of the band ‘Black Label Society’. If you would like to learn more about his profile, childhood, life and timeline, scroll further. Zakk Wylde has always been a workaholic. Not content to operate with just one band, he’s combined numerous roles over the years, working intermittently as Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist and co-writer while creating albums under his own name and the Black Label Society banner. Osbourne passed away in Birmingham, England, “surrounded by love” Tuesday morning, acording to USA Today. Osbourne's solo band featured Jackson native Zakk Wylde on guitar. Georgies Bar Zakk Wylde takes some time to dive into Back to the Beginning, celebrating his love of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath ahead of the historic concert. Ozzy Osbourne Honored by Black Sabbath Bandmates and Zakk Wylde: ‘We Have Lost Our Brother’ The metal legend’s passing came 17 days after he performed his final show with Black Sabbath and The band paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne onstage, just hours after his death was revealed to the world on July 22, 2025. Zachary Phillip Wylde (born Jeffrey Phillip Wielandt; January 14, 1967) is an American musician. He is best known as the lead guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and as the founder, lead guitarist, lead singer, songwriter and producer of the heavy metal band Black Label Society. Wylde's signature bulls-eye design appears on many of his guitars and is widely recognized. He was also the lead guitarist Rhoads, Wylde and, later on, Gus G., weren't big names when they joined the band. Ozzy's job was to guide them through the chaos and help them shine. “I grew up on Ozzy and Sabbath. You may like Zakk Wylde says other guitarists viewed the chance of being in Ozzy’s band as a cash grab Jake E. Lee shares his craziest Ozzy Osbourne story and reflects on the guitar genius of Tony Iommi Rudy Sarzo on Randy Rhoads’ relentless drive and unique approach to Ozzy Osbourne’s Black Sabbath songs “I grew up on Ozzy and Sabbath. As Ozzy Osbourne’s longest-serving and most definitive guitarist, Zakk Wylde has been an intermittent but foundational pillar of the band for over three decades. Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, etc.), Mike Inez (Alice In Chains), Adam Wakeman (Black Sabbath, etc.), and Mike Bordin (Faith No More) have shared new tributes for the late Ozzy Osbourne. All four musicians previously performed alongside the singer as part of his solo band. Here's what each artist had to say: Wylde: “THANK YOU Zakk Wylde pictured here playing alongside Ozzy in Belgium in 2002 is a reminder of pair's enduring partnership. Wylde would join Ozzy's band on three separate occasions and, perhaps most notably, played alongside the Prince of Darkness during his farewell show in 2025. Zakk Wylde Recalls How He Got to Join Ozzy Osbourne's Band, Describes What Ozzy and Lemmy Were Like Together Contrary to popular belief, Zakk Wylde wasn't originally Ozzy Osbourne's steroid dealer. REST IN PEACE, BROTHER. REST IN ROCK, MY DUDE. METAL BAND PANTERA IS PLAYING HERE AT RIVERBEND TONIGHT. THEIR GUITARIST, ZAKK WYLDE, WORKED WITH OSBORNE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. Zakk Wylde first joined the Ozzy Osbourne band in 1987 and he was a member of the group until 2009, returning in 2017. He was part of albums like “No Rest for the Wicked” (1988), “No More Tears” (1991), “Ozzmosis” (1995), “Down to Earth” (2001), “Black Rain” (2007) and “Patient Number 9” (2022). Joining Ozzy Osbourne 's band at just 19, Wylde was thrown headfirst into the high-stakes world of professional rock. That remained his musical home for years, until the early to mid-1990s, when Longtime Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde hopes the upcoming Black Sabbath farewell concert will somehow lead to one more tour for the metal icon.
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