Zakk Wylde was Ozzy Osbourne’s right-hand man on-and-off for decades – since 1987, to be exact. After earning his reputation thanks to his guitar work on Ozzy’s 1988 album No Rest for the Wicked, followed by 1991’s No More Tears, and 1995’s Ozzmosis, Wylde and Ozzy developed a sibling-like relationship that continued till the day the Prince of Darkness passed away, on July 22, 2025.
“I don’t think any of us were picturing Oz passing away two weeks after the gig [referring to Back to the Beginning],” he tells Guitar World in an upcoming interview.
“So I just figured… hopefully we’ll make records, and then hopefully, because the festival went so well, Mom [Sharon Osbourne] puts together a Back to the Beginning once a year… we’ll do one in Brazil, do one in Japan. You know that one was in Birmingham, then do another one in the States somewhere.”
He continues, “You could just mix it around every year – one in Germany next year, the next one would be in California, the next one’s in Chicago… That’s the way I was looking at everything.”
As part of his grieving process, Zakk Wylde also wrote a song that pays homage to his brother-in-arms, The Gallows – chock-full of bone-crushing riffs and emotional depth – with his band, Black Label Society.
Black Label Society – The Gallows (Official Music Video) – YouTube
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“I wrote the music before Oz passed away,” he explains. “But after Oz passed away, when we went back to England and we laid Ozzy to rest, when I got right from that, I went straight to Pantera celebrations with Phil [Anselmo], Rex [Brown], and Charlie [Benante]. So I hooked back up with the fellas, and we were back rolling.
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“I wrote the music before Oz passed away… I wrote the lyrics after we laid Ozzy to rest”: How Zakk Wylde wrote his Tribute Song to Ozzy Osbourne
The Emotional journey Behind the Tribute Song
Zakk Wylde, famed for his powerful guitar skills and long-standing collaboration with rock icon Ozzy Osbourne, embarked on a deeply emotional project that culminated in one of his most sincere tributes. The phrase, “I wrote the music before Oz passed away… I wrote the lyrics after we laid Ozzy to rest,” perfectly captures the dual nature of the song’s creation – music born from hope and lyrics shaped by grief and loss.
This tribute song stands as a testament to Zakk’s respect for Ozzy and highlights the unique creative process that mixes timeline-based emotion and musical intuition to honor a legend’s legacy.
Crafting the Music: A Pre-Loss Composition
In the early stages of the tribute, the musical composition was already taking shape while Ozzy was still alive. This stage was fundamentally about channeling the musical essence and spirit that Ozzy represented:
Instrumental Foundation: Zakk composed the guitar riffs and instrumental backbone to reflect Ozzy’s iconic sound-heavy, haunting, yet soulful.
Emotional Ambiance: The music carries a bittersweet tone, blending power and melancholy, anticipating the deep impact Ozzy had on both the rock world and Zakk personally.
Creative Influence: Drawing on decades of playing alongside Ozzy, Zakk infused the music with nuances reminiscent of Ozzy’s signature style, ensuring authenticity.
Writing the Lyrics: Post-Farewell Reflection
After the passing of Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde returned to the unfinished song with a new perspective. The lyrics written after Ozzy’s funeral laid bare the grief, memories, and celebration of Ozzy’s life:
Honoring Legacy: The lyrics are filled with personal anecdotes and poetic reflections on Ozzy’s impact on Zakk’s life and music.
emotional Depth: Themes of loss, remembrance, and gratitude dominate the words, revealing a raw and heartfelt tribute.
Global message: While deeply personal, the lyrics resonate with fans who shared in Ozzy’s journey and legacy worldwide.
How the Song captures Zakk Wylde’s Unique Tribute
Aspect
Details
musical Style
heavy metal with melodic undertones, blend of sorrow and power
Lyrical Themes
Loss, legacy, friendship, remembrance
Emotional Context
Written across two emotionally contrasting times: before and after Ozzy’s death
Connection to Fans
Shares a collective mourning and celebration of Ozzy Osbourne’s monumental career
Firsthand Experience: zakk Wylde’s Personal Testimony
Zakk has openly discussed the unique challenge of writing music during a hopeful moment and then revisiting those same pieces to write lyrics after a profound personal loss. This blend of pre-loss anticipation and post-loss reflection creates an authentic tribute few artists could aspire to.
He explains that the music was initially a form of artistic expression to honor Ozzy’s vitality. Though, once Ozzy passed, the lyrics became a cathartic means to process grief and celebrate the man behind the legend. This two-stage creative process gave the song layered emotions and depth.
Benefits and Practical Tips for Tribute songwriters
Separate Music and Lyrics: Allow time between composing music and writing lyrics to reflect evolving emotions.
Draw from Personal Connection: Use stories, memories, or unique traits of the person you’re honoring for authenticity.
Balance Emotion and Artistry: Combine musical elements that capture mood with lyrics that tell a personal story.
Be Honest and Vulnerable: Audiences appreciate raw emotion and sincerity in tribute songs.
Case Study: Zakk Wylde’s Tribute as a Model for Songwriting
Many artists have studied Zakk Wylde’s approach to tribute songwriting due to its emotional weight and technical mastery:
Step
Explanation
Example from Zakk’s Process
Initial Composition
Create music that encapsulates the essence of the subject
Composed guitar riffs reflecting Ozzy’s style before his passing
Emotional Pause
Acknowledge emotional changes after any life events
Paused before writing lyrics until after Ozzy’s funeral
Lyric writing
Write words that express the true feelings and thoughts
Wrote heartfelt lyrics honoring Ozzy’s memory and legacy
Final Arrangement
Fuse music and lyrics, ensuring both elements complement each other’s tone
Combined pre-written music and post-loss lyrics to complete the tribute song
how Fans Can Experience Zakk Wylde’s Tribute Music
Zakk Wylde’s tribute work, including collaborations with Ozzy Osbourne and his own band projects, can be found on platforms like YouTube Music, where listeners get to experience official songs, music videos, and live performances that echo the emotional tribute vibe.
Explore Zakk Wylde’s music channel for live tribute performances and official releases.
Listen to “Zakk Sabbath,” a band known for its homage to Ozzy’s style and legacy.
discover behind-the-scenes stories of Zakk’s compositions that inspired his tribute lyrics.
“And then when I got done, when we got done with the Pantera celebration run, when I got home, I was just sitting in the house and [this] is when I wrote the lyrics and just sang the song. I was just thinking about Oz, and then I just wrote the lyrics.”
In more recent Zakk Wylde news, the longtime Ozzy guitarist and Black Label Society frontman revealed the three most important guitars in his life, and, spoiler alert, the list includes his now-iconic ‘Grail’ Les Paul.
Guitar World’s exclusive interview with Wylde will be published in the coming weeks.
Janelle is a staff writer at GuitarWorld.com. After a long stint in classical music, Janelle discovered the joys of playing guitar in dingy venues at the age of 13 and has never looked back. Janelle has written extensively about the intersection of music and technology, and how this is shaping the future of the music industry. She also had the pleasure of interviewing Dream Wife, K.Flay, Yīn Yīn, and Black Honey, among others. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her creating layers of delicious audio lasagna with her art-rock/psych-punk band ĠENN.
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