In a new chat with Q104.3 New York, Zakk Wylde talked about his relationship with Ozzy Osbourne, the singer’s health, and other stuff.
Below are a few excerpts of the interview:
Is it true that the first gig you played with Ozzy was at a prison?
“Yeah, Wormwood Scrubs Prison, I think it’s in England somewhere. Basically, I was the closest thing that these fellas were going to see to Pamela Anderson. I was like, ‘I hope I passed the audition.'”
Was that gig just completely bizarre? Was it just sort of like, ‘OK, we’re gonna play for two hours and it just happens to be in a prison?’
“Yeah, it was definitely a great way to start my gig with the Boss. Definitely a memorable one, for sure, without a doubt.”
It’s been all over the news that you’ll not be playing on Ozzy’s new album [Zakk also hasn’t played on Ozzy’s previous album, 2020’s ‘Ordinary Man’]. You’re cool with it?
“Yeah, I’ll just be the godfather of our oldest son, so yeah, my relationship’s bigger than the music with Oz.
“And Oz said to me years ago, ‘Zakk, I don’t want to be the lead singer of Black Label Society. You’re your own guy now, you got your own thing. I completely get it.’
“Oz knows I’m always here for him whatever he needs me to do. If he needs me to go bring over some milk and eggs, I’ll do it.
“If I got to clean up the dog because he’s got company coming over and he’s got to run some errands, I’d do it.
“It’s that easy. And if the Boss is ready to roll on the road again after he gets the album knocked out – if he calls me up, ‘Zakk, come over on Tuesday, we’re gonna go over.’
“‘Alright, no problem, I’ll see you on Thursday.’ That’s the way we roll.”
If I ask you to tell me the craziest story about life with Ozzy, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
“Maybe silence, or nothing going on. There’s always something going on.
“The tour was going great, everything was happening, then he basically almost kills himself and breaks his neck just going out to take a leak and go to the bathroom.
“And I saw him in the hospital – we’re like, ‘What are you doing now?’ He goes, ‘I guess I was bored. I needed something to happen.’
“It’s always something, whether it’s the ATV, him almost killing himself on that thing – he goes to take a p*ss in the middle of the night and then he comes back, he almost breaks his neck. It’s always something.”
If you had to tell me, just top of mind, one of the most surreal moments in your life so far where you said to yourself, ‘I can’t believe this is happening.’ What comes to mind right away?
“Probably have to be me meeting Ozzy and then me being in a band. It’s the same thing as being a massive Green Bay Packers fan and you have pictures of Vince Lombardi up on the wall, and then you’re playing quarterback for the Green Bay Packers.
“Not just in the NFL but for your favorite team where your heroes stood. To be on stage where St. Rhoads – me being a huge Sabbath freak, and then playing in the same spot where my hero sits. Without a doubt, truly blessed.”