As the rock world continues to mourn the passing of Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Jake E. Lee — who famously played with Ozzy during the mid-1980s — has shared a deeply personal tribute that reveals the emotional weight of his friend’s sudden passing.
Jake took to social media to express how he is still processing the loss, writing:
“Still processing it. The finality of it hits me in waves.”
Along with the message, he posted what may have been the final text he received from Ozzy, just two weeks ago as Jake sat in an airport heading home. The message is raw, unfiltered, and unmistakably Ozzy — filled with warmth, honesty, and his signature charm.
Ozzy’s Final Text to Jake E. Lee
“Hi jake im so sorry i couldnt spend more time with you on the weekend but it was really caotic ,i would really like to see you when i eventually get back TO LA just to shoot the sh*t its been so long since we saw each other , where have are you living these days , because the last thing i herd was you were living in Las Vegas . How did the gig go for you on Saturday i really hope you had fun anyway i will text you when i eventually get back to LA and we must hook up much love and respect OZZY”
The message shows a softer, more personal side of Ozzy that fans rarely got to see — a man who, despite being a larger-than-life icon, never stopped caring about his bandmates and friends.
A Friendship That Endured Time
Jake E. Lee played guitar on two of Ozzy’s key solo albums, Bark at the Moon (1983) and The Ultimate Sin (1986), leaving a lasting imprint on the metal world. Though the two drifted apart professionally in later years, this message reveals that their bond remained strong until the very end.
