Zakk Wylde is Again Not Part of Ozzy Osbourne’s Next Album

Ozzy Osbourne has been making productive use of his pandemic downtime, returning to the recording studio with Ordinary Man producer/writer/guitarist Andrew Watt despite having just released that album early last year.

Sad news, though: Zakk Wylde, who did not play on Ordinary Man, hasn’t been part of Ozzy’s next effort.

Good news, however: he’s totally OK with that!

Speaking to Eddie Trunk, Wylde explained:

“I always support the boss. My relationship with him’s bigger than the music. If Barb [Zakk’s wife Barbaranne] just said, ‘Zakk, me and Sharon are gonna go out and have dinner with friends or whatever.’ If he said, ‘Zakk, can you do me a favor? Come over here and feed the dogs. I’m gonna be gone for three days.’ [I would say] ‘Yeah, whatever you want. And I’ll bring some milk and eggs on the way over as well.’

“Yeah, that’s my relationship with him. We’re still talking and everything like that — texting each other. It’s all good.”

Gotta love sober Zakk: such a mensch! And forever grateful to the man who made him.

What’s more, Zakk said just prior to the release of Ordinary Man that he’ll still be Ozzy’s live guitarist. I can’t imagine that changing giving the nature of Ozzy’s massive “farewell” tour that will resume when it’s safe to do so and how crucial Zakk’s participation is for delivering all the classic material fans want to hear.

So, don’t worry, you’ll still get plenty of Zakk. And if Ozzy’s next effort is as good as Ordinary Man was, some solid tunes in the process.

The European leg of Ozzy’s “No More Tours 2” farewell trek, which will also feature Judas Priest, is scheduled to resume in 2022. Get dates here.