Zakk Wylde recently revealed details about Ozzy Osbourne’s plans for his final album. He shared insights about the legendary rocker’s creative vision in an interview with Metal Hammer.
The guitarist disclosed that Osbourne had reached out to him about creating a new record with a specific melodic direction in mind.
“Oz was texting me, like, ‘Zakky, I want to make another record, like when you were going through your Allman [Brothers], [Lynyrd] Skynyrd phase, when we were doing ‘No More Tears’ (1991), like, heavy, but it’ll be melodic,’” Wylde said. “I said, ‘Yes, whatever you want to do.’”
The revelation provides insight into Osbourne’s artistic ambitions for what would have been his final recording project. It shows his desire to blend heavy elements with melodic sensibilities reminiscent of their earlier collaborative work.
These conversations between the longtime collaborators took on added significance given the timing of their discussions and Osbourne’s subsequent passing.
Vice reported that the planned album would have served as a follow-up to Osbourne’s 2022 release Patient Number 9. This marked his thirteenth solo studio album. The record featured collaborations with various artists and was well-received by both critics and fans. This made the prospect of another Wylde collaboration particularly exciting for metal enthusiasts.
The timing of these creative discussions proved to be particularly poignant. Evrimagaci noted that Osbourne died on July 22, 2025, at age 76 from a heart attack. This occurred just weeks after their final Black Sabbath concert Back to the Beginning. This final performance represented the end of an era for heavy metal. It marked the last time fans would see the Prince of Darkness on stage.
Beyond his musical ambitions, Parade revealed that Osbourne was also working on wrapping up other creative projects. These included his book Last Rites and a documentary about his life and career. These final works were intended to serve as a comprehensive look back at his decades-spanning influence on rock and metal music.
The proposed album’s sound direction referenced the melodic heavy approach of No More Tears. This would have represented a return to one of the most celebrated periods of the Osbourne-Wylde partnership. That 1991 album is widely regarded as one of Osbourne’s finest solo works. It blended his signature heavy metal sound with more nuanced melodic elements that showcased both musicians at their creative peak.
