As the rock world continues to mourn the loss of Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness who passed away on July 22 at age 76 from a heart attack, tributes from fellow musicians have poured in, each one a testament to his enduring legacy. Among the most poignant came this week from former Ozzy guitarist Jake E. Lee, who revealed the final text message he received from his old bandmate – a warm, regret-tinged note sent just after Black Sabbath’s emotional farewell concert in Birmingham.
Lee, who wielded his six-string magic alongside Osbourne from 1982 to 1987, shared the message on social media, admitting the “finality” of Osbourne’s death is hitting him “in waves.” The text arrived as Lee sat in an airport, fresh off the July 5 “Back to the Beginning” show at Villa Park – a star-studded, 10-hour spectacle billed as Black Sabbath’s last performance and Osbourne’s final bow on stage. Despite not having spoken in decades, Lee had joined the all-star lineup for a hero’s welcome, performing covers of Osbourne solo tracks like “The Ultimate Sin” and “Shot in the Dark.”
In the message, Osbourne’s signature warmth shines through, laced with apologies for the chaos of the event and hopes for a future catch-up:
“Hi Jake. I’m so sorry I couldn’t spend more time with you on the weekend but it was really chaotic. I would really like to see you when I eventually get back to LA just to shoot the shit, it’s been so long since we saw each other. Where are you living these days? Because last I heard 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 note, unedited and raw, captures Osbourne’s affable spirit – the same one that endeared him to generations of fans and collaborators. Lee, now 68, reflected on the exchange in a post that has since gone viral among metalheads: “Still processing it.” Their brief reunion at the show marked a mending of old rifts; Lee had replaced the late Randy Rhoads in Osbourne’s band, contributing blistering riffs to landmark albums Bark at the Moon (1983) and The Ultimate Sin (1986).
Osbourne himself addressed Lee’s 1987 firing in a candid 2022 Stereogum interview, calling it “very sad” and pinning the blame on then-drummer Randy Castillo’s influence: “Jake E. Lee was a fucking great guitar player, and… I had no qualms with the guy. He was a great guitar player.”
The “Back to the Beginning” concert, organized by Sharon Osbourne and Live Nation, drew over 40,000 fans to Birmingham – the band’s birthplace – for what felt like heavy metal’s “Live Aid.” The original Sabbath lineup – Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward – reunited onstage for the first time since 2005, closing with Sabbath classics like “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “N.I.B.,” and “Paranoid.” Preceding it was Osbourne’s solo set, featuring hits such as “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley,” backed by longtime collaborators including Tommy Clufetos on drums and Adam Wakeman on keys. All-star guests like Guns N’ Roses, Pantera, and Yungblud paid homage throughout the day, raising millions for charities including Cure Parkinson’s.
Reflecting on the gig in the wake of Osbourne’s death, Iommi told Guitar World that his bandmate “really just held out to do that show.” He elaborated: “He’s built up for it for a while now… He’s been sort of training and trying to do what he can, so he could do this gig… I think he must have had something in his head that said, ‘Well, this is gonna be it, the last thing I’m ever gonna do.’ Whether he thought he was gonna die or what, I don’t know. But he really wanted to do it and he was determined to do it. And fair dues, he’d done it.”
Osbourne’s death, just 17 days after the concert, came amid a lifetime of health battles, including Parkinson’s disease diagnosed in 2003, spinal issues, and substance abuse recovery. His family announced the news on July 22, stating he passed “surrounded by love” at his Buckinghamshire home. A death certificate later confirmed acute myocardial infarction as the cause, compounded by coronary artery disease.
The outpouring of grief has been global, with Osbourne’s influence rippling far beyond metal – from reality TV stardom on The Osbournes to Grammy wins and a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction. As Lee processes his loss, fans are left with a reminder of Osbourne’s humanity: a man who, even in his final weeks, reached out with “much love and respect.” A concert film of “Back to the Beginning,” titled Ozzy’s Final Bow, is slated for theaters in early 2026, ensuring the madness lives on.
