Photo: Mark Weiss
Aside from Tony Iommi and Randy Rhoads, the guitarist most closely-associated with Ozzy Osbourne throughout his career has been Zakk Wylde. Joining Ozzy in 1987 when he was just 20, Wylde was with Osbourne through 1995, then rejoined the band in 2001, playing off and on until 2009 when he left to concentrate on Black Label Society. And while Gus G. was the most recent guitarist for Ozzy’s band, playing on his last studio album, 2010’s Scream, it’s just been announced that Wylde will be playing with Ozzy this Summer.
Wylde will be joining Ozzy for the four shows that he’s playing this Summer, marking the first time the two have toured together since 2006. Longtime Ozzy band members Tommy Clufetos, Blasko and keyboardist Adam Wakeman will be in his band as well for the July and August shows.
“I’m so happy to be getting back on the road with Zakk, Blasko, Tommy and Adam,” says Ozzy Osbourne. “This is what I do. This is where I belong, on the road.”
The press release also states that Ozzy’s next solo album will be out next year on Epic. It’s unclear whether Wylde will write or play on the next album, as last year, Osbourne named Billy Morrison (The Cult) and Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) as artist he’d been writing with. Here’s where you’ll be able to see Ozzy and Zakk together again, but it should be noted the press release says “initial” 2017 tour dates, so there could easily be more coming:
7/14 Oshkosh, WI @ Rock USA Festival
7/16 Chicago, IL @ Chicago Open Air
8/09 Sturgis, SD @ Buffalo Chip
8/21 Cartersville, IL @ Moonstock Festival
