“The bond we shared with him ran far deeper than music”: Pantera cancel tour dates as Zakk Wylde says they need “time to grieve” Ozzy Osbourne’s death
In light of Ozzy Osbourne sadly passing away on 22 July, Pantera have announced that they will be postponing and cancelling a slew of upcoming tour dates to mourn the Black Sabbath icon’s death.
The heavy metal unit – comprising Phil Anselmo, Zakk Wylde, Rex Brown and Charlie Benante – share the news on Instagram.
“Ozzy wasn’t just a legend who shaped the very foundation of heavy metal and inspired Pantera from the beginning – he was family,” the band write. “A mentor, a brother, and a constant presence in our lives both on and off the stage. The bond we shared with him ran far deeper than music.”
READ MORE: “We’ve lost our brother”: Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne
“In light of this profound loss, we need time and space to grieve – to be with our families, our crew, and each other as we process and honour the life of someone who meant so much to us,” the post continues. “Out of respect, and to allow members of our team the time to mourn, we will be rescheduling the following shows.”
In order to allow themselves this “time and space to grieve” Pantera will be cancelling three of their upcoming tour dates. Their 19 July show in Gilford, NH will no longer be happening, as well as their 8 September and 10 September shows in Birmingham, AL and Virginia Beach, VA.
Not every change is a cancellation, however; two shows will be pushed forward to September. The band’s 28 July Saratoga Springs show will now be taking place on 9 September, while their Holmdel show on 31 July has been rescheduled for 8 September.
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Pantera held a deep respect for Ozzy’s work, even performing Sabbath cut Electric Funeral in New York on 26 July in his honour. However, touring guitarist Zakk Wylde held an incredibly personal connection with the late star. Not only was he the lead guitarist of Ozzy’s solo band, but Wylde has spoken about their close relationship on multiple occasions.
Wylde even shared a heartfelt tribute to the late Prince of Darkness. “Oz was just the best,” he tells Guitar World. “I have my father, who was a World War II veteran; and then Ozzy, who was almost like an older brother. There was almost a 20-year age gap between us. With our relationship, there was the fun drinking – but if I ever needed advice, I could talk to him.”
“Ozzy is the godfather of our oldest son,” he writes. “Whether I was playing with him or not, if Sharon [Osbourne] called me and my wife up and said, ‘Guys, can you watch the house while we’re away on a business trip?’ I’d do it. It’s like, ‘If you need me to bring milk and eggs over, I’ll do it.’”
“Yeah, that’s how I’ve always looked at it. Ozzy is the godfather of our oldest son. Whether I was playing with him or not, if Sharon called me and my wife up and said, ‘Guys, can you watch the house while we’re away on a business trip?’ I’d do it. It’s like, ‘If you need me to bring milk and eggs over, I’ll do it.’”
Wylde even opens up about the last exchange he had with Ozzy – which, unfortunately, was just a text message. “Everybody and their mother were in the backstage dressing room [at the Back To The Beginning show] and I just wanted to give him a break,” Wylde reveals. “I figured we’d see him later on – the next day or whatever. But no.”
“The last text I got from Oz was saying, ‘Zakky, sorry, it was like a madhouse back there. I didn’t see you.’ He goes, ‘Thanks for everything.’ It was just us talking, saying, ‘I love you, buddy.’ That was it.”
Wylde closes off his tribute on a note of utmost respect: “If I didn’t have Oz, without a doubt, I’d continue playing… but it’s how Ozzy would say what The Beatles did for him, you know? What he gave me with Sabbath, and then with Randy and Jake, it’s a beacon of light. It gives you purpose. So even if I hadn’t played with him, he gave me purpose to be a musician. And without a doubt, that’ll always be with me.”
Today, Ozzy’s funeral procession is set to run through Birmingham’s Broad Street at 1pm ahead of a private funeral.
The post “The bond we shared with him ran far deeper than music”: Pantera cancel tour dates as Zakk Wylde says they need “time to grieve” Ozzy Osbourne’s death appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
Source: www.guitar-bass.net
