JAKE E. LEE Shares Final Text He Received From OZZY OSBOURNE Two Weeks Ago

Former OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Jake E. Lee, who performed at the "Back To The Beginning" event earlier in the month, has shared the final text he received from the legendary BLACK SABBATH singer.

Earlier today (Wednesday, July 23),the 68-year-old Jake took to his social media earlier today to write: "Still processing [the news of Ozzy's death]. The finality of it hits me in waves. This was a text I got from him as I was sitting in an airport headed back home two weeks ago."

Ozzy's text to Jake reads as follows (as shared by Lee): "Hi jake im so sorry i couldnt spend more time with you on the weekend but it was really caotic ,i would really like to see you when i eventually get back TO LA just to shoot the shit its been so long since we saw each other , where have are you living these days , because the last thing i herd was 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".

Lee, who was tapped by Ozzy Osbourne to replace the late Randy Rhoads in the singer's solo band, played on two Ozzy records: 1983's "Bark At The Moon" and 1986's "The Ultimate Sin".

Jake's appearance at "Back To The Beginning" consisted of covers of "The Ultimate Sin" and "Shot In The Dark". The concert marked Ozzy's final performance as a solo artist and as a member of BLACK SABBATH.

Prior to "Back To The Beginning", Lee said that he was excited about the show both as a participant and as an audience member even if he hadn't been in contact with Ozzy for many years.

"It's a thrill to be a part of it," he told Guitar World in the days leading up to the event. "And even more so for me to watch it. I hope Ozzy can get through it. I haven't spoken with him or seen him in decades. I really don't know what condition he’s in, but he deserves a final farewell performance. No matter how he is, or how well his singing is, he deserves to have that final farewell. I'm happy to be a part of it."

After performing with Ozzy, Lee formed the hard rock band BADLANDS. He released the solo albums "Retraced" and "Guitar Warrior" in 2005 and 2007, respectively. After a self-imposed exile from the music industry and the public eye, Lee returned with a new band called RED DRAGON CARTEL, releasing a self-titled album in 2013 followed by "Patina" in 2018.

Last October, Jake was shot while walking his dog near his home in Las Vegas.

In June, Jake revealed in an online post that the two individuals who allegedly shot him had been arrested and were due to be sentenced this month.

In a statement to TMZ shortly after the shooting, Ozzy said: "It's been 37 years since I've seen Jake E. Lee, but that still doesn't take away from the shock of hearing what happened to him today. It's just another senseless act of gun violence. I send my thoughts to him and his beautiful daughter, Jade. I just hope he'll be OK."

Ozzy died Tuesday morning (July 22),his family announced in a statement.

"It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time," the family said.

No cause of death was given, but Osbourne had battled a number of health issues over the past several years, including Parkinson's disease and injuries he sustained from a late-night fall in 2019.

Ozzy's final performance with BLACK SABBATH at Villa Park in the band's original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom was seen by more than 40,000 people in the stadium and 5.8 million more on a livestream. Ozzy also played a five-song solo set while seated in a bat-adorned throne.