<![CDATA[ Latest from Guitar Player in Ozzy-osbourne ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/tag/ozzy-osbourne Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 en <![CDATA[ “After Ozzy, everything I do is probably going to be a downgrade…” Why Gus G turned down Megadeth and Machine Head ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/why-gus-g-turned-down-two-big-opportunities mQwbqqv2aphpVNoRqCcxzh Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Ozzy’s like, ‘I really f***ing need to cut the calories!’” A flight attendant mistook Ozzy Osbourne for another rocker ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/when-ozzy-osbourne-was-mistaken-for-meat-loaf yr4j5TbZhoxU2wcJX2LoSN Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:31:05 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I just figured it was gone forever.” When Zakk Wylde’s beloved Grail Les Paul fell off the back of a truck, one unique detail helped him get it back ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitars/electric-guitars/the-loss-and-return-of-zakk-wyldes-grail-les-paul UEgKzZBiFTsbU3wi4z8UC4 Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:36:34 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The rest is history. That’s how close it got.” Alex Van Halen on how he and Eddie nearly made an album with Ozzy Osbourne ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/how-van-halen-almost-made-an-album-with-ozzy-osbourne UAtwxHyvKBMX4wbNktBSJg Thu, 26 Feb 2026 19:39:25 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Tony said, ‘Hey, you’re singing flat.’ And my dad got really pissed off.” Jack Osbourne reveals the moment at Ozzy’s final gig that defined his partnership with Tony Iommi ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/jack-osbourne-on-ozzy-and-back-to-the-beginning R9JgmmASv3xxknGGkUH3Ym Tue, 24 Feb 2026 21:39:59 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Randy was trying to get backstage to meet him, but Eddie was bouncing off the walls in his underwear.” Kelly Garni sets the record straight on the rivalry between Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/quiet-riot-bassist-on-randy-rhoads-and-eddie-van-halen-rivalry aGZRd2WFMEbFMeCmAZmvBC Tue, 17 Feb 2026 21:10:59 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Zakk, why am I alive?” Zakk Wylde on his favorite untold Ozzy Osbourne story ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/what-zakk-wylde-said-to-ozzy-osbourne-when-he-was-left-questioning-his-existence Nis5ZWYdzDFW68nHDMt5VG Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:05:43 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Tony's locked away with his bag of Quaaludes. Bill’s come to fire me, and he's got a can of Budweiser...” Ozzy Osbourne on cocaine, conflict and the bitter irony of being fired from Black Sabbath ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/ozzy-on-being-sacked-from-black-sabbath SLN2SssCBxv8N2jvomPXVJ Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:00:15 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We f**king love you, Ozzy!” Slash, Andrew Watt, Duff McKagan, Chad Smith and Post Malone honor Ozzy Osbourne with a show-stopping all-star performance of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” at the Grammys ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/we-f-king-love-you-ozzy-slash-andrew-watt-duff-mckagan-chad-smith-and-post-malone-honor-ozzy-osbourne-with-a-show-stopping-all-star-performance-of-black-sabbaths-war-pigs-at-the-grammys bBw3CdRtLGXYH8pETYnqCV Mon, 02 Feb 2026 07:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “My dad had an electric knife, and Ozzy had just had a bunch of wine…” Lita Ford on what happened when Ozzy Osbourne came to her parents’ house for Easter lunch ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/lita-ford-and-ozzy-osbournes-easter-dinner ys4QMWWD44aA4KgRoMEMvK Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:49:55 +0000 Wed, 28 Jan 2026 20:16:49 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Something inside me said, ‘This man’s not going to live to be an old guy.’” Ozzy Osbourne on his last conversation with Randy Rhoads ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/ozzy-osbourne-on-his-last-conversation-with-randy-rhoads s2Q69eSqoMXVFGUvQpZ49V Fri, 02 Jan 2026 16:32:50 +0000 Fri, 02 Jan 2026 17:07:21 +0000 <![CDATA[ “A sad, irrelevant, old, miserable human being.” Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters comes under fire by Ozzy Osbourne’s grieving family over his recent comments about the late Black Sabbath singer ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/a-sad-irrelevant-old-miserable-human-being-pink-floyds-roger-waters-comes-under-fire-by-ozzy-osbournes-grieving-family-over-comments-made-about-the-late-black-sabbath-singer 9ULWF4cXVK2xt2BHVDTnnT Fri, 14 Nov 2025 12:14:34 +0000 Fri, 14 Nov 2025 13:48:06 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He was texting me, ‘Let’s do another record. I really loved it when you were going through your Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd phase.’” Zakk Wylde says Ozzy was plotting a return to his ‘No More Tears’ style at the time of his death ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/zakk-wylde-says-ozzy-wanted-to-record-another-album-after-back-to-the-beginning 4c8Yi7vyPhmQQKfnxu8oej Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:19:56 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Ozzy turned to George and said, ‘He’s got it. You don’t. You’re fired.’” Jake E. Lee on how he “screwed up” his Ozzy Osbourne audition — but still got the job over George Lynch ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/inside-jake-e-lees-ozzy-osbourne-audition 8mtmm8bTu9qvkP2e7CWZif Fri, 07 Nov 2025 13:41:59 +0000 Fri, 07 Nov 2025 13:53:51 +0000 <![CDATA[ “That’s not Ozzy, that’s jazz. Go back and write me something else!” Jake E. Lee said this was the most “frustrating” thing about his final chapter in Ozzy Osbourne’s band ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/jake-e-lee-on-his-frustrations-in-ozzys-band rGQMjQPBaGA8u8pjRvGHgh Wed, 22 Oct 2025 18:10:30 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Death’s been knocking at my door for the last six years. At some point I’m gonna have to let him in.” Ozzy Osbourne reflected on his imminent demise weeks before his passing ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/ozzy-osbourne-reflected-on-death-weeks-before-his-passing Z6zGFm7YLLstGWpTMZCYef Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:33:38 +0000 Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:40:32 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It's the most important thing. It makes the song heavy.” Ozzy Osbourne told Andrew Watt what every great rock song needs ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/andrew-watt-on-ozzy-osbourne-and-production YHJ4pWPefJL4agpR44eRrY Tue, 30 Sep 2025 17:16:59 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Everything was normal.” Ozzy Osbourne was fine the day before his death says his close friend and producer Andrew Watt ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/ozzy-osbournes-last-day-recalled-by-andrew-watt damPjx9Cmzg9WYfRNtRXyJ Sun, 28 Sep 2025 14:48:27 +0000 Mon, 29 Sep 2025 02:58:42 +0000 <![CDATA[ “There was this terrible smell of fuel, and all we could see was fire.” Sharon Osbourne recalls Randy Rhoads and the fiery plane crash that claimed the guitarist’s life on Ozzy Osbourne’s 1982 tour ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/sharon-osbourne-recalls-randy-rhoads-death dbGmUjovkKReFMfPwjPdPL Thu, 25 Sep 2025 11:45:44 +0000 Thu, 25 Sep 2025 11:50:56 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Even if I played okay, even if I played a nice solo or whatever, if anyone looked at me onstage they thought, It isn’t Randy.” Behind Bernie Tormé’s whirlwind gig with Ozzy Osbourne after Randy Rhoads’ death ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/tommy-aldridge-on-getting-bernie-torme-gig-ready-for-ozzy fjJXaL8KK28PQjKbPNeCw3 Fri, 19 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He's got what looks like a syringe and wants to see how I'm gonna react. And the fact that I don't react really kind of wigged him out." Richie Kotzen on being Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist for one hot minute in 1995 ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/richie-kotzen-on-being-ozzy-osbournes-guitarist-for-a-day-in-1995 8NsYEQdXGTJ9Uwu7dXNpfQ Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:37:56 +0000 Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:56:19 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It's what a male stripper would do.” Darkness guitarist Justin Hawkins joins his brother Dan to trash talk the VMAs’ Yungblud–Aerosmith Ozzy Osbourne tribute ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/justin-hawkins-defends-dan-hawkins-comments-on-yungblud-at-the-mtv-vmas Yp45J48QaVDxTNfp3gRkBV Fri, 12 Sep 2025 10:29:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Cynical and nauseating.” Nuno Bettencourt, Joe Perry and Steven Tyler paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne. Darkness guitarist Dan Hawkins called it “another nail in the coffin of rock n' roll” ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/ozzy-tribute-at-the-mtv-vmas-2025 hhpEcQCg9WxEif7yXSw4Nh Tue, 09 Sep 2025 16:45:47 +0000 <![CDATA[ “You were the only guitar player that said no to me”: A young Nuno Bettencourt believed he would replace Randy Rhoads in Ozzy's band. When the time came, he turned it down ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/nuno-bettencourt-on-turning-down-ozzy-osbourne nsW6UGDXhJsuBu3vpQMRaG Tue, 09 Sep 2025 15:40:19 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Honoring Ozzy and Randy last night. I’ll be damned if it wasn’t fun to play”: Grace Bowers impresses with flawless “Crazy Train” shred as she pays tribute to Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/grace-bowers-covers-crazy-train-live WZi3LojSCKeSuep7zv5ymT Tue, 26 Aug 2025 17:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I had been walking around with the melody in my head for a couple of years.” Ozzy Osbourne’s biggest solo hit was years in the making. It took a touch of southern rock to make it the anthem of his lifetime ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/music/albums-singles/ozzy-osbourne-s-biggest-solo-hit-mama-im-coming-home XyEnoL4xe5wQEfnYjsXSsf Sun, 24 Aug 2025 15:05:58 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Ozzy told him, ‘Nobody can do that!’ Well, Randy could.” Randy Rhoads proved Ozzy Osbourne wrong with an approach to recording guitar solos that even Eddie Van Halen avoided ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/randy-rhoads-outdid-eddie-van-halen-and-proved-ozzy-osbourne-wrong-about-guitar-solos CLUG5YmYW7SyPRErj5kaPk Thu, 21 Aug 2025 15:23:45 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I’m getting one-word answers, and he’s giving me the stare of death. I’m literally sweating, like, ‘Oh my god’…” Anthrax’s Scott Ian recalls his favorite memory of Ozzy, and why he was dressed as Gene Simmons at the time ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/scott-ians-favorite-ozzy-osbourne-moment 2joY7Dx3NuHmP2gfSGHNa Fri, 15 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Guitar solos got so crazy and had too many notes!” Former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Brad Gillis says rock needed grunge after the “prissy 1980s" ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/brad-gillis-says-rock-needed-grunge fsUULsQMAGF9JoPUCWosDV Mon, 11 Aug 2025 15:05:07 +0000 Mon, 11 Aug 2025 15:05:13 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It was a fantastic guitar, and a major step up for me”: Zakk Wylde on selling – and buying back – his first good guitar, and why others should avoid the same mistake ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/zakk-wylde-on-selling-and-buying-back-his-first-good-guitar 4KLVQ3iFo4BC9Q4axbgEzh Fri, 08 Aug 2025 16:35:19 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I realized I was gonna look like I was trying to be Randy Rhoads, with the cream Les Paul, so I sent it to be refinished.” Zakk Wylde says his famous bull’s-eye guitar — used on Ozzy Osbourne's records —was the result of a design mistake ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/zakk-wylde-on-his-the-grail-bulls-eye-les-paul NNGsYaiDkpwydh5qTuGhYb Wed, 06 Aug 2025 16:17:17 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The heavy metal version of what John Mayall was doing in the late ’60s — finding Eric Clapton, Peter Green or Mick Taylor.” Joe Bonamassa compares Ozzy Osbourne to the godfather of British blues ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/joe-bonamassa-says-ozzy-osbourne-was-like-john-mayall 38FpLyrpmrSHrfJA9QmfDR Mon, 04 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000 Mon, 04 Aug 2025 13:20:36 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I figured we’d see him later on — the next day or whatever.” Zakk Wylde reveals his final message from Ozzy as Pantera cancel tour dates to grieve ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/zakk-wyldes-final-moments-with-ozzy-osbourne C6Q5jAHyMs6UBC5afmAnWZ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 18:42:47 +0000 Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:09:49 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Ozzy gives me this big hug and says, ‘Bradley, I love you. Please pull me through.’” When Randy Rhoads died, Night Ranger guitarist Brad Gillis found himself hired overnight to become Ozzy Osbourne's new guitarist ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/brad-gillis-on-joining-ozzy-osbournes-band-after-randy-rhoads-died wbm5zYps6EfigvdB6vCj6n Tue, 29 Jul 2025 12:18:56 +0000 Tue, 29 Jul 2025 12:59:26 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We think he held out to do that show. After he said goodbye to the fans, that was the end of it.” Tony Iommi says Ozzy knew Back to the Beginning would be the last thing he ever did ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/tony-iommi-on-ozzy-osbourne-and-back-to-the-beginning vZAUod4NmFDi78iigvVqof Mon, 28 Jul 2025 12:29:54 +0000 <![CDATA[ "Ozzy would say, ‘Bob and I get on like a house on fire. The fire brigade’s just left!’” Ozzy Osbourne’s first two albums created an empire. His former right-hand man reflects on the singer’s greatest decade ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/blizzard-of-ozz-and-diary-of-a-madman-set-up-the-empire-for-everything-that-came-after-he-helped-launched-ozzy-osbournes-solo-career-and-co-wrote-his-biggest-hits-now-bob-daisley-reflects-on-his-new-status-the-last-man-standing 28y755RSQFJsLPLaywyYp4 Sun, 27 Jul 2025 15:21:38 +0000 Sun, 27 Jul 2025 16:34:13 +0000 <![CDATA[ “When I first met Paul McCartney, it was like meeting Jesus Christ.” Ozzy Osbourne had three words to say about John Lennon and Paul McCartney's life-saving impact on him ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/ozzy-osbourne-on-the-john-lennon-paul-mccartney-songwriting-partnership 6ip9UMyfXdvzqkiTf8Gew5 Thu, 24 Jul 2025 17:05:18 +0000 <![CDATA[ “This was a text I got from him as I was sitting in an airport headed back home two weeks ago.” Jake E. Lee shares Ozzy’s final words to him and reflects on his difficult road to recovery after being shot ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/jake-e-lee-on-the-road-to-recovery-back-to-the-beginning-and-ozzy 6V828DwJRyHfZr2MkBxk3Y Thu, 24 Jul 2025 15:08:42 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I played 'Mama I'm Coming Home' while he sat about 10 feet away from a very loud amp.” Slash guitarist shares the letter Ozzy Osbourne sent him after his failed guitar audition ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/ozzy-osbourne-gracious-letter-to-frank-sidoris-after-audition AvkL5jdaFzBCs7xeSPJwpX Thu, 24 Jul 2025 13:32:22 +0000 Thu, 24 Jul 2025 13:41:26 +0000 <![CDATA[ “If you're into heavy metal, that's your father!” Zakk Wylde and Gus G. on Ozzy Osbourne, the fatherly band leader who turned unknown guitar players into world-class shredders ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/zakk-wylde-and-gus-g-on-ozzy-osbourne-thefatherly-band-leader frfw7T3Vj9s7QkshuT7Q4R Wed, 23 Jul 2025 15:46:29 +0000 Wed, 23 Jul 2025 15:51:31 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Here was the strategy: Keep Ozzy moving. Do not cancel the tour.” Rudy Sarzo says Ozzy Osbourne would have died if they didn’t carry on after Randy Rhoads' death ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/ozzy-osbourne-would-have-died-if-he-stopped-for-randy-rhoads-death mi4RFBTLxMFdm2DJH9gfWU Thu, 17 Jul 2025 17:28:31 +0000 <![CDATA[ “You can play these riffs on one string, that's how iconic they are.” Zakk Wylde on Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Jimmy Page and the five greatest riffs in rock history ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/zakk-wyldes-five-greatest-riffs ptFYF7JwKL34uiSfCNXWSH Wed, 09 Jul 2025 10:57:44 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We were doing ‘War Pigs’ and Ozzy forgot the words. He started singing ‘Old MacDonald Had a Farm.’” Jake E. Lee shares his craziest Ozzy Osbourne story and reflects on the guitar genius of Tony Iommi ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/how-jake-e-lee-fought-through-the-pain-barrier-to-play-back-to-the-beginning 3fizks3RSvQN3HiHKTvWTa Tue, 08 Jul 2025 18:03:28 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Ozzy took a look around and said, ‘You’re joking aren’t you?’ I said, ‘It’s a lot nicer on the inside.’ ” Zakk Wylde cracks us up with tales of Ozzy as he reveals the stories behind his greatest tracks ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/music/zakk-wylde-on-his-greatest-tracks-and-tales-of-working-with-ozzy-osbourne uuxthfTBFB3xt2BHwPhpjN Fri, 04 Jul 2025 22:59:09 +0000 <![CDATA[ “If it sounds amazing, and the only difference is Ozzy is sitting down, why not?” Zakk Wylde has an idea for how Black Sabbath can carry on after Back to the Beginning ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/zakk-wylde-hopes-for-more-black-sabbath-shows-after-back-to-the-beginning Eq9hgoqE2SFy6SCFjHCrni Fri, 04 Jul 2025 11:42:14 +0000 Fri, 04 Jul 2025 11:47:15 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Every time I think or say it’s over, things like this show come along.” Tony Iommi and Ozzy Osbourne insist Black Sabbath is over, but Geezer Butler refuses to rule out more shows ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/tony-iommi-and-geezer-butler-on-the-end-of-black-sabbath ANgY6G9ZT7PMp7kx4dYFGh Sat, 21 Jun 2025 15:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Randy would take what was already recorded and push it to new levels of intensity.” Rudy Sarzo on Randy Rhoads’ relentless drive and unique approach to Ozzy Osbourne’s Black Sabbath songs ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/rudy-sarzo-on-why-randy-rhoads-wasnt-wired-to-play-the-same-thing-every-night 3Xswrj3zu7DN3EDbgsFVuN Thu, 19 Jun 2025 15:20:29 +0000 Thu, 19 Jun 2025 15:21:05 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Ronnie heard that, and he didn't really like it.” Tony Iommi says Led Zeppelin's John Bonham meant to compliment Black Sabbath's Ronnie James Dio. It didn't go well ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/tony-iommi-on-defusing-a-fight-between-john-bonham-and-ronnie-james-dio 8djTe8NSxaEnjf99sF2BDL Tue, 17 Jun 2025 18:02:31 +0000 Tue, 17 Jun 2025 18:06:51 +0000 <![CDATA[ “With my wrist, the arthritis and everything, that would be very challenging.” Jake E. Lee says he may be unable to play his biggest hit with Ozzy at Back to the Beginning ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/jake-e-lee-on-back-to-the-beginning UzCNfzNXPwzKh3zbNzvHfK Fri, 13 Jun 2025 16:33:24 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Before or after I crapped my pants?” Zakk Wylde tells how he felt after scoring his gig with Ozzy — and why he beat the competition ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/zakk-wylde-on-auditioning-for-ozzy 7GnriTKJ2MnZF4q6B78QRV Tue, 10 Jun 2025 17:57:01 +0000