Frank Sidoris has shared the letter he received from Ozzy Osbourne after auditioning for a spot in his band. Although short, the heartfelt letter, written to explain why he didn’t get the gig, gives a candid look at the legend’s humble personality.
The singer and heavy metal icon, who passed away July 22 at 76, was auditioning players in the spring of 2017. At the time, Black Sabbath's The End tour had entered its final stages, and Ozzy wanted to go back out on the road solo.
Sidoris — who joined Slash feat. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators in 2012 and is also part of Wolfgang Van Halen’s Mammoth — was afforded the chance to take part in a private, and very loud, audition as the Prince of Darkness searched for a new guitarist.
“I was invited to Ozzy's home to perform two songs for him to audition for his band after the Sabbath reunion,” Sidoris explains. “We loaded my amp, guitar, et cetera, into his movie theater, and I played ‘Mama I'm Coming Home’ and ‘Diary of a Madman’ while he sat about 10 feet away from a very loud amp — at his request.
“He sang every word over me, playing at concert volume, which was comforting and hilarious, as it was just him and I in the room with his assistant,” he continues.
Unfortunately for Sidoris, the audition was unsuccessful, as Ozzy opted to reunite with his longtime foil Zakk Wylde, with whom he’d parted after 2007’s Black Rain.
But to Sidoris's surprise, Ozzy went to great lengths to explain his decision in a letter, which Sidoris has shared as a story on his Instagram.
“Frank, I wanted to thank you for coming by to play for me and taking the time to learn my songs. You are a talented musician, and it's obvious to me why you've already had success in this business at a young age.
“I've decided to work with Zakk Wylde, writing and recording my next studio album as well as playing guitar on my upcoming tour dates this summer. Zakk has been with me a long time, and I know that having him play with me is something my fans really want to see.
“I wish you continued success.
“God Bless, Ozzy.”
The revelation about the auditions is also intriguing. Gus G. had replaced Zakk Wylde in Ozzy's band in 2009 and co-wrote Ozzy;s 11th solo album, Scream. However, the guitarist’s time with the band was soon eclipsed by the reformation of Black Sabbath, and he was quietly phased out of the picture.
Wylde’s return was celebrated by the fanbase. He’d been an almost ever-present in the band since 1987, save for a brief period away in the wake of an audition for Guns N’ Roses. The fact that Ozzy had tried other candidates out instead of solely asking Wylde to return shows that the singer wasn’t simply resting on his laurels.
The letter, Sidoris adds, “proves that he was truly everything that you would hope he was as a person.
“It was an honor to be in his welcoming presence and feel his genuine warmth in person.”
