In a move that has shocked the heavy metal world, legendary BLACK SABBATH vocalist Ozzy Osbourne has decided to replace Zakk Wylde, the lead guitarist of Osbourne’s solo band. Classic Rock caught up with Ozzy Osbourne last week at the Slash & Friends gig in Norway, where the whispers backstage had guitarist John 5 (ex-Marilyn Manson, currently with Rob Zombie) lined up as a possible replacement for Zakk Wylde.
Here’s an excerpt from the interview:
“Well, I’m getting a new guitar player as we speak,” said Ozzy, “and everyone has been saying to me for a long time, ‘Get Johnny 5!’ And I tried him at one time and I didn’t really give him a chance. We’ll see, I don’t know. I haven’t fallen out with Zakk, but Zakk’s got his own band, and I felt like my stuff was beginning to sound like Black Label Society. I just felt like I wanted a change, y’know?”
http://www.ozzy.com/
this is bullshit!!
He should have took a bath and shaved his nasty beard off !
Zakk is better off without Ozzy…
honestly I think its a damn good thing I prefer black label’s music over ozzy’s newer stuff so the sooner we get more black label the better.
There is no other guitar player in the world who can pull off Randy Rhodes era Ozzy like Zakk! Ozzy should tell his stupid wife to take some guitar lessons and get out there. Serously if the Osbournes think this a good move for them professionaly they are sadly mistaken. There is alot of people who know how to play the guitar, but no one on this planet will be able to step into Zakk Wylde’s shoes. Good luck Ozzy! Your going to need it!
Love Zakk, but he has been overly down tuning for years now. Black Rain, although it had some very well written songs on it, is so muddy you can barely make out what key he is in. Even the last couple Black Label albulms are sub par for him. I miss old Zakk, No Rest for the Wicked, No More Tears, Pride and Glory!!! I miss hearing him make his guitar scream and not sound like every other new metal band, he is too good for that. For this reason and his overly drinking these days( Ozzy trying to stay sober), I think it’s a good move.
John Lowery ( aka John 5) I believe is a poor choice. Although he is a great guitar player, since his stint in Manson he has had to keep up this hole goth thing, which isn’t good for Ozzy ( too much image not enough substance).
I believe a better choice would be a guy like Rich Ward ( STUCK MOJO). Rich not only is The Duke an amazing guitar player who can play everything, but he can also write in any style. Rich has huge clear tone ( although he does tune down) and also a huge stage presence!!! Note: The Duke is also not a partier (drink and drugs).
Ozzy should avoid big name guys if he ever wants to write fresh good music again. Look at his past guitar players, all unknowns to a large public. I personally would like Ozzy to come back with another great albulm and make up for the crap that was Down To Earth and the muddy mess of Black Rain. To me Rich Ward is the man for the job. If he does not plan on writing new music in the future, John Lowery or any other known guy who can play is fine.
Ozzy is 60 years old and 20 plus years past his prime. Ozzy will not return to form because his form has been dead for over 20 years. Rock is a young mans game and not only is Ozzy not young any more, Zakk is an old fart now too. However, if this news is true about Zakk being fired by Ozzy/Sharon it is really sad that Ozzy/Sharon didn’t have the guts to tell Zakk and he had to find out on the internet.
For starters, Zakk’s a legend. But beyond that, it’s way too late in the game for Ozzy to get yet another guitarist and another change to his overall sound. To be frank- He’s lost his bloody marbles and has turned into a walking parody.
I think zakk is as much an attraction as ozzy as far as ozzie’s gigs go, and there sure as hell isn’t anyone out there who can replace the wonderful mr wiedlant.
Also-Zakk certainly loves Ozzy, so after 20 yrs of making music together-it’s bloody rude to just say “yup, well i’m bored of u now, bye”
rant over – Fuck Ozzy – Go Zakk
Still can’t get over it. Zakk is Ozzy and Ozzy is Zakk. 20 years for a reason. Scream definately has new sound to it, don’t know what to make of it yet. However I must say Ozzy is on to something. BLS song 15 from the Sonic Brew album is eerily similar to Track 5 from Ozzy’s No More Tears Album???