NEWS: Is Zakk Wylde out of Ozzy’s band?
Now this is interesting. Classic Rock magazine recently interviewed Ozzy Osbourne and Ozzy had a few things to say about Zakk Wylde:
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?
“I’ve got a guy from Greece coming in – not the musical, the country of Greece – but I’m not going to say too much about it, cos I don’t know myself at this point. I’ve got a new album, I’m working on it as we speak. I’ve got a studio at my house and I’ve got a guy called Kevin Churko, the guy that did the last album [Churko also worked on Ozzy’s Under Cover album, produced Cheap Trick’s highly rated 2006 album Rockford, and has credits on releases by Britney Spears, Celine Dion and Shania Twain] – he’s great to work with.
So you’re taking it easy recording this album?
“Oh yeah. Zakk came down and did a bunch of stuff and I don’t know if I want to use it but I’ve got it there if I do. And this Kevin Churko is a bit of an all-rounder so I’m getting back to basics in some respects. One thing about a guy who can’t do all the finger-tapping stuff is that he plays better on the riffs cos it’s not all [hums riff for Iron Man followed by over-the-top widdling].”
Alerted to the article on Twitter, Zakk said:
ZakkWyldeBLS I haven’t heard anything about this. Until I talk to the Boss I don’t know. I love Ozzy.
ZakkWyldeBLS I’m doing Blizzcon with him in August and supposed to finish up the cd in September….this is news to me
Now, this wouldn’t be the first time Zakk’s own music has forced him to leave Osbourne employ: back in the mid 90s when Zakk was briefly working with Guns ‘N’ Roses while also pursuing his own band, Pride & Glory. Back then Ozzy said Zakk couldn’t make up his mind what he wanted to do, so Ozzy made up his mind for him. But man, Zakk’s a pretty big part of the Osbourne legacy and to be perfectly honest with ya I’m not sure I would have gone to Ozzy’s most recent Melbourne gig if Zakk wasn’t in the band.
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15 Responses to NEWS: Is Zakk Wylde out of Ozzy’s band?
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Hi! I'm Peter Hodgson. I write for Gibson.com, Australian Guitar, Australian Musician, Mixdown Magazine (including my instructional column, 'Unleash Your Inner Rock God,' which has been running since 2007), guitarworld.com, Tone Deaf, Beat (including their weekly hard rock/metal column Crunch) and The Brag. And I'm Assistant Social Coordinator with Seymour Duncan.
I've been playing guitar since I was 8 years old, and I've been writing for magazines since I was 18. I've also worked as a guitar teacher (up to 50 students a week), a setup tech, a newspaper editor, and I've also dabbled in radio a little bit. I live in Melbourne, Australia, and my hobbies include drinking way too much coffee, and eating way too much Mexican food.
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If Zakk has to go, John 5 would be an interesting replacement. He'd be good at bringing some of the darkness back to Ozzy's music.
wow spooky… I wonder who the guitar player from Greece is?!!?!
I think that's pretty interesting that Ozzy didn't seem to have spoken with Zakk about any of this yet. haha
Greece…Gus G maybe? He could definitely handle it!
Ozzy sucks. I think zakk has wasted his talent on the old man for to many years. Has every one forgot what a monster this guy is on a guitar!!!!
LESS THAN JAKE LESS THAN JAKE
LESS THAN JAKE LESS THAN JAKE
LESS THAN JAKE LESS THAN JAKE
LESS THAN JAKE LESS THAN JAKE=better than ozzy and rob zombie
Dario Lorina is Ozzy's new axeman. The news will hit the streets soon.
Dario Lorina, you say! Things just keep getting better and better for that dude!
Zakk will do just fine without the Ozzman!
Wylde is very versatile as a musician and he has proven that! I won't go to another Ozzy show but the change at this stage of his career (Oz) should be no big deal really.
I know one thing. If Ozzy fell off the stage we all know who'd be the first to jump down there with him to help, not like that other band where they just stood there like the 3 stooges.
You can try and lie to yourself, but truth is, the guitarists have made Ozzy. Tone, songs, everything. I dont care for Ozzy as a front man at all. I think he holds Zakk back. If youre gonna have someone play guitar for you….LET THEM PLAY THE WAY THEY PLAY!!! If you dont…ITS FAKE and the music, on both ends, suffers.
John 5 plays along with a backing track very well….for an example go to a rob zombie concert :-/
"John 5 plays along with a backing track very well….for an example go to a rob zombie concert"
so what you are saying is that John 5 is a fake just like rob zombie? I disagree on the john 5 part, but I don't think he could play zakk or randy's songs either. Guss G has his own style, and that is a good thing. of course He will have to play what Ozzy wants, just like zakk, and randy, and jake e lee did, but he may also be able to add his own attitude like they did. be honest. ozzy hasn't had a worthwhile record since "no rest for the wicked" and that equals a mess of sub-par records with zakk. not that that is zakks fault. as has been stated many times before, zakk is an employee of ozzy. when your boss wants you to do it his way, that is what you do. so Good luck Guss! I am rambling, i am sorry. what I want to say is that Zakk has to move on. he has been one of my top favorite guitar players since 1988. I believe in his ability, and honestly think that stepping out of ozzy's shadow will allow him to grow. maybe even step away from rock playing, and innovate in some entirely new direction. Do any of you think that randy would still be playing crazy train with ozzy if he were alive? we musicians are artists, and we need change to stave off the boredom of doing the same thing over, and over again.
Good luck Zakk!
Good luck Ozzy!
Good luck Guss G!
actually, just before randy rhoads died, he was considering leaving rock music all together to earn a degree in classical guitar at UCLA, as he was a huge fan of the classical guitar. Zakk can do much better than ozzy, and in my opinion has done so with the black label society. Ozzy is just a singer and a frontman, he would be nothing without his guitarist.
I Think Somehow gettin jon Donius From Shadows Fall Would Be Interesting.
Mabey Not His Style But Interesting.
What You Think?