WHEN OZZY MET GUS G.
Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 at 10:18am by Axl RosenbergHere’s something else Zakk Wylde can hear about for the first time over the internet.
In case you’ve been in a coma, here’s a quick “Last time on…” for ya. During a recent interview, Ozzy said the following:
“Well, I’m getting a new guitar player as we speak… 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.”
Of course, the reference to this mysterious “guy from Greece” led some fans to speculate that Ozzy might be working with Firewind guitarist Gus G. And now Blabbermouth is reporting that Gus G. may be performing with Ozzy at Blizzcon.
And while Blabbermouth is (rightfully) still treating this as rumor pending confirmation by someone from Team Ozzy, no one should be shocked if it ends up being fact. I would put money on Gus G. having the job.
So what does this mean for the world of metal? Well…
- THE END OF THE ZAKK WYLDE-OZZY OSBOURNE SAGA WILL BE A SAD ONE. Zakk’s been saying that he an Ozzy were finally gonna hash things out at Blizzcon; obviously, this is not going to be the case.
- FIREWIND RECORD SALES ARE ABOUT TO HIT AN ALL-TIME HIGH. The benefit of being Ozzy Osbourne’s guitar player is that you join a lineage that includes Tony Iommi, Randy Rhodes, and, oh yeah, Mr. Wylde. Of course, it also includes Jake E. Lee and Joe Holmes, so… either way, you know the world will be watching for the outcome. I guarantee you, a lot of people are reading about Gus G., wondering who the fuck he is, and they are going to find out (which also means a lot of MySpace traffic and illegal downloading, but, hey, welcome to 2009). Gus G. is already way more famous today than he was yesterday, and he hasn’t even appeared on an album or toured with Ozzy yet. Which leads us to…
- EXPECT FIREWIND TO END UP ON OZZFEST. Assuming there ever is another Ozzfest, which I’ll wager there will be, Firewind will get the Black Label Society spot: late on the second stage or early on the main stage. Either way, Firewind continue to get a lot of exposure. That in and of itself actually makes me happy for Gus G., regardless of what the outcome of his collaboration with Ozzy ends up being. Speaking of which -
- IF OZZY IS EVER GONNA MAKE A GOOD ALBUM AGAIN, THIS IS HIS SHOT. The thing is, both Vince and I idolized Zakk Wylde. No More Tears is still our favorite Ozzy album. I’m actually rocking that shit right now as I write this, and it still kills. So I’m sorry that Zakk’s departure after all this time is so bittersweet. But for whatever reason, Zakk seems to have lost that fire that made him so great. And given that Ozzy’s sound is always incredibly dependent on his guitar player, some fresh blood means he actually has a shot of making something worth caring about again. Gus G. is a great guitar player, and I think his style should fit really well with Ozzy. I’m already incredibly curious to hear this new album. Except…
- OZZY PROBABLY WON’T MAKE A GOOD ALBUM AGAIN. And this part kills me. Kevin Churko – the same guy responsible for Black Rain (as well as material for Celine Dion and Britney Spears) - is producing again, and Wylde has been saying he was supposed “finish” the album in September, suggesting they’ve already done a good amount of work. If Gus G. is ostensibly being brought as a session guitarist who won’t be allowed to make substantive creative contributions, then we’ll probably get a lot of awesome guitar solos on what is otherwise, and for the third or fourth time now, a completely mediocre and forgettable Ozzy album.
In conclusion: the new Ozzy album is suddenly at least potentially worth caring again. Which is a huge step. And, hey, if Dave Mustaine can make a cool record again, then anything is possible.
Sorry, Zakk. We’ll always have No More Tears.
-AR
Um…I can has more Firewind instead?
I’m with you, buddy. Fuck “more Ozzy.” I got my new Sabbath (H&H, duh) and now I want some new Firewind.
Ozzy has millions of fans world-wide. I’ve been one for thirty years. He rocks my world with every album he puts out. And, have a little thankfulness and respect for his heart and talent. I have a niggling suspicion that wiithout his boost to Iommi and the rest of them would not be enjoying their tour this year. Ozzy and Sabbath forever.
Never been a Firewind fan but Gus G is a talented musician and I wish him well. A pretty awful way to treat Zakk though from an outsider’s ignorant perspective. Maybe there’s more to this.
Move over Wylde Rover and let Gussy take over…
Yeah, I would rather keep Gus out of Sharon’s band.
Heaven & Hell is still better.
Damn right.
Fuck no.
This sounds awesome but i dont think its going to make ozzys new album much better at this point.
Jesus christ, how many bands is this guy gonna be in. Firewind, Dream Evil, Mystic Prophecy…I know there’s like a shit-ton more that he has at least played in for a little while. Still, those are all good bands, and it would be cool to hear him play some stuff for Ozzy.
He plays only for Firewind at the moment.
Yea, I know. He apparently was in Arch Enemy for a little while, which I did not know. Also, Nightrage. Dude gets around.
they should get jake back!!! the hell with the rest!!!! let pus p go back to fire chicken or what ever,,
You’re completely overlooking the fact that it’s not Ozzy’s guitarist or producer that is to blame for his shit albums (although they may be partially to blame). Ozzy just isn’t that talented anymore. His voice is shot and his brain doesn’t seem to be working properly lately. I’m not really a fan of any of Ozzy’s stuff and I can’t understand why people can’t just let his ass go. It’s over.
I was distracted when I first read this headline, so at first I thought it said Gus <> instead of <> Suffice it to say, I was momentarily vexed to think of Ozzy taking Gus DRAX away from Biomechanical in any way, shape, or form. *whew* I’m fine now, because I honestly couldn’t care less about this collaboration. No disrespect to Ozzy, but he hasn’t done anything worthwhile in a long time. His kid has his work cut out for him in trying to rehabilitate his father’s shattered legacy.
I was trying to offset letters and the formatting screwed it up. I originally tried to distinguish between Gus “D” and Gus “G.”
Biomechanical??
Welllllllllll, since you asked: http://www.myspace.com/biomechanical
I wonder what Zakk Wylde’s pinch harmonic thinks about all this!
i always thought he had a pedal or some other effect that made that overused noise.
“The benefit of being Ozzy Osbourne’s guitar player is that you join a lineage that includes Tony Iommi, Randy Rhodes, and, oh yeah, Mr. Wylde. Of course, it also includes Jake E. Lee and Joe Holmes”
Are you knocking Jake E. Lee Axl? The guy is a fucking amazing guitar player and the music he made during his tenure with Ozzy was really fucking good…
Agreed. His band Badlands was awesome too.
Badlands were fucking amazing. And Jake E. Lee is easily my favourite of Ozzy’s guitarists.
Favorite over Randy? ehhh
Least favorite guitarist and made some ungood records. I just can’t get into Ultimate. Bark had some decent stuff but ehhh overall.
Gus G. + Ozzy= a great Ozzy album and a very pissed off Zakk Wylde who will more than likely go on a rampage like a crazy ex girlfriend
can’t picture ozzy “singing” over that epic garbage that firewind plays. don’t think this is gonna fit right.
firewind is the best power metal band ever. and i disagree Mustaine has been making good albums forever
being in the best power metal band = gold medal in the special olympics
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
+25
This just in…Gus G joins ANOTHER crappy band.
Wow.. never thought I would see a firewind video on MS… not quite shure Gus G. could save ozzy’s career anyway but the thing that make firewind so popular in power metal was the US hard rock influences so…
Zakk’s coyote ate Ozzy’s dog
Ozzy probably has no idea, but Gus was the fill-in guitarist for Arch Enemy on Ozzfest when Chris Amott left.
Metal nerd alert: I believe Chris Amott was Gus G’s instructor, as well.
Randy Rhodes??
who..
fuck this
Randy Rhoads is the best guitar player. Much better than Jake E Lee or Zakk Fucking Wylde. Give him the fucking respect
Axl kills me with this misspelling and it’s like the 10th time already.
The stupid sack of shit hasn’t even seen Ozzy live, what do you expect man?
He was also in NIGHTRAGE!
Gold medal in the special fucking Olympics!!!!!
BWAAAAHAA!!!
Now THAT’S gold my friend!!!!
Ozzy should have caught wind of the guitar player Geoff from NY band Symptom 7.
I dont think that when Gus G joins Ozzy he will start writing songs in the style of Firewind…
Probably he will try to write closer to Ozzy style and of course try to put his own ‘touch’ in the songs
I think they can make a great album together!
“then we’ll probably get a lot of awesome guitar solos on what is otherwise, and for the third or fourth time now, a completely mediocre and forgettable Ozzy album.”
Third, you fucking moron, fourth is No More Tears.
God, haven’t seen him live, can’t spell Randy’s fucking name, can’t fucking count, just get the fuck out of here.
You guys are really worthless lately, fucking worthless, just go lick DEP’s shaft and leave Heavy Metal and it’s forefather to someone with a fucking brain that isn’t clouded with pot, alright? You’re destroying your own legitimacy as a metal blog with this constant fuck-up atmosphere, pull your head out of the hardcore scene’s ass and put the joint down for just a few minutes when you’re posting a Heavy Metal update.
Anyway, I thought Down To Earth was great overall, even though it had production problems, Black Rain was something of a downer, but it had The Almighty Dollar, which I enjoyed, arguably Ozzmosis is still the worst out of the past four albums, but there’s still two songs I enjoy off of it.
I’m hoping Ozzy lets this guy loose, even though I can’t stand shit like Firewind it doesn’t mean anything, NIN’s guitarist wailed melodic tsunamis on Chinese Democracy, and he’s horrible with Trent and his band of reject hipsters. I think having him hammer out his own version of Zakk’s pinch harmonics won’t benefit the album, given Ozzy said he didn’t know if he was going to use Zakk’s stuff I hope that’s an indication he’s going to let this guy decide what to do creatively.
Ozzy of course, since the ATV accident and due to age, can’t wail anymore, so fresh blood would help adapt to that unfortunate flaw, if we can’t have good Black Sabbath(Fuck you Dio, and Fuck you “Tony”), then we can at least have a shot at another good Ozz album before the bell tolls.
lol dude.
AGREED.
everything you’ve said
YOU STUPID IDIOT, OZZY CANT SING TO SAVE HIS LIFE
WATCH YOUR MOUTH WHEN YOU SPEAK ABOUT DIO
CUCUMBER-BRAIN
Wow, clever insults there.
I’d rather watch Dio, since he appears to be trying to heave up a furball from grooming that giant raggedy mess he calls hair as opposed to singing.
well its nice to know metal is not a beauty contest
he was flawless in sonisphere, flawless!
Ozzy needs a new guitarists, someone who is able to write and record a great Record, with the efforts Randy put into it, not someone who has somewhat a established name in some cheesy metal band., but ozzy is old school and concerts is what he wants to deliver, he knew from the 80s when cds where spoken of that formats will change, he wants real live shows, Gus G might cut it but there are far more great players he can ask to come out of there closest on youtube if he wanted too.
i suggest that ozzy asks people to show off some youtube videos of there stuff and see who may be able to jam with him.
That cracks me up Revrant (OMG!!!!!!!)
“You guys are really worthless lately, fucking worthless, just go lick DEP’s shaft and leave Heavy Metal and it’s forefather to someone with a fucking brain that isn’t clouded with pot, alright?”
Ozzy is not heavy metal’s forefather, he’s a tone-deaf junkie and and a washed up cunt. If it weren’t for Tony Iommi he’d have never made anything of himself, and if wasn’t for his ugly bitch of a wife he’d have OD’d years ago.
that just tells how ignorant you fucking are it was cuz of him and a few other classic metal artist that created metal. Just go kill yourself you fucken cunt
Gus G can fit great with Ozzy. He is young so he has the enthousiasm, he writes good songs and the most important thing, he has good stage presence! Maybe that’s what Ozzy needs right now. Its like an old man finding a young girlfriend. it makes him feel young and rejuvenated (of course Gus will not be Ozzy’s girlfriend-for those who have a dirty mind :)….) Gus G is of the Michael Schenker ’school’. That would be interesting to see how it fits with Ozzy’s music… So Ozzy SHOULD go greek!
not a good fir at all.
Ozzy needs more than a typical shredder. ..someone who brings something new to the table..
the best ozzy record with Zakk is (no rest for the wicked)….i know there will be people calling me an idiot for my opinion….but i dont care, just my opinion!!!! zakk is a great guitarist yes he needs to treated with more respect from Ozzy!!!! but hey everyone needs to look at it this way,its the music business!!!! zakk will bounce back and make a hell of a record with bls and any other side project he chooses….
As for gus g he is a good guitarist as well maybe if hangs with ozzy he will lose is mind like Zakk did, grow a beard and really be cool!!!!! just a thought …. im a dreamer? come on ozzy!!!! were is the prince of fu*kin darkness?
Очень интересно и занимательно было почитать.
whats with the dig at dave mustaine at the end? >: – /
Gus G sounds like ass.
Massive mistake.
bitch i betcha you cant play worth shit you fucken cunt go kill yourself
Is that all you say? lol.
Ozzy needs, @ the very least, three things to create another good record…
1. At least 30 years of his life back, obviously will never happen
2. To allow his talented guitarists to be more involved in the musical aspects of the album, all of Ozzy’s/Sabbath’s great songs have been built around legendary hooks and riffs, Ozzy just came in and sang over them (especially Zakk’s studio stuff). When I was introduced to Sabbath, it wasn’t Ozzy’s voice that caught me, it was Iommi writing the heaviest fuckin’ riffs that existed @ that time! Want to a surefire way to make a good record sound instantly shitty? Let a guy fuck with it that has a suit or Celine Dion shirt on!
3. To stop whoring hisself out by showing up on Dancing With the Losers and trying to fucking sell phones and letting Randy Rhodes riffs show up on shitty rap songs!
Ozzy is done! He should have hung it up over a decade ago and let Zakk do whatever the hell he wanted to, instead of letting the whole world watch as he spiraled into senility!
Ozzy gave Zakk his shot, thus Zakk stuck with him through some horrible albums! Pretty poor way to potentially end a business relationship!
may be they should get brad gilis> taylor swift would be better
well for sure Gus. G is a great guitarist i rather hearing him with his original band Firewind because he is a great composer in heavy melodic metal and his albums is ass kicking
Ozzy has not had a really good album since Diary of a Madman.
The song writing on first albums was far superior than anything that followed. Randy Rhoads song writing was creative and fresh. Bob Daisley wrote most of the lyrics on the first 2 albums (as well as Bark at the Moon and The Ultimate Sin). Far superior to any of Ozzy’s efforts. (Geezer wrote the lyrics in Black Sabbath)
The CD’s with Zack have been mediocre and rife with cliche. As well as weak lyrically.
Zack is so overrated as a guitar player, almost as much as Slash.
Hopefully Gus G can spark some new life, but after listening to Firewind and other stuff he plays on, I seriously doubt it,
Unless you think every metal cliché is awesome.
Oooooh sweeps, shredy speed licks and chugga chugga chuga. YAWN! Without great songs skilled guitar playing gets boring.
The bar has been set so low, people will probably eat up any dreck with a decent production and speedy technical sounding guitar solo.
Sad but true…
I’d be happy to write the new material and save Ozzy’s carreer. Does he still have the same guys who write for brittney spears and the one liner jingle commercials writing for him? Either way.. The offere’s here, ozzy. Just sayin. PS… I hope Gus G makes it rich. He deserves it.