How good was Ozzy Osbourne at picking guitarists?
His entire solo career featured legend after legend, and that’s AFTER he’d already made history with Black Sabbath!
This year saw Ozzy and Sabbath triumph one last time at their Back to the Beginning supershow, and now of course we are left in a world that is Ozzy-less. But let’s not get sad about it - he’d hardly want that, would he? Instead, let’s look at those awesome guitar-toting wingmen who accompanied Ozzy throughout his solo endeavours. It’s a good excuse to blast some of his music, and to pay tribute to some of the greatest rock guitar playing this planet has ever seen!
In chronological order (and excluding Tony since he was not a part of Ozzy’s solo stuff), here are Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarists…
Contents
A Who’s Who of Legendary Metal Players
Randy Rhoads
“All abooooard! Hahahaha!” As soon as you hear that, you’re anticipating Randy Rhoads’ immortal intro riff to Crazy Train, Ozzy’s first solo hit, aren’t you? Randy was one of the few players of the time who could compete with the great Eddie Van Halen, without sounding like he was ripping Ed off. Randy had a kinetic and exciting sound of his own, not to mention an eye for unusual guitars! From his invention of the Jackson RR guitar to his adoption of the MXR Distortion+ for his fizzing solos, Randy had a sound and image that was truly original.
Randy Rhoads Trademarks
- Polka dot guitars
- Bright, saturated tone
- Neo-classical solos
- Crunching riffs
- Great energy and showmanship
Randy Rhoads - Get the Sound
Jake E Lee
Randy left some epic boots to fill by whomever came after him in Ozzy’s band. Luckily, that person was Jake E Lee, who appeared as a dazzling, whirling dervish of rock. He had the look, the moves and the sound required to meet Ozzy’s high expectations. Lee appeared on two albums - Bark at the Moon and The Ultimate Sin - during his stint with Osbourne. These were both huge hit records, and he obviously left an impression with fans, because his signature guitar and amp are in high demand today! After a break from the music biz, Jake has been seen again in recent years ripping it up, not least on stage at Back to the Beginning!
Jake E Lee Trademarks
- Raunchy shred licks
- Big tonal dynamics and atmosphere
- Stage Presence
- Definitive 80s hard rock guitar tone
Jake E Lee - Get the Sound
Zakk Wylde
It’s a coin toss to decide who is Ozzy’s most famous guitarist - Randy Rhoads or Zakk Wylde. New York native Zakk was Ozzy’s longest serving guitarist, joining and rejoining the band several times over the decades.
Zakk has a powerful and expressive sound, and he made a pointed decision early in his career NOT to use the techniques of previous Ozzy guitarists. Picking every note of his super-fast solos instead of using legato, Wylde has developed a reputation for being one of the most fierce shredders of the age. He’s a great riff player too, and his Les Paul tone is to die for.
Nowadays, Zakk is a member of Pantera - who else could stand in for Dimebag? - and he has his own line of Wylde Audio guitars which are built by Schecter and are appropriately ‘Wylde’ in appearance!
Zakk Wylde Trademarks
- Huge sound
- Low-tuned riffs
- Ultra-fast picked solos
- Several iconic guitars including Bullseye and Buzzsaw Les Paul Customs
- Wylde Audio guitar brand is his
Zakk Wylde - Get the Sound
Joe Holmes
Joe Holmes is often overlooked when guitar fans talk about Ozzy’s players. It’s not because he doesn’t match up - he’s a killer player - but it’s just the simple fact that there are at least three iconic players already ahead of him in Ozzy’s story. Add to that the fact that the 80s were the heyday for solo Ozzy, and Joe was in the band during the mid-90s. You start to understand why he gets unfairly sidelined, but let’s get real: anybody good enough to fill the Osbourne guitarist slot is going to be a monster of a guitarist!
Joe’s guitars were mostly Floyd-equipped Strats, a perfect choice for a 90s player who still wanted a touch of the 80s!
Joe Holmes Trademarks
- Taught by Randy Rhoads
- Thick tone, particularly from a Strat
- Melodic leads with tasteful shred elements
Gus G
Greek guitar wizard Gus G is as famous for his ‘day job’ in Firewind as he is for his stint with Ozzy. The Jackson endorsee (he plays a cool reissue of their Star design) was Ozzy’s last ‘new’ player before Zakk Wylde came to the fold. Gus appeared on Ozzy’s 2010 Scream album and toured extensively with the Prince of Darkness, leaving the band in 2017.
Gus G Trademarks
- Proficient in all areas of shred
- Frequently downtuned
- Great mix of melody and speed
A Who’s Who of Legendary Metal Players
All of Ozzy’s guitarists have been exceptional players. Not only that, they’ve all been able to bring their uniqueness into the world of Ozzy’s music in ways that complemented both. That’s not an easy trick to pull off, far less continually so! Every player had their own unique sound, but it’s all ‘Ozzy’!
Who was your favourite? In fact, why pick? You can have them all!
