The next thing that Ozzy Osbourne discovered with him pursuing a solo artist career is how well he picks his guitarists. After working alongside Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi for eleven years, the Prince of Darkness was destined to have lofty expectations. Iommi practically invented the prototype for hard metal, and it’s easy to figure why [] Ozzy Osbourne has revealed who is the best guitarist he's ever played with. The Prince of Darkness dubbed that guitarist to be Black Sabbath bandmate Tony Iommi. From the virtuosic Randy Rhoads, who helped shaped Ozzy's early post-Sabbath days, to the likes of Brad Gillis, who served small-yet-crucial roles in the larger Osbourne ecosystem, the Prince of Darkness's list of collaborators isn't short of top tier players. Below, you can find the guitarists who wrote and played on Ozzy’s classic albums and took part in his legendary tours. He is best known as the lead guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and as the founder, lead guitarist, lead singer, songwriter and producer of the heavy metal band Black Label Society. Wylde's signature bulls-eye design appears on many of his guitars and is widely recognized. Every guitarist to join Ozzy Osbourne's band is stepping into the dark shoes of Black Sabbath 's Tony Iommi, who was not just an amazing player, but had an incredibly distinct style, was one of Randy Rhoads: The Guitar Wizard Randy Rhoads, a guitar virtuoso and visionary musician, left an indelible mark on the world of heavy metal with his exceptional talent and innovative approach. His contributions to Ozzy Osbourne’s band during the early 1980s revolutionized the sound of the genre and earned him a place among the most revered guitarists in rock history. Ozzy Osbourne’s solo band has long been a proving ground for metal’s most outstanding players. From Randy Rhoads to Zakk Wylde, via Brad Gillis and Gus G, here are all the players – and nearly players – in the Osbourne saga We rounded up a list of Gibson Guitars that were reportedly used by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Randy Rhoads, including the Les Paul and SG. READ MORE: Peter Frampton dubs Ozzy Osbourne the “Betty White of rock and roll” In a new instalment of Osbourne’s podcast The Madhouse Chronicles – which he hosts with Billy Idol guitarist Billy Morrison – the singer says why Iommi is unrivalled in the guitar department. In the conversation that follows, Ozzy thoughtfully recalls what made each of his great guitarists special, and elaborates his criteria for choosing a guitarist, his audition process, and his theory on why it's good to be bad. Let’s start by looking at your past guitarists. How did you find Randy Rhoads? "Thinking back, it was quite If Ozzy Osbourne has done one thing right with his solo career, it’s been employing some of the best hard rock and metal guitarists on the planet. Considering the company, being the “worst”, if you can call it that, of Ozzy’s guitarists is still an honorable place to be in heavy metal history. What would Ozzy Osbourne's amazing solo career be without the many guitar heroes who have stood beside him for the past 30-plus years? Not much, unless he had his sights on playing music other Ozzy Osbourne has died aged 76 Back to the Beginning was Ozzy Osbourne’s night – but it was also a tribute to Tony Iommi’s singular impact on guitar music Jake E. Lee on his wild Ozzy Osbourne days and why Tony Iommi is harder to emulate than Randy Rhoads Although other bands came close, Black Sabbath are widely credited with the invention of heavy metal, their doom-laden brand of heavy Between 1979 and today, he had some of the best men in the business pass through the lineup of his backing band. So we will use the opportunity and go through all of Ozzy Osbourne's guitar players. English singer and songwriter Ozzy Osbourne revealed in a 2024 podcast episode of The Madhouse Chronicles that fellow Black Sabbath icon Tony Iommi is the best guitarist he has ever worked with. In honor and celebration of the legendary Ozzy Osbourne's life, we ranked 25 of his best songs, from Black Sabbath to his solo career. The history of the Ozzy Osbourne band is best understood as a series of distinct musical eras, each defined and architected by its lead guitarist. While Osbourne’s vocals provided a constant, iconic presence, the guitarist role was that of a primary co-writer and sonic visionary, fundamentally reshaping the band’s sound with each new arrival. Ozzy Osbourne’s 20 Best Songs: Staff Picks Our list of the 20 best songs fronted by the Prince of Darkness, including both solo and Black Sabbath songs. From Tony Iommi to Zakk Wylde, Ozzy Osbourne has played with an array of immense guitarists, and once categorically named the best of his career. Ozzy Osbourne may be notorious for many things, but his guitarists have always been among the best musicians in heavy metal. Say what you will about the Prince of Darkness, but he knows how to pick them. For over forty years, guitar players associated with Ozzy have carved the metal landscape and stood as icons for up-and-coming players everywhere.
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