MusicRadar

Gus G, Ozzy's new six-string hero, hopes to make fans 'scream' (© Future Publishing)

View in gallery

When Ozzy Osbourne parted ways with his longtime guitarist and collaborator Zakk Wylde last year, millions of fans around the world cried, "WTF?!" Then, when Osbourne announced Wylde's replacement as Gus G, guitarist with the Greek metal band Firewind, those same fans were left speechless. Had Ozzy lost it? Why was he throwing a dear friend and certified guitar god under the bus for a relative unknown?

For a time, Wylde himself was at a loss for words. At first he fired off angry Tweets, demanding to know what was going on. But after a sitdown with the man he still calls "the boss," during which Osbourne explained that it was simply time for a change and that Wylde should devote his time to his own band, Black Label Society, both Wylde and his devoted followers came to understand that it was indeed time for all to move on.

As for Gus G, he made his official debut with Osbourne at BlizzCon last August. A trial-by-fire experience, to be sure, but the affable guitarist describes the show as a "total success. There were doubters there, of course, but I think they saw and heard that I had the right skills for the job."

Gus fully admits that still he has millions of Zakk Wylde devotees across the globe to convert, but if his playing on Osbourne's new album Scream is any indication, he's got the battle halfway won. The disc, co-written and produced by Kevin Churko, is Osboune's strongest effort in years, full of raging, heavier-than-hell tunes and rife with powerful riffery and solos that should have air guitarists air-guitaring like there's no tomorrow. Even Osbourne himself sounds revitalized: his singing is by turns impassioned, energetic, sneering and playful. "I think Ozzy was having a lot of fun making this record," says Gus. "I'm not saying that had anything to do with me. I just think he was really feeling the songs."

While Gus remains fully committed to Firewind, which he's led since 1998, he relishes the opportunity to step into the guitar hero spotlight. In an exclusive interview with MusicRadar, Gus discussed how he came to join Osbourne's band, the challenges he faces, the recording of Scream and his admiration for Zakk Wylde, whom he describes as "a really cool guy and a gentleman."

Through the years, Ozzy Osbourne has worked with so many guitar legends: Tony Iommi, Randy Rhoads, Zakk Wylde. Do you consider it to be every hard rock guitarist's dream to play with Ozzy?

"Yeah, I do. In my book, it's the biggest of all honors. Playing with Ozzy's a dream job, man. It's the ultimate. It's the best gig any rock or heavy metal guitar player could have. Who wouldn't want to play with Ozzy? Nobody I know." [laughs]

When you hear those names, can you believe that you're now part of that lineage?

"Uh, nope! [laughs] No, I can't believe it. I'm living every guitar player's fantasy. To hear you say those names and then know that I'm the next in line…No, this is still taking some getting used to. I don't know if you ever get used to it."

Was there any hesitation on your part to joining Ozzy's band? Either because A) you have your own band, or because B) Ozzy isn't 25 anymore - for all anybody knows, he could retire after this album and tour.

"I really don't know. I never sat down and analyzed it. All I know is, I got the call that they felt I was the right person, and it felt right on my part to go with it. For me, there wasn't a lot of thinking involved. If Ozzy Osbourne calls you and says he wants you to play in his band, what are you gonna say? Come on, you're going to say yes! [laughs]

"Beyond all that, I don't know what Ozzy's thinking as far as his career and how long he wants to keeping going. We don't have those kinds of conversations. We're more thinking about what's happening right now."

Around the web: