The big frenzy in the past few weeks has been how rumors are flying that Ozzy Osbourne is looking for a new guitarist to replace Zakk Wylde. The reason this might even be happening is that Ozzy feels that his “stuff is starting to sound like Black Label Society.” And what is making this whole situation worse is that Ozzy is scheduled to play at Blizzcon with Zakk, WTF???
First thing first, Ozzy’s latest albums sound nothing like Black Label Society and vice-versa. Zakk has been Ozzy’s guitarist off and on since the unfortunate death of Randy Rhodes in the 80s and if any band was going to sound like the other you would’ve expected BLS to sound like Ozzy’s stuff when BLS first formed; which they didn’t. As a fan of both Ozzy and BLS I can say that they both have their distinct sounds but with some similarities which are expected. Just like how Bruce Dickenson’s solo albums have similarities to Iron Maiden, when you work with a band for a long time your bound to have some connection in sound but not a direct copy.
Secondly, the fact that Zakk hasn’t even been told this directly from Ozzy is disgusting. Zakk heard about this through to internet. AND has to play a show with Ozzy as if nothing has happened, oh to be a fly on the wall when they see each other. I can only imagine the tension being so thick that you’d need a chainsaw to cut through it.
Personally I see nothing wrong with Ozzy wanting to try out a new guitarist but for the sake of all that’s unholy tell your current guy that he might be replaced instead letting him get blindsided by news on the net. Zakk has every right, in my opinion, to tell Ozzy he quits and let Ozzy go nuts looking for a last minute replacement for Blizzcon. But Zakk won’t do that cause he respects Ozzy much more than Ozzy respects him. Hopefully this all works out for the best on both sides, though I think deep down that Sharon was behind this whole fiasco.
With Blizzcon just around the corner I feel that we’ll have the answer of what Zakk’s future with Ozzy will be.
