Alex Skolnick recently opened up about his audition for Ozzy Osbourne and how he ultimately lost the opportunity to join the band. He shared his insights during an appearance on the Talk Louder Podcast.
The Testament guitarist discussed the transitional period Ozzy was experiencing. He also explained how Sharon Osbourne’s preferences may have influenced the final decision.
“It was definitely a very transitional period [for] Ozzy. Zakk was gone, and I think he might have been the longest-lasting guitarist [at that point]. And I think they were also sort of wrestling with… The Ozzy guitarist; he’s always as much of a part of the show as Ozzy,” Skolnick said.
He went on to describe how the eventual choice seemed to downplay the guitarist’s role in the live shows.
“I’ll just say that the guy who ended up touring — his name’s Joe Holmes, I’ve never met him — if you see videos from that tour, he’s kind of off to the side and dimly lit, and you could kind of tell they were trying to take the emphasis off the guitarist. When the next [album] came around, he wasn’t even on the record,” he explained.
Skolnick revealed that despite positive feedback from Ozzy and his crew, one key figure wasn’t as enthusiastic about his potential addition to the band.
“It meant so much, in so many ways. I was told that we looked happier than he looked [with anyone else] they tried, and they tried out a lot of players, including some pretty well-known names. His crew said, ‘Well, he looks happy. You look perfect with him.’ Ozzy told me I was hired after this gig,” he continued. “And finally, I remember, the only person who didn’t seem as enthusiastic was Sharon Osbourne. From what I know now about the entertainment industry, I realized that she really wanted to replace Zakk. I think she really liked his image; the sort of hulking lumberjack with the guitar slung down to his knees, right? And that’s what she was used to at that time. I love Zakk, of course, but my guy was Randy [Rhoads]. So, yeah, even the guy that did get it didn’t last that long.”
The audition process itself was an intense experience that took Skolnick across the Atlantic for what would become a brief but memorable encounter with rock history.
Blabbermouth reported that Skolnick flew to London and auditioned with Ozzy in a dingy rehearsal space. He spent about a week going through the process. The experience proved to be more surreal than he initially expected. Ultimate Guitar noted that when he arrived at the audition, he discovered Geezer Butler was also present. This made half the band essentially Black Sabbath.
The actual audition format was unconventional and spontaneous. Ultimate Classic Rock revealed that Skolnick played three songs as Osbourne called them out during their first session. He was then asked to return the following day when they went through a complete setlist. This impromptu approach reflected the chaotic nature of the situation. The band was clearly in a state of transition following Zakk Wylde’s departure.
Despite the positive reception from Ozzy himself and his crew, the brief tenure highlighted the complex dynamics within the Osbourne camp. Guitar World confirmed that the guitarist’s experience lasted just one show. This made it one of the shortest-lived partnerships in Ozzy’s extensive history of guitarist changes.
“I actually got to the point of doing a show and Ozzy hired me – he said he wanted me to do the gig,” Skolnick recalled in an interview with Ultimate Guitar.
The incident serves as a fascinating glimpse into the behind-the-scenes decision-making process of one of metal’s most iconic acts. Musical chemistry and managerial preferences don’t always align. This ultimately shapes the trajectory of both the band and the musicians who briefly cross paths with rock history.
