In a recent appearance on The Chuck Shute Podcast, Gus G., known for his tenure with Ozzy Osbourne, disclosed why he turned down an opportunity to audition for Megadeth before Kiko Loureiro’s inclusion.
When asked whether he had received invitations from more prominent bands to become a member, the musician replied:
“I had offers to… Actually, I’ve never told that anybody — in the press, at least. I’ve had offers to audition for other bands and stuff — not to join but to audition — but I didn’t do it. During my time with Ozzy, actually, Megadeth reached out [in early 2015]. I was still with Ozzy, and they were looking for somebody. And I said, ‘Well, I can’t really leave Ozzy for that,’ even though I’m a huge Megadeth fan.”
Megadeth’s Search For A Guitarist
He went on to reveal the rest of the story:
“Back then, they were scouting guitar players, and then two weeks later, Kiko [Loureiro] was in the band. And Kiko was a buddy of mine; we’ve known each other. His old band, Angra and Firewind, have toured together, so I knew him, and I thought he was a great fit. And in 2019 — who else? Machine Head asked me to audition once.”
Choosing Independence Over Hired Roles
The guitarist further discussed his perspective on working as a ‘hired gun’ versus leading his own musical projects. He expressed a preference for being in control of his musical journey despite the financial risks and challenges it entails. This desire for independence stems from wanting to make his own decisions and not being comfortable with the disposability often associated with being a hired musician for established bands.
Last November, Gus G. posted a video on YouTube where he played Marty Friedman’s challenging guitar part in Megadeth’s ‘Tornado Of Souls.’ This was after someone asked him to do it, following his earlier cover of a Yngwie Malmsteen song. Gus mentioned he loves ‘Tornado Of Souls’ and it motivated him to practice more. He also praised Friedman’s guitar playing and said that Megadeth’s history of having great guitarists inspires him.
Watch his entire conversation below.
