Ex-Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman recently reflected on his audition for Ozzy Osbourne’s band back in the late 1980s. He shared his honest thoughts about losing the gig to Zakk Wylde in an interview with TCDG Guitar Lessons.
Friedman opened up about the circumstances surrounding his audition. He explained why he believed he wasn’t the right fit for the band at the time.
“They actually called me when I lived in San Francisco. I was in Cacophony at the time and completely broke, almost homeless,” Friedman said. “But [Ozzy’s wife and manager] Sharon Osbourne called me up and said if I want to go to L.A., they’d fly me out to L.A. to audition. I’m, like, ‘Wow, that’s cool.'”
The guitarist described feeling out of place during the audition process. He noted the stark contrast between his appearance and that of the other band members.
“So, I did the audition and played. I thought I did a good job. But I didn’t really match the vibe of the band very much,” he continued. “They were full-on L.A.-metal type of guys with handcuffs in their belts and Jack Daniel’s t-shirts, and they were all decked out for rehearsal. And I understood doing that for a show, but at rehearsal they wore cowboy hats and all kinds of necklaces and jewelry. And they were full-on Sunset Strip rock mode. And I came in a t-shirt and jeans. I looked like a regular guy waiting for a bus or something.”
Despite feeling confident about his musical performance, Friedman acknowledged the competitive nature of the audition process.
“I played and I thought it went well. And it did sound fine to me, and it was no problems. I learned, like, four songs, and we did ’em bam, bam, bam, and it was fine,” he said. “But we were in this rehearsal hall. There was all kinds of envelopes with cassettes and resumes, and so they were probably trying hundreds of guys. And so I never heard back from them.”
Friedman expressed no bitterness about losing the position to Zakk Wylde. Instead, he praised the choice.
“And then finally Zakk Wylde got the job. And he was just perfect. He was so much better than I would’ve been for that gig. He was just right, and he plays really well,” Friedman concluded. “So I understood it, but at the time I thought, ‘Well, I did a good job, but I don’t think those guys are gonna [pick me].’ They probably went out drinking and partying right after rehearsal, and I was a real good-boy type of guy. Really boring.”
Friedman’s experience reflects the intense and often chaotic nature of Ozzy’s guitarist auditions during that era. These auditions became legendary in rock circles for their competitive atmosphere and unconventional selection process.
The Economic Times reported that Osbourne screened more than 50 guitarists during his search for a new band member. Many candidates arrived with bizarre gimmicks to stand out from the crowd. One particularly memorable audition featured a guitarist who played while eating a sword. Another performed standing on his head.
The audition process was notoriously demanding. It required candidates to demonstrate both technical prowess and the right attitude for Ozzy’s wild stage persona. Guitar Player revealed that other notable guitarists like Jake E. Lee also faced similar challenges during their auditions. They dealt with chaotic logistics and attitude tests that often influenced the final selection as much as musical ability.
The position Friedman auditioned for carried significant weight in the metal world. It meant following in the footsteps of legendary guitarists who had defined Ozzy’s sound. 95 Rock FM noted that Ozzy had previously auditioned virtuoso players like Thin Lizzy’s Gary Moore and Dokken’s George Lynch before ultimately selecting his guitarists. This established a pattern of seeking both technical excellence and the right chemistry with the band.
Zakk Wylde, who ultimately won the position, would go on to become one of Ozzy’s most iconic collaborators. He served as his guitarist for multiple albums and tours. The choice proved prescient, as Wylde’s aggressive playing style and larger-than-life personality perfectly complemented Ozzy’s theatrical approach to heavy metal. This validated Friedman’s gracious assessment of the decision.
