Paul Gilbert recently opened up about his early attempt to join Ozzy Osbourne’s band. He revealed the surprising reason behind his rejection in an interview with EON Music.
The guitarist discussed his ambitious move at just 15 years old to audition for the legendary metal vocalist’s band. When asked about sending a tape to Ozzy Osbourne about joining his band at such a young age, Gilbert explained the unconventional path his demo tape took.
“Well, I didn’t have Ozzy’s address, so I sent the tape to Mike Varney [Shrapnel Records founder], because he was the only person I could find that had a public address that you could send something to,” Gilbert said. “I had a cassette of a bunch of copy songs that I played with my band. We were playing ‘Rock Candy’ by Montrose, and I had a long, unaccompanied solo, and Mike called me back right away, which was, to me, really exciting. Like; ‘wow!'”
Gilbert described his excitement at receiving the unexpected phone call from the California-based record company founder.
“You know, a guy in California has a record company, and he’s calling me on the phone?! So I was thrilled, but when he found out I was 15, he was like; ‘Ozzy doesn’t want a 15 year old in the band,'” Gilbert continued.
Gilbert’s age, rather than his musical ability, became the deciding factor in missing out on what could have been a career-defining opportunity with one of metal’s biggest names.
Gilbert’s rejection by Ozzy’s camp ultimately led him down a different path that would prove equally successful. This success came through the very same connection that initially disappointed him.
Louder Sound reported that Shrapnel Records, founded by Mike Varney in 1981, quickly became the premier launchpad for shred guitarists and technical metal musicians. The label would go on to launch the careers of guitar virtuosos like Yngwie Malmsteen, Jason Becker, and Marty Friedman. It established itself as the definitive home for instrumental rock and metal.
Gilbert’s connection with Varney proved fortuitous despite the Ozzy rejection. Complex Distractions noted that Gilbert was born in 1966. By age 15 he had already demonstrated the technical prowess that would later make him a guitar legend. His early ambition to audition for Ozzy showed the confidence that would characterize his entire career.
The guitarist would eventually find his breakthrough with Racer X, a band that became synonymous with the Shrapnel Records sound. TC Electronic documented that around 1981-82, Paul contacted Mike Varney asking for a gig with Ozzy Osbourne. Varney recognized the young musician’s potential and instead channeled it toward the emerging shred guitar movement.
Modern Drummer highlighted that Shrapnel Records served as a major springboard for many musicians who would later work with big-league artists including Ozzy Osbourne himself. This created an ironic full-circle moment where the label that couldn’t get Gilbert into Ozzy’s band became the launching pad for careers that would eventually intersect with the metal icon’s world.
