Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready revealed a previously untold story on the State of Love & Trust: A Pearl Jam Podcast. He had once presented a guitar riff to Ozzy Osbourne, which was ultimately not used.
“One of the riffs, I tried to bring in to Ozzy. This was a long time ago. This is in probably like 2002 or 2001,” McCready said. “Prior to that — Ozzy would not remember this — but it was me, Ozzy, Kaz [Kobayashi], this Epic rep and a guitar.”
“I forget what that was called, but that was for the second Mad Season record,” he continued. “I brought that riff to Ozzy and I was playing it through a little amp and I think he listened to it and he just wasn’t into it. I should’ve probably done a really good job of recording it.”
“I’ve never told that story, but that was that song, and I forget the name of it,” McCready added. “It was on the second record. But anyways, that was the riff that I brought to Ozzy — that he did not use.”
The meeting occurred while Osbourne was working on his 2001 album ‘Down to Earth.’
This revelation offers insight into the collaborative nature of rock music during the early 2000s. It specifically highlights the intersection between grunge and metal scenes.
Research from Roadie Music highlighted McCready’s guitar influences. His style draws heavily from legendary musicians like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
The guitarist’s versatility shines through his various projects beyond Pearl Jam. His work with the supergroup Mad Season stands out particularly during this period.
McCready’s technical prowess has established him as one of the most influential guitarists of the grunge era. His work on Pearl Jam’s ‘Alive’ demonstrates his Hendrix-inspired soloing technique.
The timing of McCready’s meeting with Ozzy marked a period of musical exploration for both artists. Pearl Jam was expanding their sound. Osbourne was collaborating with various artists for his ‘Down to Earth’ album.
