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MYSTERIOUS: 2 | Mind Blowing Facts

"He had all the best qualities you’d want in somebody." Zakk Wylde speaks about Ozzy Osbourne for the first time since his death

Zakk Wylde sings the praises of late friend Ozzy and says his toughness was among his most impressive qualities

Metal Hammer

“I played Flying High Again with no amp. He jumped up after I finished the solo and gave me a hug. He said, ‘I love you, Bradley – pull me through’”: Wigs, fake blood, and Ferrari jumpsuits – Brad Gillis on what it was like to be Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist

They were in the Helmsley Palace Hotel Presidential Suite. Gillis sat on the end of the bed playing his '62 Strat. Ozzy was cross-legged on the floor. Gillis nailed the part, and got the gig; the rest is history...

Guitar World

“I was not expecting how open and honest Sharon Osbourne was”: From Randy Rhoads to Chuck Schuldiner, new docuseries Into The Void is bringing heavy metal’s human stories to the mainstream

We talk to Jason Eisener and Evan Husney – co-creators of new eight-episode series Into The Void: Life, Death & Heavy Metal – about bringing some of metal’s darkest days to TV screens

Metal Hammer

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“Ozzy had a problem with my short hair. Sharon had a problem with my green guitar – she said it looked like a booger”: The unlucky 13 guitarists who auditioned for Ozzy Osbourne – but didn’t make the grade

A procession of all-time guitar greats tried their hand with the Prince of Darkness but were ultimately rejected – sometimes for surprising reasons

Guitar World

“We’ve seen a few YouTubers turn their hand to guitar making, but this new one might just be my favorite”: All the new guitar gear that has caught my eye this week – including a triumphant return for one of Gibson’s most sought-after builds

Fender, Ernie Ball Music Man, Jackson, and a load of new Gibson drops headline this week’s round-up

Guitar World

“I did like Bob Dylan, but he was a great con man! He strung a lot of nonsense together and made it seem like it was really important”: Motörhead legend Lemmy Kilmister’s opinions on Dylan, the Eagles, Slayer and his friend Ozzy Osbourne

“Some of the Eagles' songs are fantastic," he said

MusicRadar

“I grabbed his hand saying, ‘Thank you for everything.’ He goes, ‘You were the only guitar player who said no to me’”: Nuno Bettencourt remembers his final exchange with Ozzy Osbourne – a reminder of the gig he once turned down

As a 15-year-old, Bettencourt auditioned to become Randy Rhoads’ replacement. When the gig presented itself years later, he declined

Guitar World

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“The guitar I play live is secretly a Squier. I replaced the neck plate – I was like, ‘I’m too big for this!’” How Frankensteined Fenders and vintage Gibsons supercharged the rise of Jack White-backed rockers Die Spitz

With a yin and yang guitar partnership, rarebreed pedals and a DIY attitude, the Texans’ blend of metal, punk and shoegaze is the latest addition to Third Man Records’ roster

Guitar World

“It’s taken 3 years, but a more affordable spin-off of one of the 21st century’s most advanced guitar designs has finally landed”: All the new guitar gear that has caught my eye this week – including the most extravagant acoustic you will see all year

A $99,999 SJ-200, two Randy Rhoads tributes, and some visionary electrics from Ibanez – here are all the gear launches that you might have missed from the past seven days

Guitar World

“We did a trade, but he owed some money. The guy whose guitar it was had the cops pull me off stage to get it back”: Phil Demmel’s new Jackson Polka Dot signature King V pays homage to his first Randy Rhoads Jackson model – and the guitar god himself

The Rhoads-honoring model serves as a full-circle moment for Demmel, who acquired his first Jackson – also a Randy Rhoads V – under some sketchy circumstances

Guitar World

“I was starstruck when I first met Ozzy. He said he had ‘a good feeling’ about me. He just encouraged me to play with my heart”: Gus G on growing up on Black Sabbath, playing with Ozzy Osbourne – and why Tony Iommi’s style was the hardest to master

Gus G reflects on a life-changing moment when he joined the likes of Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee and Zakk Wylde as one of the few to be chosen by Ozzy as his shredder-in-chief

Guitar World

“Creating the tribute to Randy Rhoads with the polka dots back in 2009 was something special, so it’s nice to pay homage with this”: Jackson and Phil Demmel salute late Ozzy guitarist with limited edition Pro Series signature King V

Strapped with a pair of active EMGs, a recessed Floyd Rose 1000 Series, plus a mahogany body for "endless sustain", the thrash stalwart's new King V is unapologetically metal

MusicRadar

“The first run sold out quickly, leaving fans clamouring for another chance at those iconic tones”: Good news for Randy Rhoads fans – his MXR Distortion+ is back, and you have got to see its stunning special edition “Concorde” finish

All about the crazy train! This special edition reissue presents the late Ozzy guitarist's signature distortion in white with black pinstripes, gold knobs FTW...

MusicRadar

“I sat on the bed while he sat on the floor. He jumped up after I finished the solo and gave me a hug. He cried out, ‘I love you, Bradley’”: Brad Gillis remembers the moment he got the Ozzy Osbourne gig

The Night Ranger guitarist stepped in to help Ozzy complete his tour after the tragic death of Randy Rhoads

Guitar World

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Guitar World

“We took Randy’s pedalboard out for the first time and did the first pedal with the polka dots. We’re releasing a second one”: MXR’s latest Randy Rhoads Distortion is inspired by another of the guitar great’s iconic axes – the Jackson Concorde

The second pedal honoring the Ozzy Osbourne guitarist was painstakingly spec’d from Randy’s original Distortion+

Guitar World

“Tony Iommi didn’t want a song by another guitarist on a Sabbath record.I never saw the money. But hearing Dio perform my song was unforgettable”: Jimi Bell may have lost out to Zakk Wylde in his Ozzy Osbourne audition, but he has no regrets

The drummer turned guitarist remains grateful for what Sharon Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Joan Jett and Randy Rand did for him, as he preps original music from his Deep Purple tribute band

Guitar World

“It’s like walking in to a Walmart to see Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads politely sharing Hendrix riffs”: Underrated guitar hero Danny Gatton to be honored with release of first new album in nearly 20 years

Danny Gatton and Funhouse – Live at the Holiday Inn finds the unsung rockabilly maestro tearing through jazz standards from a gig in 1987

Guitar World

“I was all over the place. But when I first heard Randy play, it was poetry in motion. I thought, ‘Wow, I’m onto a good thing here’”: Ozzy Osbourne couldn’t play guitar. Yet he changed the guitar world by introducing some of its greatest heroes

The late heavy-metal icon did not, could not, play guitar. Yet his contribution to the scene – whether giving a platform to fledgling gunslingers or igniting their talents – was inestimable

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Guitar World

“Learned the solo the other day – it’s not perfect, but I’ll be damned if it wasn’t fun to play”: Grace Bowers channels her inner shredder with a searing tribute to Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads

The guitarist’s solo was flawless, and she says she only just picked it up recently

Guitar World

“He triple-tracked his solos. Ozzy told him, ‘Nobody can do that!’ Well, he could. That was just his genius”: Randy Rhoads’ sister Kathy is keeping his legacy alive with a new pedal and old memories

Kathy Rhoads recalls the young guitarist’s diary entry about the Prince of Darkness, his thoughts on the Eddie Van Halen comparisons, and touches on moments so painful she still can’t discuss them

Guitar World

“Ozzy said, ‘Are you crazy? You’re a rock star. You could buy your own college by the time you’re done if you keep doing this!’” Just before his passing, Randy Rhoads was ready to leave the rock star life behind – and go back to school

His sister, Kathy Rhoads, reveals that their mom was already scouting schools before Randy broke the news to Ozzy

Guitar World

“I was gonna look like I was trying to be Randy. It was meant to look like the poster for Vertigo”: Zakk Wylde on how his iconic “Grail” Les Paul Custom got its bullseye finish – and gave him his signature style

Wylde says it was love at first sight with the Grail, but worried that people might see him as a Randy Rhoads clone, it needed a new look

Guitar World

“I always wanted to reconcile, tell him there weren’t any hard feelings and end things on a friendly note. I got to do that”: Jake E. Lee had a hero’s welcome at Back to the Beginning – but mending his rift with Ozzy Osbourne was what meant the most

Lee reflects on Ozzy’s final show, explains why he never bore a grudge over being fired, and recalls how the late Prince of Darkness made him a better guitarist with a single comment

Guitar World

“Ozzy looked well. He did not look like he was two weeks away from passing… The feeling was similar to when Randy passed away – that dead void, that emptiness”: Rudy Sarzo on the lifelong kindness of Ozzy Osbourne – and the miracle of his final weeks

The bassist stood shoulder to shoulder with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads at the height of Osbourne’s 1980s success. Now, in an exclusive interview, he recalls how the Black Sabbath icon changed his fortunesand earned his loyalty for life

Guitar World

“I’m, like, ‘Why are they calling me? Did every rock guitar player in Los Angeles disappear spontaneously at the same time?’” When Joe Bonamassa guested on an Ozzy Osbourne album – and couldn't quite believe it

The blues hero has reflected on their unlikely union in 2005, and why he sees Ozzy as heavy metal’s John Mayall

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