Marty Friedman has crafted one of the most diverse careers in contemporary guitar history. From his groundbreaking work in shred metal with Cacophony to his influential tenure with Megadeth, and later achieving stardom in Japan through appearances on over 700 television shows, Friedman’s journey is remarkable. However, a meaningful opportunity that eluded him was joining Ozzy Osbourne‘s band during the late 1980s.
In a recent conversation with Argentina’s TCDG Guitar Classes, Friedman revisited that crucial audition, providing an honest and introspective analysis of why he ultimately did not secure the position.
At that time, Friedman was living in San Francisco and facing financial hardships while performing with the late Jason Becker.He recalled, “They actually reached out to me when I was based in San Francisco. I was part of Cacophony then and nearly broke—almost homeless.but sharon Osbourne called me up and said if I coudl make it to L.A., they would fly me out for an audition.”
“I thought, ‘Wow, that’s cool.’ So I went ahead with the audition and played my heart out. I felt confident about my performance; however, I realized that my style didn’t quite align with theirs. They were all about that classic L.A.-metal vibe—decked out in leather jackets adorned with chains and sporting Jack Daniel’s shirts for rehearsal.”
“While I understood their approach for a show setting, at rehearsals they wore cowboy hats along with various necklaces and jewelry pieces. They embodied Sunset Strip rock culture while I showed up in a simple t-shirt and jeans—I probably looked like someone waiting for a bus or something,” he added.
Ultimately, the role went toZakk Wylde, a choice Friedman fully comprehends now: “In retrospect, Zakk got the gig—and rightly so! He brought so much more energy than what I could have offered at that time; he’s incredibly talented.” Reflecting on his own mindset during the audition process he remarked: “I thought I’d done well but sensed they might not choose me as after rehearsals those guys likely headed straight out partying while here I was—a proper good-boy type.”
Diving deeper into this experience during his appearance on the 2024 episode of the podcasttalk Louder, Friedman clarified that it wasn’t necessarily a musical failure—it stemmed from social dynamics: “Learning Ozzy’s songs felt akin to playing Ramones tracks; it wasn’t as complex as what I’d typically been doing. So musically speaking, there were no issues on my end—I practiced extensively until every note felt second nature.”
“When it came time for my audition everything sounded great from where I stood; everyone seemed pleased too! Yet looking back now it’s clear—the reason behind not landing this role had less to do with music than it did our differing personalities,” he explained further.
“The bass player at that moment along with their drummer were quintessentially LA Sunset Strip types—complete outfits featuring bracelets made from chains paired alongside black tees plus boots topped off by hats—all decked-out LA metal personas while here stood just your average guitar enthusiast wearing jeans paired simply alongside an ordinary t-shirt,” he concluded.
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