Opinions on Gus G?

[Bryan]

I knew absolutely nothing about this guy before he got the Ozzy gig. Yesterday I got around to watching his interview/lesson on last months GW CD. Guy is a good player for sure very technical and all. I just wish he had more of a unique tone. I found his tone to be solid, but nothing that stands out from many other players out there. Maybe in the whole band setting this might change but sitting there by himself I found his tone a tad generic.

There were a lot of "you know" moments for sure but I can live with that. He came off to me as humble and appreciative of the opportunity, which is refreshing considering how some other artists act.

I do wish him luck and I hope he gets his chance to really shine on an Ozzy record. Like Zakk did on No More Tears, which is my favorite ZW Ozzy record.

[BigDaddyD]

Honestly, I don't know Gus G at all. I think Ozzy has sucked for awhile and think Zakk has as well...and I am a fan of both. I had the same thing that Zakk went through physically. When I was 33 I had a DVT in my right calf, and was supposedly healthy when it happened. Last summer, I had a pulmonary embolism in my left lung, from the same shit that caused my DVT earlier and almost died. I am thinking, it wouldn't hurt Zakk to take it easy and chill a bit while working on some good stuff at the same time as he gets healthy. I realize that this isn't his plan, but w/e.

[GTarman68]

He did very well in Chicago @ Ozzfest. I have his Guitar solo on my Droid, Trying to figure out how to get it to Youtube, as it is pretty lengthy. The wall of Blackstar's he used sounded pretty good.

[The Rossness]

What da hell is that on your head?

I rocked the neon green mohawk for a while.

[Tedmac]

i was reading the august guitar world with interviews with him and ozzy. Ozzy mentioned he fired zakk because he was drinking too much.

How much do you have to drink for ozzy fucking osbourne to point his finger at you and call you a drunk?!?

lol

[GTarman68]

lol

answer is..

SHARON!

[jgcable]

Seems like a nice enough guy. Happy for him that he got such a cool gig.
I think it would have been cooler if Ozzy picked a well known player though.. somebody like Reb Beech or Richie Kotzen or Paul Gilbert or Steve Vai or dare I say.... George Lynch.

[akoch]

Well, but those guys might feel insulted if Ozzy approached them. And I would not blame them.

[KBRR]

gus is more talented than zakk ..

[toejam]

I think it would have been cooler if Ozzy picked a well known player though.. somebody like Reb Beech or Richie Kotzen or Paul Gilbert or Steve Vai or dare I say.... George Lynch.

Ozzy and Vai worked together once and wrote a few songs in 1994 for the Ozzmosis album. Only "My Little Man" made the album, but because of some crap between the record companies, Vai didn't get to play on the album.

[Trussrod]

Seems like a nice enough guy. Happy for him that he got such a cool gig.
I think it would have been cooler if Ozzy picked a well known player though.. somebody like Reb Beech or Richie Kotzen or Paul Gilbert or Steve Vai or dare I say.... George Lynch.

PG was offered the job immediately after RR died in March of 1982. RR had been in Greensburg, PA (PG's home town) for a clinic/meet and greet with fans and heard PG play in person. This was around February, 1982. A few of my friends attended and I don't recall them mentioning PG playing in front of the crowd so it may have been an informal, private interview. RR let Ozzy know how good PG was based on this performance, but when the opportunity was there PG decided not to take the job. There were rumors that PG figured he'd be better off making a name for himself on his own rather than as a replacement for another famous player. The main reason PG came to national attention was this job offer from Ozzy. Brad Gillis took the job and since PG is still a current act and BG isn't as widely known it may not have been a bad move on PG's part.

[Mazrim]

I hope Zakk sticks to BLS so I can easily avoid his boring faux biker plod metal.
Ozzy jumped the shark 20 years ago but Gus G is a pretty fine player. Not great or outstanding, lacking a bit of character maybe, but very competent.

If he's smart, he'll use this gig to make a bit of a name for himself whilst not treading on the toes of that Witch and her zombie puppet. I still maintain that the last cognitive thought Ozzy ever had was to strangle her. Then it was all gone.

[PeterC]

PG was offered the job immediately after RR died in March of 1982. RR had been in Greensburg, PA (PG's home town) for a clinic/meet and greet with fans and heard PG play in person. This was around February, 1982. A few of my friends attended and I don't recall them mentioning PG playing in front of the crowd so it may have been an informal, private interview. RR let Ozzy know how good PG was based on this performance, but when the opportunity was there PG decided not to take the job. There were rumors that PG figured he'd be better off making a name for himself on his own rather than as a replacement for another famous player. The main reason PG came to national attention was this job offer from Ozzy. Brad Gillis took the job and since PG is still a current act and BG isn't as widely known it may not have been a bad move on PG's part.

Thats not quite accurate. The only person who Ozzy outright offered the job to was Gary Moore. Gary didn't want the job because he knew Ozzy and knew he was a nutter. At the time of Randy's death PG was still only 16 and there was no way Sharon would have offered a 16 year old the gig.

[javert]

According to Ozzy himself, he offered the gig to Michael Schenker but he demanded so much money ('A King's ransom' as I remember it) that he knew Ozzy would take the offer back. That would have been something, though, and it would probably have killed both of them.

[Trussrod]

Thats not quite accurate. The only person who Ozzy outright offered the job to was Gary Moore. Gary didn't want the job because he knew Ozzy and knew he was a nutter. At the time of Randy's death PG was still only 16 and there was no way Sharon would have offered a 16 year old the gig.

Has GM ever played any of the Randy's songs in public? PG had recorded songs from Diary and Blizzard and could play the material. How much time would Gary have had to learn this stuff if he didn't already know it? Maybe you're right, but as far as I know PG had the gig if he wanted it and was already prepared for the job when the opportunity was there. I don't think the same can be said of GM...