Missing the Crazy Train

We know about the star guitarists who played with Ozzy's band over his four- decade career — but what about the guys (and gals) who didn't make the grade?

- ANDREW DALY

FEW VOCALISTS IN history are as synonymous with guitar heroics as Ozzy Osbourne. Starting with Tony Iommi and somehow also connecting with Randy Rhoads, Brad Gillis, Jake E. Lee, Zakk Wylde and so many other greats (see page 52), when it comes to six-stringers, Ozzy knew how to pick 'em.

But what about the coulda-beens, shoulda-beens and never-beens? You know — the “close, but no cigar” gang? So many topnotch guitarists have told tales of auditioning for Ozzy and, for one reason or another, not being the right fit.

Below, in the spirit of “almost,” GW dials it back to 13 players who were ever-so-nearly the apple of Ozzy's ever-fickle eye.

George Lynch

Auditioned in 1979 and 1982

The Washington-born future Dokken star auditioned for Ozzy Osbourne not once, but twice. He first tried out in '79 but lost out to Randy Rhoads. He auditioned again after Rhoads' death three years later, this time to replace Brad Gillis, who had replaced Rhoads. Lynch insists that he secured the gig but was quickly fired after Ozzy got a load of Jake E. Lee's look.

"They had two problems with me," Lynch told Ultimate Guitar last year. "Ozzy had a problem with my short hair. I had short hair at the time. Then his wife [Sharon] had a problem with my green guitar. She said it looked like a booger. [She] didn't care what it sounded like, didn't care what I was playing." It's all a bit hard to believe, given Lynch's instrumental prowess. That said, Lynch is known as a, shall we say, free spirit. He didn't jive with Don Dokken, nor did he get on all that well with Oni Logan in Lynch Mob. It's reasonable to speculate that he might eventually have fallen out with Ozzy.

Richie Ranno

Auditioned in 1982

Back in 2022, the East Coastraised guitar-slinger Richie Ranno told GW how he met a young Randy Rhoads in 1976 while he was playing with Starz.