On April 28, we announced that Zakk Wylde would reunite with his old boss—Ozzy Osbourne[1]—for a 2017 summer tour that happens to mark the 30th anniversary...
On April 28, we announced that Zakk Wylde would reunite with his old boss—Ozzy Osbourne[1]—for a 2017 summer tour that happens to mark the 30th anniversary of the duo's first collaboration. The news marked the end of Ozzy's nearly decade-long collaboration with guitarist Gus G.
But—and we remember the many comments on Facebook—a lot of fans wondered exactly why the shift had taken place. As it turns out, the reason is rather, well, simple.
"Oz called up; he said at this juncture Gus couldn't do it," Wylde told 98.9 The Rock[2] this past Saturday, June 3.
"And he said, 'Who else could get the dishes as clean and the linens as fluffy as they were back in the day?' So that's the reason why. It really has nothing to do with the guitar playing. It's just 'cause Gus couldn't do it. So they're, like, 'Well, we'll let him play guitar while he's here anyway doing dishes and linens.'"
Back on April 28, Gus was quick to release a statement wishing Ozzy and Zakk well.
"It's been an honor and a privilege playing by your side since 2009," Gus wrote. "Nothing but great times and an experience of a lifetime. As a fan, it's great to see Ozzy and Zakk back together. It's been long overdue."
Ozzy's touring band will be rounded out by Rob "Blasko" Nicholson on bass, Tommy Clufetos on drums and Adam Wakeman on keyboards.
"If I wasn't working with Ozzy I'd probably be back home playing with a good band, but mentally I'd be nowhere near the level I'm at today," Wylde told Guitar World in 1990[3]. "Ozzy gives me immediate feedback. He'll tell me whether something blows or if he thinks it 's good;