One virtuoso left him unprepared, and another who changed his life, Ozzy Osbourne worked with some of the greatest guitarists in rock history.
Some guitarists can make you slam your throat when you first start playing, while others can overwhelm you so severely that it takes a while to get back to your rhythm. One musician in particular fell into the latter category for Ozzy Osbourne.
In the early 1980s, Yngwie Malmsteen’s blistering-fast runs, flawless precision, and scale-heavy solos were already causing a stir. He was exceptional in every way, technical or otherwise.
There was a boundary, however, for Osbourne. He told Guitar World Magazine, “There are guys who go wingly-wangly up and down the fretboard, and some of them have emotions, and others don’t.”
“This Yngwie Malmsteen guy must have the capability to do some amazing things, but it’s too cold, it’s too much for the mind to take in.”, reports the Express.
Osbourne had always given character precedence over perfection. In his opinion, the goal of metal was to feel, theatrics, and let the music flow naturally rather than execute every arpeggio or perform the fastest runs.
There was a point where technical mastery became overpowering rather than inspiring even though he could recognize virtuosity.
Another guitarist came on the scene, someone who would change Osbourne’s solo career’s course.
Randy Rhoads entered the audition room with a clear-eyed presence despite having a quiet confidence. Rhoads had a talent for melody, classical influences, and an instinctive understanding of songwriting, in contrast to Malmsteen. He wasn’t just quick or perfect.
He embraced Osbourne’s ideas and revolutionized them right away. Tracks like “Mr. Crowley” and “Crazy Train” were masterful compositions with solos that appeared to be natural progressions rather than velocity-driven exhibitions.
Even Eddie Van Halen, who was unique in his own style, won Osbourne’s respect, but Rhoads had a special kind of profundity. Every chord and solo was infused with narrative, theatricality, and vibrancy by him.
Rhoads proved to be the ideal creative partner for Osbourne, who consistently prioritized personality and personality over pure technical prowess.
Source: Mirror
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