After the departure of Jake E. Lee, vocalist made auditions to define the substitute and ended up choosing Zakk Wylde for the position
Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee and Zakk Wylde form the crack of guitarists who sustained the most important period of the solo career of Ozzy Osbourne. The story, however, tells that the third name of this triad could have been another: Jimi Bellinstead of Zakk.
He is an American and left-hand guitarist who over the years has played in modest groups like House of Lords, Autograph and Maxx Explosion. He narrowly did not integrate Ozzy’s solo band.
When Jake E. Lee departs in 1987, Ozzy and his wife and businesswoman, Sharon Osbournethey started searching for a substitute. Jimi Bell revealed in an interview with Guitar world (via Guitar.com) who entered the pair’s radar by the influence of his sponsor at the time.
He recalls:
“I had the sponsorship of Kramer Guitars and Dennis Berardithe president, kind of welcomed me. One morning he called to say that Jake E. Lee was out and sent a video of mine to Sharon. Suddenly I had an audition – but the problem was that I had to fly there the same day. ”
According to Jimi, several musicians made early auditions, but few advanced to the point of having personal contact with Ozzy and Sharon. He was one of those lucky ones:
“Sharon, in fact, watched my session – probably to see if she had wasted airline tickets! She liked what she saw, and they told me I had been doing very well.”
Jimi Bell was not chosen by Ozzy Osbourne
Despite the compliment and even left to dinner with the couple Osbourne, Jimi Bell did not get the place. The chosen one was Zakk Wylde, who debuted on the album No rest for the wicked (1988).
Even so, the left -hand guitarist is grateful for the experience and having played before Ozzy, in flesh and bone:
“I don’t know if he saw my tape; but I know Sharon saw, and that’s what made me get into that room. Even more importantly, Ozzy saw me live, a few inches from my amplifier. I think that moment said more than any demo could ever say.”
Involved with the Black Sabbath universe
Interestingly, this was not Jimi Bell’s only experience with the universe of Black Sabbath. The guitarist also played with the bassist Geezer Butler And he joined his solo band in the second half of the 1980s.
The group did not go forward, but, according to Jimi, one of its compositions eventually became “Master of Insanity”from the album Dehumanizer (1992), which marked the return of Ronnie James Dio to Sabbath.
In an interview with Journalist’s website Marcelo VieiraJimi said that Gloria ButlerGeezer’s wife, gave him the good and bad news at the time: that the music would be used, but that he would not receive credits.
Jimi Bell recalled, quoting Gloria’s words:
“’Good news, Jimi. Black Sabbath He is meeting with Ronnie James Dio and will record his music ‘MASTER OF INSANITY’! Just imagine my excitement! But she said she couldn’t give me the written credit because Tony Iommi would never leave a song that had been written by someone outside to be part of a Sabbath album. Geezer would sign as a composer and put special thanks to me in the booklet. ”
+++ Read more: The only singer authorized by Ozzy to replace him on Black Sabbath
+++ Read more: Ozzy’s betrayal to Sharon that will be detailed in autobiography on final years
+++ Read more: The big lie told about Ozzy’s farewell show, according to Sharon Osbourne
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Jimi Bell
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Ozzy Osbourne
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Zakk Wylde
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
