George Lynch Recalls His Miserable Experience with Ozzy Osbourne
In a recent interview with Ultimate Guitar, George Lynch shared his unforgettable experience of being hired by Ozzy Osbourne and touring for a month without going onstage before finally being replaced by Jake E. Lee. The experience was a tumultuous one, filled with frustration and disappointment.
The First Audition
Lynch’s 1982 experience came three years after he first auditioned for Osbourne, when the Prince of Darkness chose Randy Rhoads. On the second occasion, Lynch was hoping to fill Brad Gillis’ shoes – and he nearly did it.
"I was kind of feeling like, ‘Okay, well, this time’s real. This time it’s going to stick,’" Lynch said. "And I had time to prepare." He enlisted Ratt’s Warren DeMartini to help him work out Rhoads’ guitar parts, admitting the style was "not really down my lane." But by the time of his new audition, he was confident he knew the material, and it seemed to go well.
The Tour
"And they flew me around," Lynch said. "I went to Scotland, I went to Ireland, England, back to Texas for rehearsals. Did some touring – but I didn’t walk onstage during the show. I’d do soundchecks with him occasionally and stuff like that. And just hung with the band. I think they wanted to see how I fit chemistry-wise with everyone."
However, things took a turn for the worse when Osbourne and his wife, Sharon, began to have issues with Lynch’s appearance. "Ozzy had a problem with my short hair – I had short hair at the time. And then his wife had a problem with my green guitar. She said it looked like a booger. Didn’t care what it sounded like, didn’t care what I was playing."
The Moment George Lynch Suspected Ozzy Had Fired Him
Despite Lynch’s suggested solutions, the stalemate between him and the Osbourne camp continued. "About a month went by, and we were traveling, rehearsing in Dallas for a while," he remembered. "Then we moved rehearsals to L.A. And then we’re at SIR [music studio] one night, and Wendy Dio, I guess, kept pressuring him to get one of her guys. And Jake E. was one of her guys."
"So, they had an audition that they didn’t tell me about, and I just showed up at SIR thinking, ‘We’re going to rehearse’ – and there’s the other guys onstage. Nobody even told me. And Jake E. was up there, not really playing very well – and self-admittedly, because we talked afterwards."
Lynch had to admit: "But he looked fantastic. He had this full leather bodysuit with all these accoutrements all over it, and his hair was down to his ass. He looked fantastic. And he moved great."
The only thing remaining was for Lynch to be told what he already suspected. "Ozzy walked back to the dressing rooms and said, ‘Hey…’ It’s hard to understand what he was saying, his accent, I couldn’t really tell what he says. But I got to the point that I was fired."
Conclusion
Although Lynch enjoyed success throughout the ’80s with Dokken, he still admitted: "That was pretty rough." The experience with Ozzy Osbourne was a difficult one, filled with frustration and disappointment. However, Lynch has continued to have a successful career in music, and his story serves as a reminder that even the most challenging experiences can be overcome.
FAQs
Q: Why did Ozzy Osbourne hire George Lynch?
A: Ozzy Osbourne hired George Lynch after his initial audition, but Lynch did not end up touring with the band.
Q: What was the reason for Lynch’s departure from the band?
A: Lynch was fired from the band due to creative differences and personal issues, including his short hair and green guitar.
Q: Who replaced George Lynch in the band?
A: Jake E. Lee replaced George Lynch in the band.
Q: How did George Lynch feel about his experience with Ozzy Osbourne?
A: Lynch has spoken publicly about the frustration and disappointment he felt during his time with Ozzy Osbourne, but he has also acknowledged that the experience was a valuable learning opportunity.
Q: What did George Lynch go on to do after leaving Ozzy Osbourne?
A: Lynch went on to form the band Dokken and enjoyed success throughout the ’80s.
