"Joe Bonamassa, in disbelief, was questioning: 'What's going on? Did all the renowned rock guitarists in LA vanish simultaneously while I wasn't looking, or is it just me being pranked?' Upon his appearance on an Ozzy Osbourne album"
In the world of heavy metal, Ozzy Osbourne's guitarists have been compared to John Mayall's hiring of Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor in the late '60s. Throughout his solo career, Ozzy has played with several notable guitarists, each contributing to his evolving sound.
Randy Rhoads, Ozzy's first and arguably most influential solo guitarist, shaped his early sound with the Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman albums. Rhoads brought a classical and innovative style to Ozzy's music before his tragic death in 1982.
Jake E. Lee took over after Randy, playing on albums like Bark at the Moon and The Ultimate Sin during the mid-1980s. He brought a more blues-based hard rock style and significantly contributed to Ozzy's mid-career work.
Zakk Wylde became Ozzy's longest-serving guitarist, with off-and-on tenure spanning about 22 years from the late 1980s onward. Wylde is considered by many as Ozzy’s definitive guitarist, known for his signature Les Paul bullseye guitar, heavy riffs, and songwriting contributions on several major albums and tours.
Joe Holmes followed Wylde’s first departure, playing from 1995 to 2001. Holmes, interestingly, was taught guitar by Randy Rhoads as a child, linking him to Ozzy’s original sound lineage. Although Holmes toured extensively and co-wrote songs, he never appeared on an Ozzy album.
Regarding Joe Bonamassa, there is no record or credible information that he ever played in Ozzy Osbourne’s band. His name does not appear in official lineups or historical accounts of Ozzy’s guitarists. Bonamassa is a highly acclaimed blues-rock guitarist with his own distinct career, separate from Ozzy’s band guitarists.
However, in 2005, Ozzy approached Joe Bonamassa to join his band. Bonamassa had played his first gig supporting B.B. King 15 years before being approached by Ozzy. Despite his surprise, Bonamassa considered it an honor to have played on an Ozzy Osbourne record and joined the project without voicing his concerns.
While Bonamassa did work with Ozzy, he does not fit into the lineage of Ozzy Osbourne's guitarists. The key guitarists in Ozzy’s career are Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, Zakk Wylde, and Joe Holmes, among a few others.
Ozzy Osbourne required a forward-thinking and hungry guitarist, someone who wanted to kick Eddie Van Halen's butt on guitar. He found that in Wylde, who became his longest-serving guitarist, and in Rhoads, who shaped his early sound. Despite Bonamassa's brief tenure, his respect for Ozzy's legacy and music is evident.
References: 1. Blabbermouth.net - Ozzy Osbourne's Joe Holmes: 'I'm Not A Fan Of The Music He Made With Ozzy' 2. Classic Rock - Ozzy Osbourne: The Guitarists 3. Guitar World - Zakk Wylde: 'I'm Ozzy's Guitar Player'
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