![How Joe Holmes Landed the Sought-After Ozzy Osbourne Position]](https://backingtracksfullcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/How-Joe-Holmes-Landed-the-Sought-After-Ozzy-Osbourne-Position-758x406.jpg "How Joe Holmes Landed the Sought-After Ozzy Osbourne Position] 1")
Joe Holmes has looked back on his Ozzy Osbourne audition, recalling how the influence of his mentor and guitar teacher set him up perfectly for the gig.
Things were different in the ‘90s. Job applications were not so finessed. There was no ChatGPT to help punch up your resumé. Ask Holmes, the former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist.
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Presumably, Holmes had sent Team Osbourne a recent photo, maybe a sizzle reel and a copy of Lizzy Borden’s Visual Lies for reference.
“One of the best compliments and memories that I have with Ozzy was from my audition,” recalls Holmes. “Before I came in, he didn’t know that I had been a student of Randy’s. He stood right in front of me while I played and afterward told me that my approach and style reminded him of Randy.”
Holmes turned up fully strapped for the audition, a Fender Stratocaster in hand, a Marshall amp modded by the late hot-rodding guru Jose Arredondo, and a couple of speaker cabinets to blow some air around the room.
I auditioned on about four or five songs, then Ozzy shook my hand and said, ‘Welcome aboard.’ Ozzy was very kind and approachable
“It was great,” he says. “It felt very natural, having been brought up by Randy’s playing. I auditioned on about four or five songs, then Ozzy shook my hand and said, ‘Welcome aboard.’
“Ozzy was very kind and approachable. He really put me at ease. Ultimately, being a student of Randy’s technique and being familiar with Jake and Zakk’s playing made it a natural fit.”
Holmes was hardly an unknown. He had toured with David Lee Roth in 1991, replacing Jason Becker following his ALS diagnosis. Assuming a role that shred kingpin Becker had held, playing Eddie Van Halen’s riffs and solos as DLR aired some of his Van Halen catalog, this was no easy gig.
That gave Holmes vital experience of working with an A-list vocalist. But he leaves all the credit to his teacher, the player who had been his guiding star growing up.
“Randy was and is my biggest influence as a guitar player,” says Holmes. “He was the perfect teacher for me at a very impressionable age growing up. It was such a great time in my life going to lessons with my dad and spending time with Randy.”
Holmes recalls Rhoads as having the most important gift any guitar teacher can have.
“He was so patient and made sure I understood what he was teaching me before I left every lesson,” says Holmes. “He put things in terms I could understand and that have stuck with me to this day. His love for music, guitar playing, and learning was contagious.”
As for Ozzy, Holmes describes the late Black Sabbath frontman and all-round metal icon as a “great guy and a humble person”.
“I’m so grateful for the time I had with him,” says Holmes.
The full interview with Joe Holmes will be published in the coming weeks.
