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It was 2010, a lifetime ago. The New Orleans Saints were Super Bowl champions. Toy Story 3 was the world’s highest-grossing movie. Gus G had just joined Ozzy Osbourne‘s band – and yet the Prince of Darkness was not sure about his choice of electric guitar?
That is where we pick the story up as Gus G looks back on his first Guitar World cover as Ozzy’s guitarist.
These were life-changing moments for Gus G. He was officially in the big time, mixing with rock royalty, and yet here he was calling ESP for help because his trademark star-shaped guitars had become a bone of contention.
Where did you get this guitar?
It was made in late 2009 and released in 2010, right around the time this cover shoot took place. Before I played Jackson guitars, I was with ESP for about 12 years. I had signature models out in Japan and Europe, until they released them in America in 2007, I believe. All my models were the star-shaped guitars I’ve been known to play since forever.
When I got the gig with Ozzy, he and Sharon were skeptical about my guitar shape. They felt it looked too weird. I think Ozzy was used to Les Pauls from Zakk Wylde and Randy Rhoads. He kept asking me if I could play a Les Paul for a few tracks.
Of course, I understood – this was as big a change for him as it was for me, so I asked ESP to send me a couple of Eclipse guitars, which I played on my first few Ozzy shows.
Right around that time, Patric Ullaeus, my video-director buddy from Sweden, was doing an abstract-art project called Rock Art. We discussed the idea of making a signature model using a print of one of his paintings. We went through a bunch of designs and ended up with this one. It was a cool project, and it gave it a more personalized look.
Did you modify it? What rig did you use it with?
Not many modifications were done, except for the pickups. Around that time, I was switching from passive to active, and I had just started using Seymour Duncan Blackouts. Rig-wise, I used Blackstar Series One 200 heads and cabs. I always had a fairly simple pedalboard with an overdrive, a Boss DD-3 Delay and a Morley auto-return wah.
How did it make you play? Did it feel right for you?
As much as I loved Eclipse guitars, I always felt my playing was limited on them. Maybe that was because I was so used to playing my Star models that I couldn’t get my right arm properly positioned on the Eclipse. I talked to Ozzy about it after a few gigs, and he eventually said, “You’re the guitar player; play whatever feels comfortable.”
Did you use this Eclipse on any notable recordings or tours?
I think I used it in the studio to track my rhythm guitars on my first solo album, I Am the Fire [2014]. And, of course, on the Ozzy world tours I did in 2010 and 2011.
When he turned around, I went, ‘Oh my god! That’s Jimmy Page!’ I literally froze
Although I went back to my star models, I still brought this EC guitar out for the Black Sabbath part of the set. It can be heard on the iTunes Festival Live EP, and there’s video footage from MTV from the London Ozzfest show at the O2.
But here’s a funny story. I had asked for a Custom Shop version of it from the Japanese factory, and I think they got the memo wrong, so instead of printing the artwork on the guitar, they hand-painted the whole guitar, even the back of the neck! [Laughs]
It really is a piece of art, but they definitely went too far with it. Also, that guitar probably weighs 10 kilos. [Laughs]
What do you remember from the Guitar World shoot for this cover?
I brought [the Eclipse] in because I knew Ozzy was a bit uncomfortable with my Star guitars, and since the Guitar World shoot was the first world-exclusive presentation of me as Ozzy’s new guitarist, I didn’t wanna show up and have a moment where he goes, “What the fuck is this?” [Laughs] As for the shoot, that was one of the biggest, craziest rock ’n’ roll experiences of my life. It happened in London with the legendary Ross Halfin.
As I was sitting to get makeup done for the shoot, I could see from the mirror behind me that Ross was shooting someone else right before us. I couldn’t tell who it was because he had his back turned.
When he turned around, I went, “Oh my god! That’s Jimmy Page!” I literally froze. A few moments later, they were done, and I got to meet him, and Jimmy was so nice and such a gentleman. He asked me if I was the new guy. I said, “Yes,” and he wished me the best of luck.
Next thing you know, Ozzy walks in, and you see these two legends just casually shooting the shit. Then Ross goes, “Come on, guys – let’s take a pic.” Ozzy and Jimmy sit there like the rockstars they are, and then Ozzy asks me to get in there, so I end up taking a photo with the gods of rock. [Laughs]
I’ll never forget this. I’m thinking what a big-hearted guy Ozzy was. He didn’t have to do that, but he gave me this amazing moment and memory. I must have looked pretty stupid all along, because Ross shouted at me, “Gus! Stop being dumb!” [Laughs]
Hey, Ross – if you’re reading this – send me that photo, man!
Do you still have the Eclipse?
Yes, along with most of my old ESPs. I don’t really play them anymore; I think my “Les Paul-type guitar” days ended around 10 years ago. I always felt [more] like myself with a star-shaped guitar or a Super Strat-type.
