In 1995, Alex Skolnick, celebrated guitarist of Testament, found himself at an unexpected crossroads. With Zakk Wylde stepping away from Ozzy Osbourne’s band, the spot of lead guitarist opened up, and Skolnick was invited to audition. Reflecting on the opportunity, Skolnick shared, “I felt honored to be in the running because I’d heard of some very well-known guitarists who never got past the audition phase.”
The audition process included rehearsals and culminated in an unannounced live performance at Rock City in Nottingham. Skolnick remembered, “We ended up doing an unannounced show. It seemed to go well—Ozzy seemed really happy.” But just when everything appeared promising, weeks of silence from Osbourne’s camp followed.
Finally, Skolnick received a call from Sharon Osbourne with the news that Joe Holmes, a former student of the legendary Randy Rhoads, had been chosen for the role. Skolnick took the decision in stride, noting, “It worked out for the best. The whole experience motivated me to focus on my jazz path, and I wouldn’t have taken the direction I did if I’d stayed with Ozzy.”
