As much as I love Slade, not surprised. 10 years after their real heyday and once in the 80’s, there were a whole new kind of bands and scene. Kids would not have wanted what they considered has-beens vs. something new and current like Shout at the Devil era Crue.
100%. It’s an entirely different thing, unless you’re going for that Urkel Style, which looks cool (said nobody ever)
And Ozzy continues to fit his music in with all the trends . Ozzy was like this brand new 80s artist because he hired Jake . And Jake helped him get higher
I unfortunately have to play Urkel style when I play these days - split a tendon on my fret hand years back & had to relearn to play - makes playing anything with an add9 a pain in the arse. Between that and a broken and badly healed fret hand pinky, it literally causes me physical pain to play. So - I'm Ok with looking like Urkel, because I still get to play.
I actually thought Joe was great at doing Randy, Jake and Zakk. Solid player and absolutely huge tone live. Easily the best tone of any Ozzy guitarists live post Randy.
He’s been one of those evergreen artists that so many others would dream of cracking their code for longevity. Probably easier for a solo artist who can make bigger changes more easily. Ozzy really adapted to the 80’s and like you said, partnering with young current guitar players was very smart. I’m sure it was quite calculated to help him be current but Ozzy has always struck me as someone who likes doing something new anyway.
On personal feelings alone… if Randy turned around and did a couple more albums I bet with the evolution of music it would be insane….. such a waste.
Outside writers starting popping up on Ozzmosis (Zakk only gets a writing credit on 7 of the 12 songs) but it really got extreme with Down to Earth, which used outside writers and producers almost exclusively with no songs written by Zakk (the two best songs on the album, Junkie and That I Never Had, were written by Joe).
That I never had needed more solos and fills . That’s my only complaint . It jams hard there’s so much room for it