Kostas Karatroudis: Gus G's guitar interviewed by Joe Bosso

As for Gus G, he made his official debut with Osbourne at BlizzCon last August. A trial-by-fire experience, to be sure, but the affable guitarist describes the show as a "total success. There were doubters there, of course, but I think they saw and heard that I had the right skills for the job."

Gus fully admits that still he has millions of Zakk Wylde devotees across the globe to convert, but if his playing on Osbourne's new album Scream is any indication, he's got the battle halfway won. The disc, co-written and produced by Kevin Churko, is Osboune's strongest effort in years, full of raging, heavier-than-hell tunes and rife with powerful riffery and solos that should have air guitarists air-guitaring like there's no tomorrow. Even Osbourne himself sounds revitalized: his singing is by turns impassioned, energetic, sneering and playful. "I think Ozzy was having a lot of fun making this record," says Gus. "I'm not saying that had anything to do with me. I just think he was really feeling the songs."

While Gus remains fully committed to Firewind, which he's led since 1998, he relishes the opportunity to step into the guitar hero spotlight. In an exclusive interview with MusicRadar, Gus discussed how he came to join Osbourne's band, the challenges he faces, the recording of Scream and his admiration for Zakk Wylde, whom he describes as "a really cool guy and a gentleman."

full interview