In a recent interview on The Chuck Shute Podcast, renowned Greek guitarist Gus G. – known for his stint as Ozzy Osbourne's trusted axeman from 2009 to 2016 – revealed a surprising moment in which he was approached by another heavyweight band.
Asked if he was ever contacted about joining another well-known artist Gus G. disclosed that in early 2015, thrash metal titans Megadeth reached out to him. Despite his admiration for Megadeth, Gus G. made the tough decision to stay loyal to Osbourne'. Shortly after, Brazilian virtuoso Kiko Loureiro secured the spot in Megadeth, a move Gus G. fully supported given their prior camaraderie from touring together.
"I had offers to… Actually, I've never told that anybody — in the press, at least. I've had offers to audition for other bands and stuff — not to join but to audition — but I didn't do it. During my time with Ozzy, actually, Megadeth reached out in early 2015. I was still with Ozzy and they were looking for somebody. And I said, 'Well, I can't really leave Ozzy for that,' even though I'm a huge Megadeth fan. Back then, they were scouting guitar players, and then two weeks later, Kiko was in the band. And Kiko was a buddy of mine; we've known each other. His old band Angra and Firewind have toured together, so I knew him and I thought he was a great fit."
Gus G. also disclosed that in 2019, Machine Head also extended an invitation for him to audition: "And in 2019 — who else? Machine Head asked me to audition once."
However, Gus G. expressed doubts about his suitability for the disposable "hired-gun" role, preferring the autonomy of steering his own musical journey. He acknowledged the inherent risks involved in pursuing one's own ventures, citing financial uncertainties and the constant pressure to prove oneself in a competitive landscape
"I'm not sure if I'm really made for being like a hired-gun kind of guy. I'm enjoying calling my own shots, I guess. It's two different worlds doing those things. I mean, doing your own thing, of course, involves a lot of risks — financial, of course, because you don't know if things will work out. You have to put tours together and you have to front your own capital to do things, to get things going. And you don't know if it's gonna work out, if people are gonna like it. So it's just very competitive, of course, out there, especially nowadays. And then, of course, being a hired gun for a band, you don't have to worry about any of that. But, of course, you're also disposable."
