On July 22, 2025, the world of rock lost one of its most iconic and influential voices. Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness, passed away at the age of 76. His legacy stretches far beyond his work with Black Sabbath, shaping the very DNA of heavy metal through his daring solo career. And at the heart of that legacy lies a singular truth: Ozzy always surrounded himself with extraordinary guitarists.
From neo-classical innovators to berserker shredders, the musicians who shared the stage and studio with Ozzy helped define not just his sound but the sound of metal itself. This article is a tribute to those legendary axe-men—a ranked list of Ozzy Osbourne’s greatest guitarists of all time. We’ll dive deep into why each one matters, explore their signature guitar rigs, and celebrate the tone, technique, and tenacity that earned them a spot in the pantheon.
After Rhoads’ passing, Irish blues-rocker Bernie Tormé briefly stepped in before Gillis took over. His style clashed with Ozzy’s metal leanings, but he handled the pressure with guts.
Why #8: Tormé’s blues-punk tone didn’t mesh well with Ozzy’s musical direction, but he stepped in when needed and played with heart.
Signature Guitar Rig: - Fender Stratocaster - Marshall Super Lead - Minimal effects
Tone Profile: Raw, jangly, blues-inflected. More pub-rock than arena-metal.
Legacy: A brief but brave footnote in the Ozzy saga. Fans remember his effort and courage more than the tone.
Former David Lee Roth sideman and student of Randy Rhoads, Joe Holmes replaced Zakk Wylde in the mid-’90s and toured extensively, though he never appeared on a studio album.
Tours: 1995–1999
Why #7: Holmes was a technician—precise, professional, and clean. But without a studio legacy, his impact remains largely underground.
Signature Guitar Rig: - ESP custom models - Peavey 5150s - DOD and Boss effects
Tone Profile: Tight and thick, with plenty of gain and minimal noise. Built for the road.
Legacy: Holmes is beloved by gear nerds and diehards, but remains a deep-cut entry in the Ozzy guitarist canon.
Brad Gillis of Night Ranger fame stepped into the impossible role of replacing Randy Rhoads after his tragic death. He never recorded a studio album with Ozzy but performed blistering live shows captured in Speak of the Devil.
Albums: Speak of the Devil (Live, 1982)
Why #6: Gillis saved the tour. With only days to prepare, he delivered note-perfect performances and added his own flair.
Signature Guitar Rig: - Fender Stratocaster with Floyd Rose - Hughes & Kettner amps - Heavy modulation and rack effects
Tone Profile: High-gain, slightly scooped, with lots of flange and chorus typical of early ’80s metal.
Legacy: A one-album wonder who played a crucial transitional role. His performance on “Paranoid” and “Children of the Grave” remains explosive.
A shredder of European origin, Gus G (real name: Konstantinos Karamitroudis) brought surgical precision and a refined melodic sensibility to Ozzy’s later era. He held the torch during a time when Ozzy needed both freshness and familiarity.
Albums: Scream (2010)
Why #5: Gus brought credibility and consistency. While he only recorded one studio album, his live work showcased deep technical skill and massive respect for Ozzy’s catalog.
Signature Guitar Rig: - ESP Gus G Signature models - Seymour Duncan pickups - Blackstar amps - Boss and TC Electronic effects
Tone Profile: Clean yet heavy, compressed and articulate. Very modern but respectful of the past.
Legacy: Gus G is known in shredder circles and helped introduce Ozzy to a new generation. A reliable player who delivered with class.
Though not an official part of Ozzy’s solo career, it’s impossible to talk about Ozzy’s guitarists without acknowledging Tony Iommi. As Black Sabbath’s riff lord, Iommi essentially invented heavy metal guitar.
Albums: Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1970), Master of Reality (1971), plus 2013’s 13 with Ozzy back on vocals
Why #4: Without Iommi, there is no Ozzy, no metal, no blueprint. His dark, blues-based riffs set the stage for every guitarist that followed.
Signature Guitar Rig: - Custom Gibson SG (with simplified frets for his injured fingers) - Laney Supergroup amps - Treble boosters, EQ pedals
Tone Profile: Sludgy, brooding, and riff-centric. Pure doom with blues bones.
Legacy: Universally recognized as the father of metal guitar. Every Sabbath reunion reminded us that the Ozzy-Iommi partnership still held magic.
Zakk Wylde is the face of modern Ozzy. With his mountain-man persona, screaming pinch harmonics, and endless supply of heavy riffs, he redefined Ozzy’s sound for the grunge and post-grunge era while still flying the flag of metal high.
Albums: No Rest for the Wicked (1988), No More Tears (1991), Ozzmosis (1995), Black Rain (2007), Patient Number 9 (2022)
Why #3: Zakk brought muscle and soul. He could make you headbang with one riff and cry with a Les Paul squeal. He also had the longest tenure of any Ozzy guitarist, making him a crucial part of Ozzy’s story.
Signature Guitar Rig: - Gibson Les Paul Custom “Bullseye” - EMG 81/85 active pickups - Wylde Audio guitars (later years) - Marshall JCM800s and later Wylde Audio amps - MXR Wylde Overdrive, Chorus, Wah
Tone Profile: Beefy, mid-heavy, with screaming harmonics and tons of gain. Pure controlled chaos.
Legacy: Beyond Ozzy, Zakk founded Black Label Society and became a brand himself. His style is instantly recognizable, and his loyalty to Ozzy remains legendary.
Randy Rhoads is the eternal flame of Ozzy Osbourne’s solo career. A classically trained guitarist with rock-star swagger, Rhoads married Bach and bar chords into something that became the bedrock of modern metal. His tenure was tragically short, but his impact was colossal.
Albums: Blizzard of Ozz (1980), Diary of a Madman (1981)
Why #2: Randy helped Ozzy rise from the ashes of Sabbath. His riffs on “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley” are tattooed on the DNA of every metal guitarist since. Rhoads was a technician, but also a songwriter and a performer.
Signature Guitar Rig: - Gibson Les Paul Custom (cream white) - Jackson Concorde V (custom-made by Grover Jackson) - Marshall 1959 Super Lead heads - MXR Distortion+, delay and flanger effects
Tone Profile: Bright, articulate, and biting. His tone was defined by treble-forward mids, fast attack, and crystalline sustain.
Legacy: Rhoads died in a tragic plane crash at 25, but he left behind enough influence to build an empire. His gear, technique, and compositions remain cornerstones in metal education.
Jake E. Lee is, without question, the most underrated and misunderstood guitarist Ozzy Osbourne ever hired. While Randy Rhoads is often credited with introducing classical elements into metal, it was Jake E. Lee who took that language and twisted it into something wild, unpredictable, and brilliantly melodic.
Albums: Bark at the Moon (1983), The Ultimate Sin (1986)
Why #1: Jake didn’t just fill Randy’s shoes—he blew the mold apart. With a command of exotic scales, punchy rhythm playing, and ultra-precise phrasing, Jake brought an almost Eastern mystique to his solos. He didn’t rely on shredding for shredding’s sake. His solos told stories.
Signature Guitar Rig: - Custom Charvel Superstrats (with reversed headstocks) - DiMarzio pickups - Modified Marshall JMP amps - Delay, chorus, and EQ rack units
Tone Profile: Razor-sharp with a crystalline high-end and haunting midrange. His tone cut through mixes without overwhelming them. It was articulate, rich, and endlessly expressive.
Legacy: Jake influenced guitarists like Nuno Bettencourt, John 5, and a generation of players who realized that technical skill means little without memorable phrasing. He walked away from the limelight, but his contributions are immortal.
Ozzy Osbourne’s solo career wasn’t just about the vocals. It was about collaboration. He had a sixth sense for spotting once-in-a-generation guitarists who could elevate his music beyond the expected. From the mournful elegance of Rhoads to the wild mysticism of Jake E. Lee and the war-hammer power of Zakk Wylde, Ozzy surrounded himself with greatness.
In mourning Ozzy, we also celebrate those guitarists who stood next to him, night after night, riff after riff, keeping the flame alive. The stage is darker now, but the riffs still ring out.
Rest in Power, Ozzy. Long live the Madmen with the Axes.