Ozzy Osbourne Gave Some Life-Changing Advice to this New Hampshire Musician

Can you imagine being face to face with your rock and roll idol, Ozzy Osbourne, and he gives you some advice that will change your life? It happened to this New Hampshire guitarist.

Gary Hoey has been in the music industry for a very long time.  I think I may have heard his name in the early '90's.  He was a rock guitarist who was and is very good.

He recently made a visit to our studios to promote his new album, Avalanche.  Gary then told me about the day that Ozzy Osbourne changed his life.

It Started With a Phone Call to a Radio Station

Gary was listening to a local radio station and heard Ozzy's voice say he was looking for a new guitarist.  Gary immediately picked up the phone and dialed the studio line. He told the producer of the show that he was a guitar player and he wanted to play for Ozzy.

Gary actually grabbed his guitar and played into the receiver of the telephone to convince the radio station person to tell Ozzy about his playing. Ozzy and his people were impressed with Gary's playing, so they told him to send his stuff to an address they provided.

It didn't take long for Gary to get his stuff on a cassette (a cassette!) and send it out to Los Angeles to the hands of Ozzy himself.  Gary was good and Ozzy gave him an in-person invitation to audition.  Can you imagine how excited he must have been?!

New Hampshire Musician in L.A. to Audition for Ozzy Osborne

Gary was able to play a few tunes for Ozzy and he recalled how the Oz-Man was singing, screaming in his face as he was playing his guitar.  Rock and Roll!  How incredibly exciting.

Ozzy then told Gary something that would change his life.  He told him, "Gary, Man... you probably won't get the gig, but you should move out to Los Angeles!  You're great!"

Gary came back to New Hampshire, got his stuff and moved to L.A.  After a while, he was signed to Warner Brothers records.

When Ozzy says move, you move.

Congratulations, Gary, on your latest album.  You can check out all of Gary's stuff, where he is playing, etc. on his website, garyhoey.com.