{"id":8206,"date":"2011-11-09T07:00:50","date_gmt":"2011-11-09T11:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southeastofheaven.com\/?p=8206"},"modified":"2011-11-06T18:54:41","modified_gmt":"2011-11-06T22:54:41","slug":"blowin-wind-with-ozzyfirewind-guitarist-gus-g-playing-with-ozzy-is-the-ultimate-fucking-thing-and-it%e2%80%99s-the-biggest-mountain-you-can-climb-as-a-guitar-player","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/?p=8206","title":{"rendered":"Blowin’ Wind With Ozzy\/Firewind Guitarist Gus G: “Playing with Ozzy is the ultimate fucking thing and it\u2019s the biggest mountain you can climb as a guitar player.”"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>At 31 years old, Greek guitarist Gus G is living the life that most guitarists of all ages only dream of.\u00a0 Not only is Gus out on the road with his band Firewind melting faces from town to town, he is also the holder of the coveted guitarist slot in Ozzy Osbourne’s band.\u00a0 When Firewind was in Atlanta recently, I had the opportunity to talk with the soft spoken and humble guitarist.\u00a0 We talked about everything from the creative process to why it’s so important to not give up on your dream.\u00a0 Gus was a great guy and I hope you all will enjoy this interview as much as I did.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Gus, thanks so much for taking the time out to do this. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

No problem man. \u00a0Thank you for coming out.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

I honestly had never heard of Firewind until I heard that you were picked to be Ozzy Osbourne\u2019s new guitarist. \u00a0Have you seen a growth in Firewind\u2019s fanbase because of your new gig?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oh yeah. \u00a0You are living proof of that [laughs]. \u00a0Our fan base has grown and I think it will keep growing more and more. \u00a0I do see more and more fans coming in and I know they\u2019re Ozzy fans because they are all wearing Ozzy shirts to the shows [laughs]. \u00a0I think it will continue to grow which is a positive thing for us being a young band in the American market.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been an Ozzy fan for many years and I know that a lot of Ozzy fans tend to be on the older side. \u00a0Are you seeing that different age range coming into the Firewind fan base?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeah, we are definitely getting some older fans but Ozzy has a lot of younger fans as well. \u00a0The thing with Firewind is that we don\u2019t really draw that many kids. \u00a0There seems to be a pretty big age gap. \u00a0There\u2019s either going to be young kids like 16 and 17 or older fans like 40 and older. People in their 20s and 30s don\u2019t seem to listen to what we play but that\u2019s cool. \u00a0It\u2019s not for everybody. \u00a0I think the older fans who like classic rock and traditional metal can relate to what we do. \u00a0It\u2019s melodic and it has influences from all those bands from the 70s and 80s.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

With Ozzy doing arenas and Firewind doing clubs, is there one that you prefer over the other?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well when you\u2019re doing a big production tour like Ozzy, you have your own PA system and you have the same sound every night no matter where you go. \u00a0When you\u2019re doing clubs you have no idea what you\u2019re going to run into. \u00a0It could be a good PA or most times it\u2019s a shitty PA. \u00a0I\u2019m an easy going guy though so I just work with whatever I\u2019ve got. \u00a0The most important thing is that people come to the show. \u00a0I just like playing shows to the fans so I like them both.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

Firewind is finally touring for \u201cDays of Defiance\u201d which was actually released in 2010. \u00a0What took so long?<\/strong><\/p>\n

[Laughs] We couldn\u2019t really do the tour last year because I was out with Ozzy so we\u2019re doing it now. \u00a0It should be called \u201cThe Better Late Than Never\u201d tour [laughs].<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

Firewind is a new band to a lot of people but you guys have six albums under your belt. \u00a0That\u2019s a good chunk of music right there.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The thing is we did our first tour of American for our fifth album \u201cThe Premonition.\u201d \u00a0We only did a few East coast dates for the fourth album but our first proper coast to coast tour was for our fifth album. \u00a0For a lot of people here, that was our debut. \u00a0Sometimes it might take a few albums but we didn\u2019t even become a touring band until our fourth album \u201cAllegiance.\u201d \u00a0The first three albums was just me with a bunch of studio guys. \u00a0We weren\u2019t really a touring band. \u00a0It was more like a studio project.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

So Firewind started out as a collective of sorts?<\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s right. \u00a0From the fourth album on we became more of a stable line up and started touring the world. \u00a0We started as a studio project and then evolved into an actual band.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

That\u2019s great. \u00a0So now I don\u2019t have to feel so bad about being late in the game.<\/strong><\/p>\n

[laughs] Exactly! \u00a0It is all about touring these days. \u00a0Unless you are a touring band, you can do all the records you want to do and nobody will ever know about you.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

With Firewind being more of a touring band and a more solid entity, do you find yourself connecting with and creating the music differently now?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The thing is that you mature and with every album you want to do things differently. \u00a0You don\u2019t want to repeat stuff you weren\u2019t happy with in the past. \u00a0Every musician has that in his mind constantly whether it\u2019s writing a song or an album or whatever.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

The coveted guitar slot in Ozzy\u2019s band is a tough slot to have. \u00a0Were you met with any resistance from the hardcore fans at all?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not at all. \u00a0Ozzy told me once, \u201cYou are the first guy that hasn\u2019t had any shit thrown at him at the gigs\u201d [laughs]. \u00a0That was an incredible thing because I had heard horror stories but I really can\u2019t complain. \u00a0The fans have been very nice to me and I also got a lot of support \u00a0from Zakk Wylde (previous Ozzy guitarist). \u00a0He\u2019s been giving me props and has been really supportive and that means a lot to me because he\u2019s one of my heroes. \u00a0I met him while we were on tour and he was very nice and he told me lots of stories. \u00a0It was cool.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

You have definitely joined this list of highly influential guitarists. \u00a0Does this rank that you\u2019ve come into make you feel like you needed to step it up as a guitar player or did it do little to change you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oh yeah. \u00a0It definitely made me want to be a better guitar player. \u00a0I said to myself, \u201cThis is your big chance you\u2019ve definitely got to step it up now.\u201d \u00a0I think I\u2019m a much better player today than I was two years ago.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s talk about the creative aspect. \u00a0When you sit down to write and be creative, when that mode kicks in do you say to yourself, \u201cI\u2019m going to write for Firewind now\u201d or \u201cI\u2019m going to write for Ozzy now\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n

If I have an idea that may come to me from just fooling around or jamming, I\u2019ll just kind of know. \u00a0I mean, both bands I\u2019m in play heavy metal but Firewind is so different from Ozzy\u2019s style. \u00a0I\u2019ll know if it\u2019s something that\u2019s heavier with a kind of Black Sabbath or Ozzy vibe, it would be for him. \u00a0If it\u2019s got a more speed metal and technical vibe it\u2019ll definitely be a Firewind song. \u00a0I don\u2019t really have this issue with deciding what to use where. \u00a0Right now I\u2019m just in the process of being creative. \u00a0I\u2019m just writing all the riffs that come to my mind and making demos out of them. \u00a0In the end, I\u2019ll just see what develops into what and which direction it\u2019s going to take me.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

I can totally see how trying to separate yourself like that creatively can make you go a little crazy. \u00a0It\u2019s probably best to just let them flow out of you and then figure out what to do with them later.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Right. \u00a0You can\u2019t really say, \u201cI\u2019m going to write something like \u201cSuicide Solution\u201d [laughs]. \u00a0You got to just let the ideas flow naturally.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

Speaking of the creative process, how does the creative process work between you and Ozzy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I played guitar on his last album \u201cScream\u201d and it was a situation where I didn\u2019t get to write stuff because it was already done when I walked in. \u00a0They just needed a guitar player. \u00a0I went in and Ozzy was very open and told me \u201cJust go in and what you gotta do. \u00a0If you wanna change something go ahead!\u201d \u00a0I did change some parts and make them more guitar player style because the producer wasn\u2019t a real guitar player but he wrote the songs. \u00a0While we were on the road we started writing some stuff together and it sounds really killer. \u00a0I can\u2019t wait for us to go back into the studio and do another album.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

When coming up with material for both Ozzy and Firewind, do you do any writing on the road?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Usually, not on a club tour like this. \u00a0On the Ozzy tour we had a lot of off days in hotel rooms and there\u2019s so much free time. \u00a0In the end I just started getting all these ideas and then when I had a break from touring I went back home and started recording everything in my home studio.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

Man, I feel like we\u2019ve had some good serious questions here so lets have a few fun ones.<\/strong><\/p>\n

[laughs] Ok, sure!<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

If you could have a 30 minute guitar lesson with any guitarist a live or dead, who would it be and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oh man. \u00a0Probably Gary Moore. \u00a0I wish he was still with us as he passed on not too long ago. \u00a0Either him or Michael Schenker.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

Great choices and two pretty obscure guitarists.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeah, they were both big back in their heyday. \u00a0A lot of those 70s guitar players and bands aren\u2019t really up to that level any more. \u00a0Ozzy is an exception I guess for being huge for almost 40 years now. \u00a0Most of them are club level musicians these days and there\u2019s nothing wrong with that. \u00a0If you consider the musical legacy that they left behind them and how influential they\u2019ve been. \u00a0All that matters is that they touched me and were very important to me as a guitar player and musician. \u00a0I don\u2019t care if they\u2019re playing arenas or playing clubs.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

I heard that you had gone to Ozzy and requested that he add \u201cKiller of Giants\u201d to the set list on the \u201cScream\u201d tour.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s true. \u00a0We did \u201cKiller of Giants\u201d on that tour and Ozzy had forgotten how much he liked that song. \u00a0He hadn\u2019t played that one since \u201cThe Ultimate Sin\u201d tour in 1986. \u00a0I know he doesn\u2019t have the fondest memories of that album but I said to him, \u201cThis album has so many great songs on it. \u00a0You have to revisit this one.\u201d \u00a0He said he didn\u2019t like the way it sounded but it\u2019s a totally different sound when you play it live. \u00a0There are some brilliant songs on that album. \u00a0The mix of that album may sound a bit dated today but the songs are like diamonds.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

What other obscure Ozzy classic would you love to see added into the set?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was actually on Ozzy\u2019s ass on the last leg of the tour about playing S.A.T.O [laughs]. \u00a0We actually got him to get in and rehearse it but we never played it live. \u00a0He\u2019s never played that live [Gus then plays the song for me on his guitar]. \u00a0That\u2019s such a great song. \u00a0I hope that we can do it one day. \u00a0Maybe on the next tour.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

C\u2019mon Gus. \u00a0You gotta strong arm him a bit and get him to play that one.<\/strong><\/p>\n

[laughs] He loves that stuff. \u00a0He goes back and listens and says, \u201cThis is some great fucking stuff man.\u201d \u00a0I\u2019m sure we\u2019ll get to do some more obscure songs. \u00a0I know he\u2019s open to that because he knows he has the right band to back him up. \u00a0Whatever he requests and whatever he feels like doing we\u2019ll do it. \u00a0We\u2019re there to make him happy.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

You are obviously living the dream by playing with Ozzy but is there any other artist you\u2019d love to work with in the future?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I can\u2019t think of any to be honest. \u00a0When you\u2019re in Ozzy\u2019s band you don\u2019t even look left and right. \u00a0Playing with Ozzy is the ultimate fucking thing and it\u2019s the biggest mountain you can climb as a guitar player. \u00a0I think after playing with Ozzy, to play with anyone else would just be a downgrade. \u00a0If I\u2019m going to downgrade, I\u2019d rather do it with my own band where it\u2019s at least our own stuff and we do it our way and how we like it [laughs].<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

Is there one particular guitar solo that just gives you goosebumps every time you hear it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hotel California. \u00a0The Eagles was actually my first concert. \u00a0[Gus plays solo from \u201cHotel California on his guitar]. \u00a0I just love that solo so much.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

So what are you going to be for Halloween?<\/strong><\/p>\n

[laughs] \u00a0We don\u2019t have Halloween in Greece so I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

Maybe you could dress up as Ozzy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

[laughs] Right! \u00a0That would be good.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

If Hollywood was to make a movie about Gus G, who would you want to play you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Denzel Washington [laughs]. \u00a0Ozzy said that once. \u00a0Someone asked him once, \u201cWho would you want to play you?\u201d and he said Denzel Washington. \u00a0They asked who would play Sharron (Osbourne; wife\/manager) and he said, \u201cDenzel Washington\u201d [laughs].<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

Some people will say that you are too old to pursue your dreams. \u00a0Do you have a message out there for all the dreamers?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019d say you are never too old to rock n\u2019 roll. \u00a0We all have our dreams and it\u2019s good to dream. \u00a0You\u2019ve got to set goals and focus on achieving them one at a time. \u00a0You just have to be happy. \u00a0If you do what makes you happy than you\u2019ve succeeded. \u00a0Succeeding with your goals is basically a result of how well you are able to focus on the goals you set. \u00a0Work hard. \u00a0I guess I am a living example of that. \u00a0You may think shit like this doesn\u2019t happen but it does!<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

To close out, what does the rest of 2011 and into 2012 look like for Gus G?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to Japan next month for a series of guitar clinics and then Firewind goes into the studio in December to work on the next record which will come out next Summer or Spring.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

Next time you\u2019re in town maybe you can come by the house for dinner!<\/strong><\/p>\n

[laughs]. \u00a0If I have time! \u00a0I haven\u2019t had time to even take a shit today [laughs]. \u00a0I actually have to make an appointment to do so.<\/p>\n

=======================================<\/p>\n

Well don\u2019t let me keep you from that appointment man. \u00a0Gus, thanks so much for doing this interview. \u00a0It was a lot of fun. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

[Laughs] Thank you for coming out. \u00a0It was a pleasure. \u00a0Enjoy the show tonight!<\/p>\n

The Brainfart & Gus G Backstage in Atlanta, GA<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At 31 years old, Greek guitarist Gus G is living the life that most guitarists of all ages only dream of.\u00a0 Not only is Gus out on the road with his band Firewind melting faces from town to town, he is also the holder of the coveted guitarist slot in Ozzy Osbourne’s band.\u00a0 When Firewind was in Atlanta recently, I had the opportunity to talk with the soft spoken and humble guitarist.\u00a0 We talked about everything from the creative process […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[194],"tags":[687,686,304],"class_list":["post-8206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-interviews","tag-firewind","tag-gus-g","tag-ozzy-osbourne"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8206","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8206"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8206\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8206"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8206"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}