Gus G. Featured in New Guitar World Video Lesson

Guitar World is now featuring an exclusive lesson from Gus G. In the lesson, the Ozzy Osbourne/Firewind guitarist discusses his influences as well as how he got his current gig. In addition, he offers a demonstration of how to play the Ozzy track "Let Me Hear You Scream."

On October 17, Gus G.'s latest instructional DVD, Lead and Rhythm Guitar Techniques, will be released via Rock House. He reveals his own guitar playing secrets and offers instruction on how other guitarists can incorporate those secrets into their own guitar playing. The DVD will offer lessons in the natural minor and Phyrgian major scales, patterns, scale sequences, and full neck runs used by Gus G. himself. There are also tutorials in diminished sweep and chromatic arpeggios, emotional bending techniques, and the creation of a minor 3rd Harmony lead. Gus delves into the foundation of his personal style, revealing chords, voicings, syncopated, pivoting staccato, interval, and clean picked rhythms. In addition, he analyzes his own leads and song structures from Firewind.

The DVD features:

- Over 40 lessons
- Interviews and live performances
- Behind-the-scenes photos and videos
- iPod-ready video
- A 46-page interactive tab book that can be printed from the DVD

Lead and Rhythm Techniques runs for 120 minutes and is zoned to play anywhere in the world. The DVD can be pre-ordered from The Rock House Method.

Below is part 1 of Gus G.'s Guitar Lesson as presented by Guitar World:

Randy Rhoads Commemorative Wine Launched

Kathryn Rhoads D'Argenzio, D'Argenzio Winery and sister to the late Randy Rhoads, has been trying to find a way to honour her brother since his tragic passing whilst on tour with Ozzy Osbourne in 1982. Now it seems she has finally settled on a tribute.

Both the Rhoads and the D'Argenzio families have decided to honour the life, music, and legacy of Randy Rhoads through the production of a special edition 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon. It was unveiled to the public on August 15 during a release event that evening in Burbank, California at the D'Argenzio Winery's tasting room.

The wine is produced and bottled in Sonoma County in Northern California. It is limited edition and is available only through the Santa Rosa and Burbank tasting rooms. It is also available through the official website, www.dargenziowine.com. (Read More)

And Colin Farrell Stars as...Ozzy Osbourne?

According to Digital Spy, award-winning actor Colin Farrell has agreed to star as Ozzy Osbourne in a prospective biopic of the music icon.

Osbourne himself, however, has made it known that he would like to be played by an unknown - preferably one from his native Birmingham. During an interview with Sunday Mercury, the 61-year-old singer explained, "I'd like to get a Birmingham guy to play the young lad in it because Americans can't do a good Brummie accent." (Read More)

Osbourne and Iommi Settle Black Sabbath Trademark Lawsuit

Recently, during an interview with Pulse of Radio, Ozzy Osbourne announced that a lawsuit between him and guitarist Tony Iommi had been settled. The suit dealt with the use of the Black Sabbath name. Osbourne added that everything is now fine between him and his former band mate.

Osbourne had sued Iommi for a 50% interest in the Black Sabbath trademark. He also sued for a portion of the profits made by Iommi from the use of the name. The suit charged that Osbourne's "signature lead vocals" are largely the reason for the band's "extraordinary success" and noted that popularity declined during his absence from 1980 to 1996. Lawyer Andrew DeVore responded with the argument that Osbourne had actually signed away his rights to the Black Sabbath trademark when he left the band in 1979. However, Osbourne's lawyer - Howard Shire - called DeVore's argument a "red herring" that was "repudiated" when the singer rejoined Sabbath in 1997. Shire argued that at that point, Osbourne took over "quality control" of all merchandise, recordings, and tours associated with the band.

Following Osboune's lawsuit announcement, Pulse of Radio asked the Prince of Darkness if there would be a chance of the original Sabbath lineup reuniting. "Well, I never say never," replied Osbourne. "I mean, I've got a few ideas, but we'll see what happens, you know. We did try and do another album, but we've all changed so much and it's - if you don't do an album that blows the doors off the last one that we did together, then it's gonna be looked upon as a joke, you know."

The original Sabbath lineup - consisting of Osbourne, Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward - last toured together in 2005 and later reassembled in 2006 for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The group made an attempt at a new album some 11 years ago (which would have been their first since 1979), but the effort was abandoned after only a handful of songs.

That is not to say the four have not been keeping busy. Both Iommi and Bulter had been touring and recording with Ronnie James Dio and Vinny Appice (both latter-day members of Black Sabbath) since 2007 under the name Heaven and Hell. They remained active until Dio's death from stomach cancer in May 2010. In addition, Osbourne is set to release a new solo album, Scream, on June 22 and will also headline Ozzfest this summer.

Ozzy Fans Scream Their Way into the Guinness Book of World Records

On June 11, a stadium full of Ozzy Osbourne fans managed to break a Guinness World Record...by screaming. Ozzy himself convinced a crowd of 52,000 to scream louder than 127.2 dBA – the current record held by a group of Finnish Boy Scouts. (Read More)

Ozzy says Zakk "Don't Need Me Anymore."

Artisan News Service caught up with veteran rocker Ozzy Osbourne at the Sunset Strip Music Festival and got the skinny on the departure of guitarist Zakk Wylde and his replacement by Gus G.

"I haven't fallen out with Zakk; he's a very good- Our relationship goes way beyond music," Ozzy said. "He's got his own thing now: he's got his own band, he's got his own career — he don't need me anymore." He added, "I've a got a guy, Gus G., a guy from Greece — not the musical, the country of Greece."

In an interview with Classic Rock magazine in June 2009, Ozzy said he was looking for a replacement for Wylde, who played with the band off and on since 1988. "Zakk's got his own band and I felt like my stuff was beginning to sound like [his band] - Black Label Society," Ozzy admitted, adding, "I just felt like I wanted a change, y'know?"

Later, on July 29, Wylde responded to Ozzy's comments to Classic Rock during a radio interview in Eugene, Oregon:

"I've gotta be honest with you. The boss hasn't even given me a phone call, so I mean- I'm just like- I don't know what's going on over there. Are we doing this thing or are we not doing it? I mean, it's like, dude, you don't wanna play with me anymore? Fine. Play with whoever the hell you wanna play with. I couldn't give a rat's ass. Like I'm gonna get all jealous or whatever. But you know what? Man up and give me a phone call and tell me what the hell's going on."

Wylde went on to rant about Ozzy, using ample expletives and causing the radio station to insert censor "beeps" into the majority of the tirade.

Ozzy, who has been working on a solo album in Los Angeles, confirmed that Wylde had recorded material for his latest project, but admitted, "I don't know if I want to use it."

And just when it seemed the plot couldn't thicken any further, Wylde's wife announced in an online posting that her husband suffers from "a rare genetic clotting disorder" and that he is receiving treatment in California.

Meanwhile, Gus G. has told the Greek edition of Metal Hammer magazine that MySpace played a part in his new job with the former Black Sabbath frontman:

"I got a message on my MySpace page from Rob "Blasko" [Nicholson], Ozzy's bass player, asking me what I was doing, if I was living in America or not and saying that he wanted to talk to me. I never thought he'd want me for something like that [playing with Ozzy]. I initially thought that maybe he wanted to talk to me about doing a project or something and then he told me that one of Ozzfest's managers was looking for me. The manager said that they wanted me to fly out to Los Angeles immediately for a show that Ozzy was about to do in Anaheim, California."

Regarding his replacement of Wylde in the band's line-up, Gus said, "Zakk is a tremendous guitar player, just like all the guys that have played with Ozzy. In fact, Zakk is my favourite Ozzy guitar player ever and my biggest influence of them all. It's quite an honour for me to step into his shoes."

Gus G., whose real name is Kostas Karamitroudis, currently plays with Firewind. He has also played with Arch Enemy, Dream Evil, Mystic Prophecy, and Nightrage.