Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde admitted to “No More Tears” having a strong Pink Floyd influence in a new Guitar World interview.
Your ‘No More Tears’ solo – what do you remember about recording it?
“The weird thing was I did it in one take. I remember being at A&M [Records] and I had the piano bit down.
“It reminded me of Pink Floyd and The Beatles, plus Elton John’s ‘Funeral for a Friend’ and stuff like that. We had that bit and then got to the solo. I think I was just jamming!
“There’s the structured pentatonic thing at the very end, but it was pretty weird because I only did it once. I remember saying to everyone, ‘Let me try it again!’
“And they were like, ‘Nah, it’s cool as it is.’ That song is one of very few on that record where I didn’t double the guitars… it’s all just one guitar for those rhythms.”
Ozzy got you a 1957 Gibson Les Paul Junior as a birthday present early on. We’re guessing you’d never dream of selling that one…
“Especially because The Boss got it for me. I remember we were opening for Mountain and Leslie West had the hugest guitar tone. He played a ’57 Junior, so Ozz got me that for my 21st.
“It will always have a special place in my collection, plus it’s a great-sounding guitar. I’ve kept all my special guitars.
“People have asked me in the past if I’d sell The Grail or The Rebel and it’s like, ‘Nah!’ Those guitars will always be a big part of who I am.
“When we did ‘Ozzmosis,’ I remember [producer] Michael Beinhorn got me a red ’58 double-cutaway Junior and I still have that. I still have my ’65 SG. I’m never gonna get rid of those old guitars.”
