Michael Schenker reveals why he turned down Ozzy Osbourne’s invitation to become his new guitar player.
In a schenker-career-interview” target=”_blank” data-url=”https://www.loudersound.com/features/michael-schenker-career-interview” rel=”noopener”>new interview with Classic Rock, the UFO and Scorpion virtuoso reflected on some key milestones from his guitar playing career.
Schenker had just set the wheels in motion for the Michael Schenker Group in the early ‘80s when Osbourne approached him following the death of Randy Rhoads in 1982. However, the timing of the offer wasn’t right and the prospect of joining Osbourne’s band was not as appealing as it once might have been.
He explained, “A voice in my head said, ‘Michael, follow your vision.’ I’d left UFO and Scorpions because I didn’t want to go any further with the fame thing, and I wanted freedom and peace, so I felt it would be crazy to join.”
However, rather than flat-out rejecting the proposition, Schenker claims he indirectly turned down the opportunity to join Osbourne’s band by tactically “making outrageous demands”. He has also turned down chances to become the guitarist of Motörhead, Thin Lizzy and more.
