There’s a murmur in the heavy metal world that Rudy Sarzo, the talented bassist who laid down unforgettable grooves for Ozzy Osbourne in the early 80s, was somehow mistreated by the legendary frontman.
Whispers of “ripped off” and unfair compensation have lingered for years. Thankfully, fans can finally exhale a sigh of relief. Sarzo himself has stepped in to shed some light on the situation.
Recently, music journalist Dave Wight reached out to Sarzo, prompting the bassist to address these rumors head-on. In his response, Sarzo hopefully put this speculation to rest.
Rudy Sarzo Was “Fairly Compensated”
Music journalist Dave Wight ignited a discussion on Twitter regarding bassist compensation with Ozzy Osbourne. Wight’s post mentioned Carmine Appice’s new album and the inclusion of bassists who allegedly experienced unfair treatment by Osbourne.
Bassist Rudy Sarzo, who played with Ozzy Osbourne’s band, directly addressed Wight’s comments. Sarzo questioned the validity of these claims, requesting proof of being “ripped off” by the Osbournes.
Another Twitter user chimed in, mentioning Bob Daisley’s discontent with the remastered Blizzard albums, where the bass and drums were re-recorded. However, they clarified that there were no reports of touring musicians being mistreated financially.
Sarzo added his perspective, stating that while he wasn’t ripped off, but was “fairly compensated” for his work on two Ozzy Osbourne records.
Randy Rhoads Trusted Rudy
Ozzy’s path crossed with Sarzo thanks to the legendary guitarist Randy Rhoads. While Rhoads was initially with Quiet Riot, he left the band in 1979 to join Osbourne’s solo project, Blizzard of Ozz. Interestingly, Rhoads played a key role in bringing Sarzo into the fold. Their past collaboration in Quiet Riot apparently convinced Rhoads of Sarzo’s suitability.
According to an interview with Sarzo, Rhoads personally vouched for him to Osbourne and his wife Sharon. Rhoads reportedly emphasized Sarzo’s positive qualities, describing him as someone who wouldn’t be a negative influence on Osbourne.
“I had already worked with Randy in Quiet Riot, so he told Sharon, ‘Listen, Rudy is the perfect guy because he’s not going to be a bad influence on Ozzy. He looks good, he’s reliable, and he’s going to be somebody to hang with on the bus!’” Sarzo recalled.
See Sarzo’s and Wight’s X posts below.