ZAKK WYLDE On His 1995 Jams With GUNS N’ ROSES: ‘We Had A Good Time’ But ‘Nothing Was Ever Materializing’

Zakk Wylde says his 1995 sessions with Guns N’ Roses were enjoyable but never developed into a firm plan for him to join the band. The guitarist was auditioning while recording Ozzy Osbourne’s *Ozzmosis*, and the competing schedules meant Osbourne needed to find another player.

Wylde recalls that Axl Rose contacted him after the band began looking for a guitarist following Gilby Clarke’s departure. He jammed with the group, including Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, and demoed ideas at McKagan’s home studio. Osbourne then hired Joe Holmes, while Wylde went on to make his 1996 solo album *Book of Shadows*, drawing on the acoustic songs he had been writing.