So I was asked to audition for an Ozzy/Sabbath tribute band from up this way called Bark at the Moon, as their guitar player is leaving to pursue original music. These guys are kind of a big deal around here, so it’s pretty damned cool that they approached me to audition, as opposed to me approaching them about it. They’re playing good theater rooms in the regional NY/PA/DE/MD area and seem to be attracting good crowds. This is a HUGE guitar challenge. Iommi, Rhoads, Lee, Wylde. Crazy.
They gave me three songs to record myself playing:
Diary of a Madman
Killer of Giants
Rock N Roll Rebel
I did, sent them along, with another of me doing Bark at the Moon live, then was asked to come do an in person audition today. I learned a bunch of songs to prepare:
so LOL. Singer didn't realize that there was a 12:00 and a 2:00. Thought it was only 2:00. I was set up, as the bass player was arriving, trying to find the singer. He just woke up and would be another 2 hours getting there. So we decided to wing it with three of us and I'll sing some here and there myself. I'm pissed, but keeping it to myself.
So we do Crazy Train (I sang the whole song, so now they know it's something I can do), I Don't Know, Bark at the Moon, Mr. Crowley, Fairies Wear Boots, and Rock N Roll Rebel (the bass player needed a minute to remember how the middle part went). Then we did one more, they said are you more comfortable with Killer of Giants or Diary of a Madman. I said "Honestly, I'm more comfortable with Killer of Giants... so let's do Diary of a Madman." They got a funny look, like that was totally unexpected, and we went with it. They seemed to dig it.
So now they want to set up another time for me to come up and do this right, to be fair to me, so a couple weeks from now. I have the advantage now of knowing how THEY play, so I know how immaculate my playing has to be or doesn't have to be.