Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready shared a previously untold story on the State of Love & Trust: A Pearl Jam Podcast. He revealed his attempt to contribute to Ozzy Osbourne’s 2001 album ‘Down to Earth’ during a meeting in 2001-2002.
“One of the riffs, I tried to bring in to Ozzy. This was a long time ago. This is in probably like 2002 or 2001,” McCready revealed. “Prior to that — Ozzy would not remember this — but it was me, Ozzy, Kaz [Kobayashi], this Epic rep and a guitar.”
“I forget what that was called, but that was for the second Mad Season record,” he continued. “I brought that riff to Ozzy and I was playing it through a little amp and I think he listened to it and he just wasn’t into it. I should’ve probably done a really good job of recording it.”
“I’ve never told that story, but that was that song, and I forget the name of it,” McCready added. “It was on the second record. But anyways, that was the riff that I brought to Ozzy — that he did not use.”
The failed collaboration marked just one chapter in their professional relationship. Their musical paths would intersect again years later.
Recent Collaboration Success
Loudwire reported McCready’s eventual success with Ozzy Osbourne. The guitarist contributed to Osbourne’s 2022 album ‘Patient Number 9’ by playing guitar on the track ‘Immortal.’
The successful partnership emerged more than twenty years after the initial rejected riff. This development highlighted the evolving nature of musical relationships.
Mad Season Legacy
The riff McCready originally presented to Ozzy came from his work with Mad Season. The supergroup made a significant impact on the Seattle music scene. Historical records documented the band’s notable lineup, which included Layne Staley of Alice in Chains and Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees.
The band released their sole album ‘Above’ in 1995. Their journey ended prematurely due to tragic circumstances.
‘Down To Earth’ Era
McCready’s interaction with Ozzy coincided with the creation of ‘Down to Earth.’ AllMusic highlighted this 2001 Epic Records release as a pivotal moment in Osbourne’s career.
The recording process featured multiple guitarists and songwriters. This collaborative approach helped merge Ozzy’s classic metal sound with early 2000s musical elements.
