Imagine the pressure: singing one of the most iconic rock anthems of all time, 'Crazy Train,' in front of the legendary Ozzy Osbourne himself! That's exactly the situation Myles Kennedy, the powerhouse vocalist of Alter Bridge and Slash's band, found himself in. In a recent interview with iHeartRadio Canada, Kennedy shared his memories of this exhilarating, yet nerve-wracking, experience.
Kennedy's respect for Ozzy is undeniable. He recalls being profoundly impacted by Ozzy's music, particularly the album 'Diary Of A Madman.' He remembers the first time he heard it, saying it was like, "'What is happening? This is amazing.'"
Kennedy reminisced about touring with Ozzy and Slash's band, which happened about 15 years ago. He was able to watch Ozzy's performances night after night. He observed how Ozzy connected with his audience, and how much they adored him. Kennedy said it was inspiring to see how much Ozzy fed off that energy. Kennedy believes this is a key reason why artists do what they do, and that it was Ozzy's superpower.
But here's where it gets controversial... or at least, interesting. Kennedy's performance of 'Crazy Train' at the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards in Glasgow was a tribute to Ozzy, who was receiving the Global Icon Award. Kennedy admitted he rehearsed the song relentlessly. He knew Ozzy would be in the audience, and he wanted to do the song justice. He spent two weeks practicing the song, knowing Ozzy would be watching.
Kennedy described the experience as "really fun, but it was also kind of intimidating, knowing he was sitting there." Can you imagine the mix of excitement and pressure?
Beyond his work with Alter Bridge and Slash, Kennedy has also carved out a successful solo career, releasing three albums: 2018's "Year Of The Tiger", 2021's "The Ides Of March" and 2024's "The Art Of Letting Go".
Myles Kennedy is a true musician. He's a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, and he's collaborated with artists including SEVENDUST, GOV'T MULE, DISTURBED, HALESTORM, LAMB OF GOD's Mark Morton and Darryl "DMC" McDaniels.
Based in Spokane, Washington, Myles also possesses a rich history as an instructor and session guitarist.
What do you think? Would you be intimidated to sing a classic like 'Crazy Train' in front of the artist who made it famous? Let us know in the comments!
