Ozzy Osbourne recalled hanging out with Van Halen during the band’s early days in the late-’70s. Even back then, David Lee Roth was a unique character.
Speaking with Revolver, Osbourne talked about how Van Halen opened for Black Sabbath on the European leg of their “Never Say Die!” tour.
“[Eddie Van Halen] was such a great guy,” said The Prince of Darkness. “They came to our local pub and it was good fun. But David Lee Roth, he’s lost a couple of nuts and bolts. When you meet him, it’s like, ‘What’s wrong with him?’ He’s like somewhere else, you know?”
Ozzy also touched on the rivalry between EVH and his guitarist Randy Rhoads in the interview. The rivalry has become a topic of interest recently due to a new documentary about Rhoads that explores the interactions between the two Southern California guitarists.
Osbourne said, “They were arch enemies. Randy didn’t have a lot to say about Eddie. They were very, very similar guitar players. Eddie took that tapping thing to another level. Randy could do that, but he liked people like Leslie West. It amazes me that you get Eddie, you get Randy, and you go, ‘No one’s ever gonna top that.’ But there’s a new thing round every corner”
