Ozzy Osbourne says he was asked to Join Van Halen

While Van Halen’s success after replacing original frontman David Lee Roth with Sammy Hagar has become legendary in the rock community, Ozzy Osbourne has revealed the band attempted to draft another established solo artist after Hagar’s departure: himself.

While discussing the late guitarist during his most recent episode of the “Ozzy Speaks” radio show, Osbourne recalled receiving a late-night drunk call from guitarist Eddie Van Halen after he and Hagar went their separate ways. “He phoned me up one time and asked me if I wanted to sing in his band after Sammy,” Osbourne said. “I think he was a bit drunk. We’ve all done one of them — calling at four o’clock in the morning.”

Although Osbourne turned Van Halen down, he said he remained in awe of the guitarist’s unprecedented skills. “I could sit and watch Eddie Van Halen play guitar all day,” he said. “I thought he was brilliant. God only knows what you have to do to get that good.”