Jennifer Batten, a former guitarist for Michael Jackson and Jeff Beck, believes she didn’t get to audition for Ozzy Osbourne’s band due to her gender.
Batten not too long ago spoke with Ultimate Guitar about her profession, which continues to this present day. She famously performed in Michael Jackson’s band from 1987-1997, together with three world excursions (Unhealthy, Harmful, HIStory) and the 1993 Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present. She later joined Jeff Beck’s touring band in 1999, lasting for 3 years. Batten has additionally launched quite a few solo albums and has appeared on dozens of songs as a visitor performer.
Earlier than she joined Michael Jackson, Batten tried to indicate her chops to Ozzy Osbourne. This is able to’ve possible been round 1987, when Jake E. Lee departed from Ozzy’s band. “I keep in mind, particularly, earlier than the Jackson factor got here up, I used to be making an attempt to get an audition with Ozzy Osbourne,” Batten remembers. “They usually have been auditioning everyone in LA on the time. And I do know my audio bought to the correct individuals, and I did not even get an opportunity. Trying again, it is a tremendous macho gig, and so they in all probability would not even take into account a feminine for that. Having mentioned that, if it was the identical factor as we speak, I believe it might be an entire totally different story. You get any individual like Nili Brosh — you would slay in a gig like that. She has unimaginable chops, nice tone, nice perspective, the whole lot. It is a totally different world. It’s a very totally different world now.”
After all, the job ultimately went to Zakk Wylde, who would proceed enjoying with Ozzy on-and-off for many years.
Batten additionally shared her opinion on Nita Strauss. “I am tremendous pleased with her,” she mentioned. “I haven’t got her report, however I’ve seen fairly a number of issues on YouTube. It is form of humorous, I believe if I have been her age, I would in all probability do an identical form of factor on stage — the hair flippy factor, [laughs] that the metallic guys do. However that’s so not who I’m proper now. It simply form of cracks me up.”
Try the complete interview with Jennifer Batten at Ultimate Guitar and click here for her upcoming tour dates.
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