Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt says the one big regret he’s had in his career is turning down the opportunity to be Ozzy Osbourne‘s lead guitarist in 1995.

Bettencourt’s admission came via a social media post as he reflected on the one-year anniversary of Ozzy Osbourne’s passing.

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The reason Bettencourt offered for declining the momentous offer was to continue pursuing Extreme, who were in his words in “full effect” at the time. As Bettencourt mentions in his post, he would have been following in the footsteps of legends Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, and Zakk Wylde as lead guitarist for the metal icon.

His full post reads as follows:

“I’ve had the most blessed career.
Yes.. ups and downs. But I have no regrets… except one.

That I turned Ozzy down when I was asked to be his guitarist in ’95.

It was my dream to be his guitarist as a teenager and I know why I turned it down as Extreme was in full effect.

BUT … I truly regret it … because I have never stopped fantasizing about the incredible music and albums we might have made together… especially built on the shoulders of the iconic BIG 3 before me… Randy, Jake E., Wylde.

Just being asked is still without a doubt one of the greatest honors of my life.
A crazy and unreachable childhood dream that came true.

Only if I had …. Fuck me.

Thank you Ozzy for believing in me enough to consider me as partner in your genius vision as you were the bar and the greatest guitarist visionary as well as the godfather of metal with Iommi.”

Interestingly, Bettencourt’s Extreme bandmate Gary Cherone jumped at the opportunity to become Van Halen’s lead singer in 1996.

Extreme are currently out on tour with Mötley Crüe and Tesla until late September, supporting their most recent record Six, which was released in 2023. Get tickets here.

See Nuno Bettencourt’s full Instagram post below.