I sent my album 'The Music Room' to Steve Vai at his studio in LA. A while later I received a very nice two page letter from him.

"I was delighted to hear your record. You really are quite a good player. The production is very nice and your tone is outstanding. You have a great technique, vibrato, intonation and phrasing. Definitely a cut above so much I do receive. If I was to critique... hmmm, hard to do since you have all the elements nicely in place..."

On page two here writes:

"I have written much because I feel you have something great going on. All the best of luck. Peace, love and good happiness stuff"

Steve Vai 2019.

I could barely play when I first heard Steve's music so it means a great deal to hear such things about my playing from him. Thank you Steve!

The letter can be seen by clicking on either of the letter pages, or on my Instagram page HERE

click the image below to visit my youtube page

phone call from ozzy

In mid 2005, I heard that Ozzy was looking for a new guitarist. (His guitarist since 1987 Zakk Wylde was very busy with his own band 'Black Label Society'.)
So I got a demo CD together and sent it straight to Ozzy's house in Buckinghamshire. I wasn't sure where Ozzy was at the time but I knew his wife Sharon was here in the UK doing 'The X-Factor' TV show, so I knew I stood a good chance of being heard by one, if not both of them.
Two weeks later the phone rings. "Hi Des, it's Ozzy..."
Being the bright spark that I am, I quickly reply with "Who?"
(Yeah, it threw me a bit that he'd called me himself.) He then said "It's Ozzy Osbourne, i've just listened to your CD and I'm really f***ing impressed man. I'm really impressed. I'd like to meet you and see you play."
It's hard to put into words what that short sentence meant to me. For Ozzy to consider me for his band is an honour and as a rock guitarist, it's probably the highest compliment I can imagine.
Ozzy has worked with some of the best guitar players in the business and was already a successful recording artist while I was still in nappies perfecting the subtle art of projectile vomiting.
Ozzy was very friendly and down to earth and I think he also liked the fact that I'm a fellow 'Brummy'.
The last thing he said to me was that he was off to LA for a while but he would definitely get back to me.
Unfortunately for me, a short while later, it's announced that Zakk has been able to rearrange his schedule to make sure that he would be available for Ozzy again.
I can't say I blame him.
The search for a new guitarist for Ozzy was off and my dream of nailing THE guitar gig was over.
Just after I spoke to Ozzy, I told myself that if nothing came of it, then at least I have reached a standard high enough to impress the man who discovered Randy Rhoads, Jake E.Lee and Zakk Wylde.

letter from steve vai