OZZY OSBOURNE drummer Tommy Clufetos phoned in to chat to The Metal File’s Mike Metal. Check out the interview at this location.

Away-Team.com recently caught up with OZZY OSBOURNE drummer Tommy Clufetos. An excerpt from the interview is available below.

Q: So how did you get the gig with Ozzy? Did you have to audition? Or did they call you and say “Hey, what are you doing? We want you to play with us”? How did that work out?

Clufetos: "I was kinda in the right place at the right time. I was brought in to help out during Gus G.’s audition, he came in from Greece, and their drummer at the time couldn’t make it, so I was asked to do it just so Gus could be comfortable and focus on playing guitar… and the music would be solid. So that’s what I came in to do, and then they asked me to play at a thing called Blizzcon in California, which again Mike Bordin, who’s an amazing drummer, could not make due to commitments with FAITH NO MORE. They asked me to do that, and out of those couple experiences they asked me to join the band. So I was very lucky, and excited, and so ecstatic to say ‘Yes’."

Q: Now, you left ROB ZOMBIE’s band to take the gig with Ozzy, I understand Rob was a little bitter when you left him. Have you spoken to him since, and managed to salvage your friendship?

Clufetos: "I have not spoken to him. But I have nothing but great things to say about Rob and my time spent there, and ya know I base our relationship on what I saw when I was there and I have nothing but great things to say about that. I wouldn’t say anything negative, just because of a couple statements in the press. So, no hard feelings on my end. I wish him, his wife Sheri, and all the guys nothing but the best. I still think the world of all of them. So, that’s how I feel.

Q: These days Ozzy seems to be a bit more energized than he has been in the past few years. I’m sure in part it has to do with some of you younger guysbeing around. With guys like yourself and Gus being closer in age to Ozzy’s kids, than the man himself; do Ozzy and Sharon treat you with more of a parental instinct? Or are you still just one of the guys?

Clufetos: "The age thing doesn’t really come into play. We play in his band, and it’s business. But this is more like a family than anything I’ve ever been involved with. They’re super cool, and super nice, and ya know we just played an L.A. show and Ozzy’s whole family was out there. They couldn’t be better to us, they treat us all great despite the age. Whether you’re old or young, it’s all the same thing."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Remaining tour dates also featuring Ozzy's longtime friend and musical collaborator, SLASH are as follows:

February

10 - BOK Center - Tulsa, OK
12 - The Palace of Auburn Hills - Detroit, MI
14 - i wireless Center - Moline, IL
16 - Bridgestone Arena - Nashville, TN
18 - St Pete Times Forum - Tampa, FL
20 - BankAtlantic Center - Fort Lauderdale, FL
22 - Jacksonville Veterans Mem. Arena - Jacksonville, FL

Ozzy's 2011 dates include a special homage to his beloved friend and collaborator Randy Rhoads with nightly drawings whereby two VIP attendees will win a bottle of D'Argenzio Winery’s 2005 Randy Rhoads Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County). The wine was produced as a special tribute to Randy by his sister, Kathy Rhoads D’Argenzio.