Ex-Ozzy Bassist Reflects on Challenges of Modern Music Careers

Rob 'Blasko' Nicholson says starting a band today is vastly different than in the 1980s due to digital platforms and advertising costs.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 12:38am

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Former Ozzy Osbourne and current Rob Zombie bassist Rob 'Blasko' Nicholson recently shared his perspective on the challenges facing modern musicians. He explained why he wouldn't want to start a band in today's digital landscape, contrasting the pure artistic motivation of the 1980s with today's complex requirements around social media, algorithms, and advertising.

Why it matters

Nicholson's reflections come at a time when his own career has experienced significant developments, demonstrating the enduring power of established musical partnerships in an industry increasingly dominated by digital platforms. His comments highlight the stark differences between building a career as a musician in the 1980s versus today's landscape of social media, algorithms, and advertising costs.

The details

Nicholson reflected on how the music industry has fundamentally changed since he started his first band in the mid-1980s. He contrasted the pure artistic motivation of that era with today's complex digital requirements, saying 'Knowing everything that I know now, I don't know that I would start a band now.' He addressed the overwhelming number of platforms musicians must navigate to build their careers, as well as how algorithm restrictions and advertising costs have created new barriers for artists trying to reach their audiences.

  • Nicholson's comments were featured in an interview published on March 28, 2026.

The players

Rob 'Blasko' Nicholson

A former bassist for Ozzy Osbourne and current bassist for Rob Zombie, who shared his perspective on the challenges facing modern musicians.

Rob Zombie

A horror rock icon whose musical project Nicholson recently rejoined, marking a significant return to form for the band.

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What they’re saying

“Knowing everything that I know now, I don't know that I would start a band now. It's kind of funny, 'cause I joke about this, that whenever my first band started in 1985, 1986, heavy metal was not a career choice in 1985 for a bunch of young kids. You did it because you loved it. You did it because everything about it was just part of your DNA.”

— Rob 'Blasko' Nicholson, Former Ozzy Osbourne and Current Rob Zombie Bassist

“If you are, like, 'Okay, we're gonna start a band and we're gonna make music.' But do we make a horizontal video that goes on YouTube? And then do we cut that up into vertical videos that go on TikTok? Are we mainly just gonna go on TikTok and play the song acoustically, and hopefully that connects? There's so many places to try and build a career, and all of those places are where careers have started.”

— Rob 'Blasko' Nicholson, Former Ozzy Osbourne and Current Rob Zombie Bassist

What’s next

Rob Zombie will co-headline the Freaks on Parade Tour with Marilyn Manson from August 21 to September 21, 2026, promoting his eighth solo album released on February 27, 2026.

The takeaway

Nicholson's reflections highlight the stark contrast between building a music career in the 1980s versus today's digital landscape, where artists must navigate a complex web of social media platforms, algorithms, and advertising costs to reach audiences. However, his own reunion with Rob Zombie's band demonstrates how established musical partnerships can still thrive alongside the new digital realities.