What It Takes to Play Drums for Ozzy Osbourne | Tommy Clufetos

Rock drumming powerhouse Tommy Clufetos sits down with Rich Redmond and Jim McCarthy to talk about the reality of life at the top of rock, why every gig matters, and how “playing at” rock is killing the feel in modern music.Tommy goes deep on growing up in Detroit hauling gear for his dad’s band at age seven, earning gigs with Ted Nugent and Alice Cooper the hard way, and spending 15 years on the road with Ozzy and Black Sabbath. He breaks down drum solos as part of the show, his love/hate relationship with click tracks, and why he’d rather drive 16 hours to a gig and crush it than complain about the grind.If you care about groove, conviction, and the craft of being a pro drummer, this one’s a masterclass in attitude and work ethic.Timed Highlights:00:00 Cold open: “Pound Town” drum container practice idea03:45 Looking like a musician: leather jackets, visual brand, and “leather and latte season”08:10 Old‑school parenting: no phone, no TV, and raising a kid on ’50s/’60s/blues12:30 Meeting his wife on a Rob Zombie–directed CSI episode and reconnecting in Vegas16:55 Leaving L.A. for Nashville and why he loves the South’s “old‑school” feel21:40 Detroit roots: hauling gear for his dad’s band at age seven and baptism by fire27:05 First time sitting in: Moni Moni, kids going wild, and learning patience for the gig31:30 Playing for Mitch Ryder, Alto Reed, and getting in front of Ted Nugent36:15 The Ted Nugent test: three rounds of 20 songs, winter drives, and 4 a.m. wake‑ups42:40 Ozzy years: respect, leadership, and why Tommy won’t casually say “best friend”48:20 Black Sabbath dynamics: serving Ozzy, Tony, and Geezer all at once53:10 Planes, not buses: the grind of top‑level international touring57:45 Clicks vs feel: why real rock needs to breathe and follow the crowd1:03:20 Using a flashing light only as a tempo reference in Sabbath, then turning it off1:07:40 Instagram drumming, overplaying, and why younger players “play at” music1:12:55 Holiday Inn lesson: playing full‑tilt even when nobody is in the room1:18:10 Tommy’s Rock Trip: original hard rock, young bandmates, and building work ethic1:24:00 Money and integrity: walking out of a session at 16 when the pay was cut in half1:29:10 Bob Seger, Alto Reed, and practicing to Seger records then and now1:34:30 Drum solos as part of the show: structuring the solo so it lifts the entire set1:39:00 Final advice: know what you’re getting into, focus on the music, and leave no regretsLinks:The Rich Redmond Show: www.therichredmondshow.transistor.fmPodcast production studio: https://itsyourshow.coDrum intensive with Rich Redmond: https://drumtensive.comTommy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialtommyclufetos/?hl=en