Max Cavalera , in an interview with Metal Hammer , reveals that it was Ozzy Osbourne and his wife who encouraged him to continue with music after his departure from Sepultura in 1996, which led him into a depression that lasted for 6 months.
Cavalera says: “One of the main factors that made me return to music was family: having a strong family, especially my wife. Gloria was the one who really motivated me to get back into it and do what I was put on Earth to do.”
It was during a dinner at Ozzy's house that Cavalera received words of encouragement from him; Max continues: “Interestingly, Ozzy too. I have to thank Ozzy Osbourne. We had dinner here at his house in England and he was one of the people who told me 'Screw it! It's up to you to get back into it!'”
Cavalera adds: “It was like, ‘Dude, if you told teenage Max that Ozzy would ever advise you to keep going with music, I would have punched you,’ but he actually did. Coming from him, I can’t let that go. If my wife and Ozzy are asking me to get back into music, I really have to do it! Ha ha! It doesn’t get better than that, you know?”
In 1998, Cavalera released the self-titled debut album of his band Soulfly . It was a quick success, reaching the top 20 in five countries and spawning the beloved singles “Eye For An Eye” and “Bleed.” Referring to the success of his return to music, Max says: “Once I did it, I felt the confidence return. For a period of six months, I had no confidence. I felt like shit, just garbage, nothing I did mattered. That’s a really difficult zone to be in when you’re a musician.”
Cavalera concludes: “Once I made Soulfly , it was quite fun to create. I found the right guys and we went into the studio together, kind of like 'us against the world'. It reminded me a bit of the beginning of Sepultura. If the album hadn't been successful, I wouldn't be here talking to you.”
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