The first song from FARMIKOS, the new band led by former OZZY OSBOURNE/DAVID LEE ROTH guitarist Joe Holmes, can be streamed at Farmikos.com. Holmes is joined in the new group by former LAIDLAW singer Robert "Robbie" Locke (pictured below with Holmes).

Says Holmes: "It's been a long time coming. I'm really proud of this music and am excited about getting it out. So far everything has been done without a label or management and we're in the process of figuring the best way to put this music out.

"I've been working with a great vocalist Robbie Locke and fortunate to have had Robert Trujillo [METALLICA, ex-SUICIDAL TENDENCIES] and Brooks Wackerman [BAD RELIGION] guest on this set of songs along with songwriting contributions from Brent Hoffort [MY OWN MACHINE]."

Holmes, 49, took lessons from legendary guitarist Randy Rhoads (OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT) in 1979 before forming the Los Angeles-based band TERRIFF in 1983. Holmes briefly left TERRIFF in 1987 to join LIZZY BORDEN and stayed with the latter group for a year before reforming TERRIFF.

After guitarist Jason Becker was diagnosed with ALS while recording DAVID LEE ROTH's album "A Little Ain't Enough" in 1990, Holmes stepped in to replace him.

In 1995, after Ozzy Osbourne had finished recording the "Ozzmosis" album, a replacement for Zakk Wylde was needed for the tour and Holmes got the job.

"It's really spooky," Ozzy once said in an interview, "because when Joe plays the Randy Rhoads stuff, he plays just like him — it's like I can see Randy's fingers."

Holmes remained Ozzy's guitarist for five years, before leaving the band during the writing sessions for the "Down To Earth" album. Although Holmes does not play on the CD, the songs "Facing Hell", "Junkie" and "That I Never Had", which were co-written by Holmes, appear on the album.