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 You could most certainly say that the story of Zakk Wylde reads like a rock n’ roll fantasy come true. It has been an exciting journey, as the once aspiring Jersey guitarist, has become a true rock icon. Through the many hard years of work, and dedication Zakk Wylde has remained a humble guitarist, with a heart of gold and is totally dedicated to making the best music he can for his fans.
Zakk Wylde plays guitar with a fiery passion, sings from the heart, and has proven that through hard work and dedication to his craft, dreams really can come true. At 19, Zakk was chosen to become Ozzy's lead guitar shredder. Zakk learned first hand the best lessons of life and music through his best friend and mentor Ozzy Osbourne. On January 17, 2006 Zakk Wylde was inducted into the Hollywood Rock Walk for his outstanding guitar work, and achievement as a musician.
Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society are embarking on a North American Tour, in support of their latest release,” Shot To Hell" on Roadrunner Records. The Shot To Hell tour will invade New England for three shows including October 24 in Hartford, Ct at the Webster Theatre, Oct 27 at the Hampton Beach Casino, and October 28 at the Worcester Palladium. Stay tuned to Glam-Metal.com for Exclusive coverage.
Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society latest release is a pure gem featuring the hit single,” Concrete Jungle", which is burning up the airwaves at Boston Radio Station WAAF, and FM Radio Stations across the country.
Welcome to The Society as Zakk Wylde gets ready to take center stage on the upcoming "Shot to Hell" Tour." www.zakkwylde.com www.blacklabelsociety.com www.roadrunnerrecords.com
Zakk, Black Label Society has recently released your most amazing album to date,” Shot To Hell" on Roadrunner Records. How did you come up with the title, "Shot To Hell?"
We just looked at our livers and our kidneys! (Laughter) That was basically it.
Tell me about the writing process for "Shot to Hell." Does everything revolve around the guitar riff first?
Yeah, it is always the same. We get in the studio, me and Craig and we just start knocking stuff out. We go in there with nothing, and then in 10 days, we had 23 tunes. It is always the riff, we jam on that for a while, and then I will sit on the piano, when we get tired from blasting from the Marshall’s. So I sit at the piano, pick up an acoustic, and do some mellow stuff, then we get back to the heavy stuff. It is always the same, when you get in there. The whole creative process, I always dig it. If you go in they’re with nothing, then it turns into this thing. You always want to put out a new album, when you go out on a new tour.
"Shot To Hell" has some great ballads that follow in the "In This River" vein. What are you thoughts on the ballad? Also will you be playing "In this River" on the STH Tour? I missed that song at Ozzfest.
Yes, there is about maybe four or five ballads or something like that on the new album. On Black Label albums, as much as I love the heavy stuff, I love the mellow stuff too. Without a doubt, you can always rework the heavy ones, and just make them acoustic. Yes, we will dedicate "In this River" to Dimebag every night. I wrote the song before Dime past away. It is just like I never had a brother, but Dime was my brother. I laid him to rest. It is just like that. Looking at the lyrics, this is his song.
How did you meet Dime?
I met Dime when I was playing in Pride and Glory. I always loved his playing and everything. We just met and became best buddies, Dime was awesome.
What have you learned from Dime?
Dime is proof that God exists. Dime is up there in God's tavern right now. When we get there, you can be sure there won't be any Crown Royal left. Dime is awesome.
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I must say that "Shot To Hell" and "Rebel Meets Rebel" are my two favorite albums of this year. What are you thoughts on Dime’s " Rebel Meets Rebel?”
Rebel Meets Rebel" came out awesome. I can remember Dime telling me about it, quite awhile before he passed away. Dime was like, "Zakk wait till you hear this thing." It came really cool." I knew who David Allan Coe was. Dime goes, "Zakk he is like the sweetest guy on the planet, he is super cool, we had so much fun making. I think it came out awesome. Everything Dime did came out awesome; so it doesn't matter do you know what I mean?
In this ever changing music business, you see 80's metal and guitar solos making a comeback in music again? I really admire how you continue to focus on guitar solos in your songwriting. You are definitely one of the most brilliant guitarists in music today.
Yeah, without a doubt, it is definitely coming around again. Avenged Sevenfold, those guys are doing solos now. It is always one of those things, what is old is new again. For awhile, like with the girls wearing the jeans, the hipsters were out and now they are in again. Then eventually that will go away. It is usually like a twenty-year cycle. Even with fashion or what people are wearing and music. What is old is new again. Girls are wearing midriffs again, hip huggers. For a while girls were wearing baggy pants. It goes out of fashion and suddenly comes back again. Nirvana was amazing. Kurt was like I don't want to do Edie Van Halen solos, I am a songwriter. He was all about the attitude. It's like hot dogs and hamburgers. Some people like hot dogs better than hamburgers, it is still food. One is not better than the other; do ya know what I am saying?
The guitar work is brilliant. I really enjoyed the shredding guitar solos, and pinch harmonics on "Shot to Hell." I really admire you as a guitarist, how you stuck to your guns, and followed in that Randy Rhoads, Eddie Van Halen 80's kind of guitar playing. Did the labels ever say to you we want you to change your style, when 80's metal was being replaced by the different genres of music?
No, I never got that. All the bands that I love, whether it was Zeppelin, or Sabbath, Neil Young, Elton John, you just let the guys go in there and let them do they want to do. It is like, if you can't go in there and tell Sabbath to start painting, if you and me were art exhibitors. Whatever he gives us he gives us, hopefully it comes out great, ya know what I mean. But we can't go in there and tell them what to start doing.
The "Shot To Hell Tour kicked off in Jersey. Zakk your from Jersey. Actually your musical career got started in Jersey. I know you live in Los Angeles now. How has the metal scene since changed since you first got started? Who are some of your favorite performers from Jersey? You still bring that real honest Jersey vibe to your music.
Yeah! I'm living on a prayer cuz I have been "Shot thru the Heart”! Do ya know what I mean? The Brutality! You have so many great performers from Jersey including Frank Sinatra, Steve Vai, and Joe Satriani is Jersey. Some people say it is the pizza, I say it is the water. The music industry has changed. I think nowadays with the Internet and everything, young kids can make their own records and do the stuff they want to do. They can put a website out and sell their own records, which is really cool. You don't even need a record deal. I just think it is like anything, it is a lot of hard work for rock bands. It is not like a cookie cutter thing. If you are a hot looking chick, we'll put some songs around you, and make a great video like Paris Hilton. For Christ’s Sake, mean c'mon, she is just doing it because she is bored. (Laughter) It is not like a band like Soundgarden or Alice in Chains who tours and builds up a following, and keep working, then you get signed. Rock bands are a completely different thing than pop bands.
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How did you meet Ozzy?
I was playing a club one day, in Jersey and this guy Dave came up to me and he said, "Hey Zakk my name is Dave, my buddy Mark Weiss, Mark is a famous photographer, Mark is doing some photo shoots right now with him. Ozzy is looking for a guitarist, why don't you take a picture of yourself and send in photo, I can't promise you anything.” I was working in a gas station at the time, playing crappy clubs; I thought I got nothing to lose. So my sister Amy took some pictures of me with some Polaroid’s on my Mom and Dad's porch. I ended up sending that in, and I recorded a bunch of Ozzy's songs like "Crazy Train", "Mr. Crowley" and sent it to him. Then the next thing I know, Sharon called my Mom and Dad's house, they flew me out to LA, I met Ozzy, I crapped my pants, and then the rest is history.
As a guitarist do you practice 24/7? Are you ever without your guitar in hand?
Definitely, I practice as much as I can. My days are basically, I just wake up, get something to eat, touring or doing interviews. That is what the whole day is pretty much.
Zakk, you have inspired so many musicians and are truly a guitar legend. Is their any advice that you would like to give your fans just getting started in the music business?
You got to love the music, whatever music it is. Don't be swayed by what other people tell you. You got to be dedicated to your instrument, because there is going to be up's and down’s. It is all one big family, and we are all I the same boat. Don't ever quit the music, because music is never going to quit on you. Do you know what I am saying?
Is their anything else that you would like to say to the BLS GlamMetal.com chapter and the many other chapters of BLS fans across the country?
Well Deb, tell the rest of our Black Label family out there, Stay Strong, Keep Bleed in Black Label.
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