Zakk Wylde Interview

by Brian D. Holland.

Zakk Wylde took on a heavy load when securing the axe slinging reigns for Ozzy Osbourne. Having all the respect in the world for his predecessors, Randy Rhoads and Jake E. Lee, in due time he earned the respect of metal fans everywhere. His Black Label Society motto, SDMF: Strength, Determination, Merciless, Forever, has become a lifestyle, as Zakk is known to live life to the fullest, complete with guitars, beer, and custom built motorcycles.

He's a fearless achiever in today's hard rock and metal world. The most popular and talked about guitarist among young players, Zakk's fashionable appearance and signature bull's-eye Les Paul have rendered him a noticeable icon, even when seen from afar. From Ozzy to 'Mafia' has been a fast yet productive ride for Zakk Wylde. Awhile back I reviewed Mafia, the latest studio release from Black Label Society. The interview below soon followed.

How're you doing, Zakk?

Zakk Wylde: I'm doing real good, buddy. Just hanging out and getting ready for another show. We've got a show tonight in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

You're all over the place, as in 'no rest for the wicked'.

Zakk: Yeah, without a doubt, man. It never ends. They tell me, 'Just be around and you're good to go', you know.

Are you staying out of trouble?

Zakk: Yeah, like that's ever gonna happen. [Laughs] It's unbelievable, man.

Categorize your musical taste, and what has influenced your own musical style.

Zakk: It's basically a lot of what I've been listening to over the years. It's all been an influence on me. I've listened to everything from Black Sabbath to Zeppelin to Creedence, Elton John, and Neil Young. When I'm lifting weights I'll listen to Meshuggah and Ministry, and when mellowing out on the bus I'll listen to Coldplay.

Writing music appears to be an everflowing, effortless process for you. In other words, you rattle off songs left and right.

Zakk: Yeah, without a doubt, man. In the morning I could be sitting with a cup of coffee while writing stuff out on piano. If I'm sitting there with a bass and I've got distortion running through a Marshall, you just wanna write riffs. You know what I mean. When I'm sitting down in the studio, like when we started work on 'Mafia', at first we had nothing, but eight days later we had like twenty songs. I had someone make a beer run, and when they got back I had the lyrics to a song all written down.

Was it difficult entering Ozzie's band following the likes of Randy Rhoads and Jake E. Lee?

Zakk: Yeah, it definitely was, because I love those guys. It was definitely rough because those guys were outstanding players, and they understood Ozzie and his music. I still love listening to their playing.

Does Ozzfest ever get old? Is it still one big party?

Zakk: Nah, Ozzfest still kicks ass every year, man. I have a good time doing it every year. It's always a big selling tour, so we always have an ass kicking time on it.

Zakk: Oh, that was funny as hell, man. Right before we went on, and right before the Patriots came running out, Ozzie's standing there with a Patriot's shirt on. He says, "Hey, Zakk." I said, "What's up Oz?" He looks at me and says, "What the hell's the name of the team?" (Both laughing) I said, "Oz, it says Patriots right on your jersey. They're the New England Patriots and they're the champs." It's funny as hell, man. And it was cool doing it. Every time I'm around him we always have a great time.

It sounds like the older he gets, the funnier he gets.

Zakk: Oh, without a doubt. But he's always been that way ever since I met him. And he's like the greatest front man ever. He could be a comedian, too.

Are you as 'alcohol fueled' as the album titles indicate?

Zakk: Well, the bottom line is, you never show up onstage loaded. You know what I mean? I just dig drinking my beers, lifting weights, and going on about my business, and mainly playing guitar.

Your guitar playing, acoustic playing as well, is very impressive. Have you had extensive music training?

Zakk: I took lessons for like two years with this guy Leroy Wright. He taught me the scales and modes, and interval studies. Then I took classical guitar for a little bit. Just like with everybody, you've gotta learn the basics. Then you realize how the fret board works out. You just take it from there. Nowadays, you've got so many video lessons. There are so many books and things. There's tons of information out there.

I've come across a few people who wonder whether or not 'Farm Fiddlin' will ever be released on a Zakk Wylde album. How would you answer that?

Zakk: No. It was just for that Guitar World compilation. I had a good time doing it; it was funny as hell, man.

You've done some charity work for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Zakk: Yeah. We did a show out in Tennessee with all proceeds going to the Katrina thing. Craig's from New Orleans and one of the other guys is from Mississippi and we have a bunch of friends out in Alabama, too. So, we're just doing the right thing, man, that's all.

Does a discrepancy still exist between you and Maiden's Bruce Dickinson?

Zakk: No. I'm a fan of Maiden, so ... He was just baggin' on Ozzie the whole time. I was just like, "Hey, why are you doing that?" I dig Maiden, but whatever. I couldn't care less, though. Stuff like that was cutting in on my bar time, you know. I really couldn't give a rat's ass. (Laughs)

What do you think of the epic battle between Heaven and Hell, God and Satan? Is it real?

Zakk: Yeah, without a doubt, man. You're in heaven when you've got some beer and when you run out of it on the tour bus you're in hell. [Both laughing]

Good answer. Better than saying 'next question'. [We're both laughing heavily here.]

Was there any bitterness between you and Geffen?

Zakk: No. Because when you're around it long enough, business is business, man. Shit's gonna happen. The way I see it is, if you get shit canned from a label or something like that, it's just more time for me and you to hit the bar. [More laughing.]

We've gotta do that some time.

Zakk: Exactly.

Talk about working with Dream Theater and Platypus keyboardist, Derek Sherinian. He appears to be the keyboard player of choice for many guitarists these days.

Zakk: Derek's a good buddy, and one of the best musicians I've known on the planet. He's beyond phenomenal, and a super cool person and musician.

Talk about your friendship with Dime.

Zakk: I met Dime probably at Donington. I knew about his playing; he knew about me jamming with Ozzie and all. It was probably about '93 when we started hanging out and talking on a regular basis. He was the real deal, man.

Your main influences?

Zakk: Let's see. Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Elton John,. Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers, Neil Young, Rolling Stones, Beatles and everybody.

Your voice as reminiscent of Layne Staley, and maybe a little Jerry Cantrell, too; you've got that Alice In Chains thing going on.

Zakk: Yeah. Layne was awesome, man. But it's Ozzie, too.

Yes. Ozzie, too.

Zakk: He's my favorite singer.

What about the new compilation, 'Kings of Damnation'? Were you involved in that, or was Spitfire Records clutching at straws when you departed?

Zakk: Yeah. The previous record company wanted to put it out, so I said, "all right, cool." They just had me listen to everything that was on the record. I had some bonus tracks, so we put that out as well.

Name your five favorite albums.

Zakk: Harvest Moon by Neil Young, Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, AC/DCs Back In Black, and Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy.

Gear?

Zakk: All Marshalls, JCM 800s, 2203s. I've got 6550 Groove Tubes in them. That's the only thing I've done to them. Outside of that they're stock. I've got the cabs loaded up with 200-watt EV speakers. As far as pedals go, it's all Jimmy Dunlop stuff because I worked with Jim designing the distortion pedal. I've got his chorus pedal, wah-wah, and then I use a rotovibe. I've got a phase 90. That's about it man. I use Monster cable and GHS strings. And of course, the Zakk Wylde Epiphone and Gibson Les Pauls, man.

Related Links
Zakk Wylde Talks about a New Guitar and the Secret of Life
Gibson Custom Shop Introduces Inspired By Zakk Wylde Flying V Custom
Brian D. Holland's review of Mafia
Mafia on Amazon.com
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Black Label Society
Artemis Records
Jim Dunlop

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