Zakk Wylde | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Jeffrey Phillip Wielandt |
Born | Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S. | January 14, 1967
Origin | Jackson, New Jersey, U.S. |
Genres | |
Occupations |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 1987–present |
Member of |
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Formerly of | |
Website | blacklabelsociety |
Zachary Phillip Wylde (born Jeffrey Phillip Wielandt; January 14, 1967) is an American musician. He is best known as the lead guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and as the founder, lead guitarist, lead singer, songwriter and producer of the heavy metal band Black Label Society.
Wylde's signature bulls-eye design appears on many of his guitars and is widely recognized. He was also the lead guitarist and vocalist of Pride & Glory, who released one self-titled album in 1994 before disbanding. As a solo artist, he released the albums Book of Shadows and Book of Shadows II . Wylde joined the reunited Pantera in 2022 as a touring guitarist.
Zachary Phillip Wylde [1] was born Jeffrey Phillip Wielandt in Bayonne, New Jersey, on January 14, 1967. [2] [3] He is of Irish descent. [4] He started playing guitar at the age of eight, but did not become serious about it until his early teenage years. [3] At the age of 14, he worked at Silverton Music in Silverton, New Jersey. He grew up in Jackson, New Jersey, where he attended Jackson Memorial High School, graduating in 1985. [5] He has stated that he often played the guitar almost non-stop between coming home from school and leaving for school the next morning, then would be completely exhausted during school the next day. [6]
Wylde played locally with his first band Stone Henge, then later with local New Jersey band Zyris.
In 1987, Wylde auditioned for Ozzy Osbourne after listening to The Howard Stern Show and learning that Osbourne was looking for a new lead guitarist. [7] Wylde was hired to replace Jake E. Lee, who was fired by Ozzy Osbourne manager Sharon Osbourne. [8] He subsequently toured with Osbourne and played on No Rest for the Wicked (1988), No More Tears (1991), and Ozzmosis (1995) as a co-writer.
Wylde was replaced by little-known guitarist Joe Holmes in 1995 until Wylde's return in 2001. Although not credited for songwriting, Wylde recorded Down to Earth and appeared on the supporting tour. [9] [10] After auditioning different guitarists in 2004 and 2005, Ozzy Osbourne announced Zakk Wylde as the official guitarist for his album Black Rain , which was released in 2007 and also accompanied by a tour. [11]
Wylde rejoined Ozzy Osbourne's band once again for a select number of dates during Osbourne's 2017 summer tour, and then performed on the No More Tours II tour before the remaining shows were postponed and eventually canceled. [12] [13] On September 8, 2022, he again joined Osbourne onstage at the SoFi Stadium along with Andrew Watt to perform "Crazy Train" and the title track for Osbourne's upcoming album " Patient Number 9 " at the NFL's season opening during half-time. The following day, Patient Number 9 was released featuring Wylde playing guitar on 4 tracks. [14] [15]
On October 19, 2024, Wylde performed on stage at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse during the 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Osbourne, playing Mama, I'm Coming Home and No More Tears (Ozzy Osbourne song).
Formed in 1991 during what was then billed as Ozzy Osbourne's farewell tour following the 1991 No More Tears album, Wylde recruited the former White Lion rhythm section of bassist James LoMenzo and drummer Greg D'Angelo, and originally wanted to name the Southern rock-inspired project 'Lynyrd Skynhead'. [16] This lineup recorded two songs, an instrumental entitled "Farm Fiddlin" for a 1991 compilation album entitled The Guitars That Rule the World, and a cover of the blues-standard "Baby, Please Don't Go" for the 1992 L.A. Blues Authority Vol. 1 compilation.
By early 1994, the band had changed their name to 'Pride & Glory', with D'Angelo departing and being replaced by Brian Tichy. That year, Pride & Glory released their only album via Geffen Records and performed as a main-stage act at the Donington Monsters of Rock Festival in England in June of that year. In November 1994, LoMenzo left after a tour of Japan, three days before Pride & Glory were scheduled to begin a US Tour. Scrambling, Wylde quickly managed to find a replacement in his long-time friend, John DeServio, who grew up with Wylde in New Jersey. Pride & Glory played their final show on December 10, 1994, in Los Angeles.
On January 31, 1998, the lineup of Wylde, LoMenzo, and Tichy reunited for a one-off reunion show at the Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood. [17]
Following the demise of Wylde's Pride & Glory band, he recorded Book of Shadows in 1996 as a solo album to fulfill his contract with record label Geffen Records. Wylde wrote the second installment of Book of Shadows in between stints on the road, which was released 20 years after the first album on April 16, 2016. [18]
In 1998, after limited commercial success with Book of Shadows, Wylde and drummer Phil Ondich recorded what became Black Label Society's debut album Sonic Brew with Wylde playing lead guitar, rhythm and bass. Nick Catanese previously toured as a rhythm guitarist for the Book of Shadows tour [19] and eventually joined Black Label Society before being replaced by Dario Lorina in 2013. [20] John DeServio, who was a friend of Zakk's [21] and worked as a temporary replacement in Pride & Glory, played bass for the first Black Label Society tour. DeServio became a permanent member of the band in 2005. [22] Zakk Wylde has since released 11 studio albums, 3 live albums, and 6 compilation albums with Black Label Society. [23]
Black Label Society headlined the second stage at the 2006 Ozzfest, with Wylde playing double duty with Ozzy Osbourne on certain dates. [24] He and the band also joined Osbourne for the Ozzy and Friends Tour in replacement of the Black Sabbath tour scheduled for the summer of 2012, playing a range of European dates including Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium. [25]
Since 2014, Wylde has led a Black Sabbath cover band called 'Zakk Sabbath', handling guitar and vocal duties, joined by Rob "Blasko" Nicholson on bass and Joey Castillo (Danzig, Queens of the Stone Age) on drums, who replaced original drummer John Tempesta. JP Gaster (Clutch) occupied the drummer's seat in between, in September 2017. [26] The band tours intermittently, and released a single, three-track vinyl-only live 12", in 2016. [27]
On July 14, 2022, it was announced that Wylde had joined the reunited band Pantera to tour as a fill-in for original guitarist Dimebag Darrell who died in 2004. [28] The new line-up featuring Wylde, Phil Anselmo, Rex Brown and Charlie Benante (replacing original drummer Vinnie Paul) debuted on the first night of the Heaven & Hell Metal Fest in Toluca, Mexico on December 2, 2022. [29] Pantera then co-headlined Mexico's Monterrey Metal Fest with Judas Priest, [30] and also performed at Knotfest in Chile, Brazil and Colombia. [31] The band embarked on a full-scale tour of Europe in May and June 2023, [32] and supported Metallica on selected North American dates of their 2023–2024 M72 World Tour. On June 15, 2024, Pantera headlined the Opus Stage at UK's Download Festival, their first UK appearance in 20 years. [33]
Zakk Wylde joined a rock/heavy metal supergroup called 'Generation Axe', formed by Steve Vai. [34] The group also includes guitarists Nuno Bettencourt (of Extreme), Yngwie Malmsteen, Tosin Abasi, and has completed several tours from 2016 to 2019. [35] Select performances from a 2017 show in Beijing, China were released as a live album titled Generation Axe — The Guitars That Destroyed the World: Live In China. [36] In 2020, Wylde, along with Generation Axe, were joined by Brian May of the band Queen for a six-guitar performance of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" as part of AXS TV's 'At Home And Social With Nuno Bettencourt & Friends' special. The track was compiled of recordings from the musicians in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. [37]
Wylde and his wife Barbaranne have four children, one of which Ozzy Osbourne is a godfather of. [38] [39] Wylde was a close friend of fellow guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and dedicated the song "In This River" to Abbott after he was murdered onstage in 2004.
Wylde is a Catholic [4] who has described himself as a "Soldier of Christ". [40]
In August 2009, Wylde was hospitalized due to blood clots [41] and was subsequently forced to cancel his tour with Mudvayne and Static-X. [42] After his hospitalization, he stopped drinking alcohol. [43]
As of 2011, Wylde has partnered with Blair's Sauces and Snacks to produce 'Berserker Hot Sauce' and several other variations. [44] He also promotes 'Death Wish Coffee' via his Instagram page, [45] as they have used his name in marketing their line "Odinforce Blend". [46]
Wylde gravitated toward a particular Les Paul guitar, a bullseye-painted 1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom purchased from one of the owners of Metaltronix Amplification. Metaltronix was building a one-off live rig for Wylde that was designed around one of the owner's guitars, a creamy white Les Paul Custom with EMG pickups, which would later become known as "The Grail". Originally intended to look like the spiral from the Alfred Hitchcock movie Vertigo , it returned from a paint shop painted incorrectly and Wylde liked the result. [47] Wylde lost the guitar in 2000 after it fell from the back of a truck transporting equipment as he was travelling between gigs in Texas. Rewards were offered to anyone that had information about the guitar. Wylde and The Grail were reunited three years later when a fan bought it at a Dallas pawn shop and saw the initials "Z.W." carved into the humbucker pickups backs. He contacted Wylde's former webmaster Randy Canis to arrange its return to Wylde. Grateful, Wylde gave the fan his signature model in exchange. [6]
Other signature Les Pauls of Wylde's include a red flame-maple bulls-eye model, a black and antique-white bulls-eye model, an orange "buzz-saw" model, the pattern on which was inspired by a design on a Zippo lighter, [48] and a "camo" bulls-eye model with mother of pearl neck inlays and a green camouflage paint scheme.
Another one of Wylde's favorite stage guitars is a GMW RR-V, a model that is famously known as the "Polka-dot V". Originally created by luthier Karl Sandoval of California (used by Randy Rhoads), the guitar is often mistaken as a custom Flying V.
Wylde has a custom Dean Splittail with a mud splatter bulls-eye graphic, as well as a signature Splittail shaped Gibson model called the "ZV". Another Dean in his collection is a Dime series Razorback with custom Bulls-eye graphics ordered for him specially by Dimebag Darrell shortly before his murder in 2004; since receiving the guitar, he has only ever used it on stage to play the song "In This River", Zakk's personal tribute to Dimebag.
In practice, Wylde uses Marshall MG Series practice combos ranging in wattage levels from 10-30W during tour/private use especially in hotels and buses. He has also been known to use Marshall Valvestate combo amplifiers. Wylde has an extensive relationship with Marshall Amplification due to his love for their amplifiers, both solid state and tube-driven. Live, Wylde exclusively uses Marshall JCM 800's with twin 4 X 12 Cabinets loaded with EVM12L 300W Black Label Speakers. His usual signal path consists of his guitar > (on stage pedal board) Dunlop Wylde Wah > Dunlop Wylde Rotovibe > MXR ZW Phase 90 > MXR Wylde Overdrive > MXR Carbon Copy Delay > (to a back stage pedal board) > MXR EVH Flanger > MXR Black Label Chorus > split signals, one to each distorted amp into the High Gain input.
A detailed gear diagram of Wylde's 1988 Ozzy Osbourne guitar rig is well-documented. [49]
At the 2015 NAMM Show, Wylde announced his new company called Wylde Audio and provided a preview of his new line of custom guitars and amplifiers. [50] Currently he now is seen playing Wylde Audio equipment almost exclusively. [51]
In January 2006, Zakk Wylde was recognized at the Hollywood Rock Walk of Fame for his successful career as a musician and his contribution to the music industry. The event was open to the public and was attended by musicians including Ozzy Osbourne. [52]
In 2010, Wylde accepted the Metal Hammer Golden God Award. [53]
with Ozzy Osbourne
with Pride & Glory
Solo
with Zakk Sabbath
| with Black Label Society
|
Wylde has made guest performances on tracks by other artists:
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English singer, songwriter, and media personality. He rose to prominence during the 1970s as the lead singer of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, during which period he adopted the nickname "Prince of Darkness".
Pantera is an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas, formed in 1981 by the Abbott brothers, and currently composed of vocalist Phil Anselmo, bassist Rex Brown, and touring musicians Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante. The group's best-known lineup consisted of the Abbott brothers along with Brown and Anselmo, who joined in 1982 and 1986, respectively. The band is credited for developing and popularizing the subgenre of groove metal in the 1990s. Regarded as one of the most successful and influential bands in heavy metal history, Pantera has sold around 20 million records worldwide and has received four Grammy nominations.
Black Label Society is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1998 by guitarist/singer Zakk Wylde. To date, the band has released eleven studio albums, two live albums, two compilation albums, one EP, and three video albums.
Ozzmosis is the seventh studio album by English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. Recorded in Paris and New York with producer Michael Beinhorn, it was released on 23 October 1995 by Epic Records. The album reached number 22 on the UK Albums Chart and number four on the US Billboard 200. "Perry Mason", "See You on the Other Side" and "I Just Want You" were released as singles.
Konstantinos Karamitroudis, better known as Gus G, is a Greek heavy metal guitarist. He currently plays with his band Firewind. He has also played in Mystic Prophecy, Nightrage, Arch Enemy, Dream Evil and Ozzy Osbourne's band.
Pride & Glory is the only studio album by American rock band Pride & Glory. The band was fronted by guitarist/vocalist Zakk Wylde, best known for his prior work as a member of Ozzy Osbourne's band. The tracks "Troubled Wine", "Losin' Your Mind", and "Horse Called War" were all released as singles. Pride & Glory was re-released in 1999 on Spitfire Records with a bonus disc of rare and unreleased material.
Nick Catanese is an American musician. He is best known as a former rhythm guitarist for heavy metal band Black Label Society. He supported lead player Zakk Wylde, who has commented that "If I'm Keith Richards, he's Mick Taylor". In 2018, Catanese was found guilty of sexual misconduct with a minor.
James LoMenzo is an American musician, currently the bassist for thrash metal band Megadeth. He has previously been a member of White Lion, Black Label Society, Pride & Glory and Slash's Snakepit, and played with David Lee Roth, John Fogerty and Ace Frehley. LoMenzo was the bassist for Megadeth from 2006 to 2010, and rejoined the band as a touring member in August 2021, before becoming a permanent member again in June 2022. Outside of music, LoMenzo appeared as a contestant on the 21st season of the reality television series The Amazing Race.
CraigNunenmacher is an American musician, best known as the former drummer for heavy metal bands Black Label Society and Crowbar. He joined BLS in July 2000 while playing for Crowbar, who were touring with BLS at the time. The original BLS drummer, Phil Ondich, left the band mid-tour and, to keep the tour on the road, Nunenmacher filled in for Ondich, playing for both Crowbar and BLS for the rest of the tour. A few weeks into the tour, he was asked to join the band permanently.
RobNicholson also known as Blasko, is an American bassist, musician and manager. He is the bassist and backing vocalist of Rob Zombie and bassist for Ozzy Osbourne, and is also a manager for Black Veil Brides. He is also the former bassist of Cryptic Slaughter and live bassist for Danzig.
Shot to Hell is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Black Label Society. It was released September 12, 2006, and was the band's first record released by Roadrunner Records.
Pride & Glory was a side project formed by vocalist/guitarist Zakk Wylde and White Lion members James LoMenzo and Greg D'Angelo. It was the first project for which Wylde also served as lead vocalist, prior to releasing his first solo-album, 1996's Book of Shadows. Wylde subsequently formed the band Black Label Society in 1998, which remains active.
Over the years, a variety of bands have made up the yearly lineups of Ozzfest, a yearly heavy metal music festival that usually tours the United States in summer.
The following are albums and appearances by American musician Zakk Wylde, guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, lead vocalist and guitarist of Black Label Society, and lead guitarist and vocalist in Pride & Glory. He has also released two solo albums, Book of Shadows in 1996 and Book of Shadows II in 2016.
Order of the Black is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Black Label Society. It was released in North America on August 10, 2010, through E1 Music. In New Zealand and Australia, it was released by Riot Entertainment and in Europe through Roadrunner Records.
The Ozzy and Friends Tour is a concert tour that replaced the majority of the original 2012 dates of the Black Sabbath Reunion Tour.
The Infinite Staircase is an American hard rock band from Staten Island, New York. Since its formation in 2002 by brothers Lenny and Jeff Cerzosie, the group has released one album, and a seven-song EP. The EP charted in the Top 30 on America's Rock Radio Music Charts with their single "The Pride".
Lenny Cerzosie Jr. is currently the American lead singer in the hard rock band The Infinite Staircase from Staten Island, New York and guitarist for the Hard Rock Band Le Projet also featuring lead vocalist Kevin Martin and bassist Adam Kury from the band Candlebox and drummer Morgan Rose from the band Sevendust. He's also the lead singer and guitarist in The Mayan Factor since 2015.
Grimmest Hits is the tenth studio album by American heavy metal band Black Label Society. The album was released on January 19, 2018. According to AllMusic, the sound of the album was inspired by Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Despite its title, the album is not a greatest hits album. Zakk Wylde admitted in an interview with Billboard that he "just wanted to confuse people".