Zakk Wylde

Wylde and Wonderful

HRH Mag Meets Zakk Wydle

Zakk Wylde is unquestionably rock/metal royalty. Earlier this year, his band Black Label Society released their latest album Doom Crew Inc, as well as making a high-profile appearance at Download Festival at Castle Donnington. The latter is a place where the legendary figure has performed many times.

The Black Label Society frontman and guitarist followed in the footsteps of the late great Randy Rhoads when he was drafted into Ozzy Osbourne’s band after the departure of Jake E. Lee in the late 1980s. Recollecting that time Zakk said: “It was just an honour coming in with Ozzy. All of us that are my age are all inspired and influenced by Saint Rhoads, you know, Randy. Those two albums they made are templates - they are not even albums. They’re templates for a whole genre of music.” Of course, the albums that Zakk is referring to are the classic Diary of a Madman and The Blizzard of Ozz.

The guitar great gives an analogy from the world of sport to compare his time with Ozzy. “Without a doubt, I was just honoured to put the uniform on,” he said. “If I loved Manchester United, and all my favourite players played there, and I had posters of them up on the wall… it was like now I’m playing for the team.”

Following his tenure with Ozzy, Zakk Wylde fronted Pride and Glory. Even though the group was short-lived and only released one album, the debut record from Pride and Glory was one that many holds in high regard. The group was founded following what was deemed as Ozzy’s No More Tears farewell tour. Zakk compares the band to: “Moving out of your parent’s house and not having that security blanket of Oz”. Not that Wylde wanted to be away from the father-like figure of Ozzy Osbourne. He adds: “It was just an exciting time, without a doubt.” Pride and Glory performed a oneoff reunion show at the Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood in 1998. However, since that time the band has remained inactive, although by his admission, “he still keeps in touch with the guys”. Despite this, Zakk suggests: “If I ever wanted to revisit it again, I could definitely do it.” Although there are opportunities to explore the band’s repertoire elsewhere. “We could actually even go out as Black Label and do Pride and Glory,” explains Zakk.

Zakk Wylde was close to the Pantera camp, and as a result, he will participate in the reunited lineup alongside Phil Anselmo, Rex Brown, and Anthrax’s Charlie Benante. The US-based artist remains wistful about his fallen brothers. “I remember talking with Vinnie, and this was when we were down in Australia. He was like - Man, I can’t believe my brother’s almost gone ten years, and we were just talking. I go, I know it’s crazy,” said Zakk. “Whenever I’m in Dallas, if I have a chance to go down and visit their grave site, I always go down there if we don’t have press or if we’re not working. The last time I went down, it was crazy. I’m sitting there looking at both of them, and it was not that long ago that I’m sitting there talking with Vinnie, and now he’s right next to his brother. I was just like, this is insane. Every night we dedicate In This River to both of them now.” He adds: “It just really goes to show you how fragile life is.”

Dime and Vinnie may be gone, but they certainly won’t be forgotten. “I think Dime’s legacy to me, the way I view it, is very much like Tony Iommi’s. In the regard that Dime like Lord Iommi - the extreme metal that they created basically is a genre of music, just like how Sabbath created a genre of music,” said Wylde. “Their style of music and the way Tony wrote those riffs, it’s its own genre of music. I think at the same time, Dime with extreme metal - whether it’s Lamb of God and all the bands that are in that genre of music, they are measured by the Pantera standard. I mean, they are hands down the Godfathers of that genre of music.”

With Zakk’s current outfit - the group’s fan base is fiercely loyal. “The beautiful thing I think about with our Black Label community with the whole Black Label family is it’s very similar in regards to the Grateful Dead. You can walk into a pub and see somebody with Dead stuff on or the tie-dye stuff on and start talking. And they are not even in town playing a show. You see somebody, and you could start a conversation and talk about the Dead. The next thing you know, you’re telling me you’ve known this guy for 18 years. You met at a pub, and you started talking about Jerry Garcia. Then the next thing you know, you’re the best man at his wedding. I think it’s very similar to that because, especially with social media, you can keep in touch with everybody.” He adds: “It’s just a living breathing thing. It’s bigger than a band.”

Doom Crew Inc, the new album from Black Label Society, is out now on Spinefarm.

Words: Adam Kennedy Photo Credit: Justin Reich