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Zakk Wylde says he’ll play on Ozzy’s next album

Posted on September 15, 2005 | Filed Under Guitar, Music, Zakk Wylde

Besides being great friends, Ozzy Osbourne and longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde have made some of the best heavy metal songs of all time. Fans of the pair were a bit distressed earlier this month when Ozzy posted a note to his Web site looking for a new guitarist.

Ozzy has blessed Zakk’s solo project, Black Label Society, which has become more of a lifestyle for band members and fans. However, even with Zakk’s busy touring schedule, a new CD and an upcoming DVD he said in a recent interview that he is willing to play with Ozzy again.

“Ozzy knows I’ll always be there for him,” Zakk said in the interview. “What comes around goes around, ’cause I remember Ozzy, awhile ago when he was lookin’ for a guitar player, he goes, ‘Zakk, it’s a nightmare.’”

“I mean the bottom line is, with Oz, he makes the calls, he’s the boss, you know what I mean? Whenever he tells me to jump, I ask, ‘how high?’ With us it’s real easy, Sharon calls Barbara Ann, my wife, and goes, ‘Tell the idiot to be down at rehearsals on Wednesday.’ ‘What time?’ ‘Tell him to be there at 1 O’clock.’”

Let’s hope that Ozzy decides to ask Zakk to play on the next CD.

Guitar playing still difficult with injured finger

Posted on July 19, 2005 | Filed Under Guitar

Since I got home from Boston, I have been trying to exercise my pinky that was injured during a night out on the town. Still, when I try to reach those notes and stretch it hurts like hell.

The good news is that I can actually move the damn thing — for a while I wasn’t sure what was wrong with it. The swelling has gone down quite a bit, but it’s still black at the tip.

I’m sure with the way things are going that it will be fine in the next few days. I’m looking forward to ripping off some Zakk Wylde riffs again.

Ozzy, Zakk Wylde and Iron Maiden rule Ozzfest

Posted on July 16, 2005 | Filed Under Guitar, Music, Ozzfest, Travel, Zakk Wylde

I went to Ozzfest in Mansfield, Mass yesterday with my friend Peter. In short, it was the best time I’ve ever had at a concert. I was shocked with Iron Maiden, pleasantly surprised with Ozzy and of course, loved Zakk Wylde’s performance.

The first of the big three to hit the stage was Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society. Zakk hit the stage in usual no-nonsense style and completely took control of the show, getting people on their feet with an introductory blazing guitar riff that left your chest bruised.

Zakk started the show with Stoned and Drunk from The Blessed Hellride. He did other new hits like Fire It Up and Suicide Messiah from the bands new album Mafia, finishing up his set playing Stillborn.

Zakk appeared to get pissed off with the sound at one point when the band started a song. Zakk just tore into a solo and the band kicked into backup mode while Zakk carried the song for several minutes. Being the pros they are, Nick, James and Craig had no trouble laying down a nice riff for Zakk to play with.

During this stage in the concert, Zakk took off his Buzzsaw custom Les Paul and threw it into the crowd. People went absolutely crazy trying to get their hands on the guitar, bring Zakk’s roadies out of the woodwork to retrieve the guitar, which they eventually did.

Zakk paced the stage for a minute and then finally took another guitar — this time his white polka dot Flying V. It wasn’t too long before Zakk held that guitar out over the crowd, dangling it over their heads as they screamed. And yes, he dropped it into the mass of waiting fans.

This time, Zakk jumped into the crowd himself and the roadies passed him the guitar that had quickly recovered from the crowd. After he strapped on the guitar he tore into an amazing solo in the middle of everyone.

I don’t blame Zakk for being pissed at the sound. Of the big three, Zakk sounded the worst. Come on Ozzy, give Zakk his due — give the man a better setup. I saw Zakk in LA in January and the sound was amazing. The show would be much better if he could rip it out like we all know he can.

I saw Iron Maiden before and was certainly looking forward to their show, but I had no idea it would be as good as it was. Bruce was simply incredible from the time he took the stage until he left. He was all over the place and the voice of Iron Maiden hasn’t lost anything over the years.

From Hallowed Be Thy Name and The Trooper to Revelations and The Number of the Beast, Maiden showed their fans they can still belt it out. While Bruce looked really good, the rest of the band left a little to be desired.

Bruce had a short haircut and looked really good for his age. The other members just looked plain old — not that they didn’t play well, but they looked like middle-aged people trying to capture their past. They should all take a note from Bruce’s playbook.

And then there’s the Ozzman and Black Sabbath. I was almost sure when Bruce Dickinson left the stage that he had just stolen the show — I was wrong. Ozzy came out and looked like the Ozzy of old, not the befuddled man we see on television.

Ozzy was laughing, jumping and singing his ass off for about an hour, punching out hits like The Wizard, Black Sabbath, Iron Man and Paranoid. Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward were amazing in their own right, as Sabbath solidified to their fans that they are back and can play with the best young bands in metal today.

Off to Ozzfest to see Zakk Wylde and Ozzy

Posted on July 15, 2005 | Filed Under Guitar, Music

Now that Macworld Boston is over, Peter and I are taking a day to relax in the tranquility of music. Okay, that’s not so true, but we are going to Ozzfest this morning in Mansfield, Mass.

Mansfield is the first show for Ozzfest 2005. I’ve been so excited for weeks to be going to this year’s and now it’s here! The band line-up is pretty hot this year too.

Of course, there is Ozzy and Black Sabbath, but I really want to see Zakk Wylde. Zakk is without a doubt the best guitarist on the face of the earth these days and I should get to see him a couple of times.

He leads off the main stage with Black Label Society and then he should play with Ozzy before Black Sabbath takes the stage.

This is going to be one hell of a day!

Going to the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame

Posted on June 21, 2005 | Filed Under Music, Travel

I’m sitting at the Newark airport waiting for my connection to Cleveland, OH. I’ve never been to Cleveland before – come to think of it, I don’t think I even know anyone that’s been to Cleveland.

I am looking forward to going there though. I’m going to a banquet tonight at the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame! I doubt I’ll make it back there anytime soon, so I’ll try to make the best of it this afternoon.

I fly back home tomorrow morning, so any site seeing is going to be quick.

Zakk Wylde: “If it’s too hard, you’re not doing it right”

Posted on June 18, 2005 | Filed Under Guitar, Music

And that is some advice I read in an interview with Zakk Wylde. Someone wrote in and asked how he played a certain song (I can’t remember which one) – the guy said he had been trying to learn it, but it was just too hard. Zakk’s response …

“If it’s too hard, you’re not doing it right.”

In a lot of respects, that’s exactly right. Although Zakk often plays down his abilities on the guitar, he is the best out there right now and not just for the speed. He has an incredible ability to double up on notes and chords, making them sound fresh.

He’s a genius, no doubt about it.

Zakk Wylde’s Mafia is bone-crushing

Posted on March 20, 2005 | Filed Under Guitar, Music

There is no doubt that Zakk Wylde is the best guitarist playing today and one of the most prolific recording artists too. I’ve read quite a bit about how some people are disappointed with Zakk’s newest effort, Mafia — criticism that I just think are completely uncalled for.
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