Zakk Wylde

Zachary Phillip Wylde (born Jeffrey Phillip Wielandt; January 14, 1967) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. He is best known for his tenure as the lead guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and as the founder, lead guitarist, and lead singer of the heavy metal band Black Label Society. His signature bulls-eye design appears on many of his guitars and is widely recognized. He was also the lead guitarist and vocalist of Pride and 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.

Zakk Wylde
Wylde in August 2010
Background information
Birth nameJeffrey Phillip Wielandt
Born (1967-01-14) January 14, 1967
Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.
OriginJackson, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • actor
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • bass
  • vocals
  • keyboards
  • piano
  • harmonica
  • banjo
Years active1987–present
Labels
Associated acts
Websitezakkwylde.com

Early life

Zachary Phillip Wylde[1] was born Jeffrey Phillip Wielandt in Bayonne, New Jersey, on January 14, 1967. He is of Irish descent. He started playing guitar at the age of eight, but did not become serious about it until his early teenage years. 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. He has stated that he would practice playing the guitar as much as 12 hours per day and would often play the guitar almost non-stop between coming home from school and leaving for school the next morning, then be completely exhausted during school the next day.

Career
Wylde in November 2006

Wylde played locally with his first band Stone Henge, then later with local Jersey band Zyris. Later, he auditioned for lead guitarist and co-writer for Ozzy Osbourne. Wylde was hired to replace Jake E. Lee, who replaced Brad Gillis, who had himself replaced the deceased Randy Rhoads. Rhoads remains Wylde's foremost guitar-playing and stagecraft influence.[2]

Wylde gravitated toward a particular Les Paul guitar, which has become known as "The Grail"; his famous bullseye-painted Gibson Les Paul custom. 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.[3]

In 1995, Wylde auditioned for Guns N' Roses.[4][5][6] Wylde was replaced in Osbourne's band by Joe Holmes from 1995 until his return in 2001. On January 17, 2006, Zakk Wylde was recognized at the Hollywood Rock Walk of Fame, featuring his handprints and signature, in recognition of his successful career as a musician and his contribution to the music industry. The event was open to the public and many rock celebrities were present, including Ozzy Osbourne.

For a time in the mid-2000s he contributed a monthly column entitled "Brew-tality" for a guitar magazine, discussing his techniques and equipment, as well as transcribing riffs and solo sections. After auditions in 2004/05, Ozzy Osbourne announced Wylde as the official guitarist for his album, Black Rain, which was released in 2007. On stage with Osbourne, Wylde has been credited for lending a high level of energy and passion to performances. Black Label Society's album Shot to Hell, was released on September 11, 2006 in the UK, and September 12, 2006 in the U.S. through Roadrunner records, with production by Michael Beinhorn. Black Label Society headlined the second stage at the 2006 Ozzfest, with Wylde playing double duty with Ozzy on certain dates.[7] He also joined Ozzy 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.[8]

Black Label Society released The Song Remains Not the Same on May 10, 2011 via E1. Wylde also played a guitar solo on Black Veil Brides' cover of Kiss' "Unholy", on the 2011 EP Rebels.

Wylde at Wacken Open Air 2015

Since 2014, Wylde has led a Black Sabbath cover band called Zakk Sabbath, with Wylde handling guitar and vocal duties, joined by Rob "Blasko" Nicholson on bass guitar 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.[9] The band tours intermittently, and has released a single, three-track vinyl-only live 12" in 2016.[10]

Wylde, Steve Vai, Nuno Bettencourt, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Tosin Abasi were featured on the Generation Axe tour in 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Wylde joined Ozzy Osbourne's band for a select number of dates during Osbourne's 2017 summer tour, and then performed as part of the No More Tours II tour.[11]

Personal life

Wylde and his wife, Barbaranne, have four children: Hayley Rae, Hendrix, Sabbath Page, and Jesse.[12] Ozzy Osbourne is Jesse's godfather.[13] Wylde was a close friend of fellow guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and dedicated the song "In This River" to Abbott after his murder.

Wylde is a New York Yankees fan. As of 2011, he has partnered with Blair's Sauces and Snacks to produce "Berserker" Hot Sauce and several variations.[14] Wylde also promotes Death Wish Coffee via his Instagram page,[15] as they have used his name in marketing their line, "Odinforce Blend".[16]

In August 2009, Wylde was hospitalized due to blood clots[17] and was subsequently forced to cancel his tour with Mudvayne and Static-X.[18] After his hospitalization, he stopped drinking alcohol.[19] He is a Christian Catholic who has described himself as a "Soldier of Christ".[20]

Equipment

Wylde is known for his use of Gibson Les Paul Custom model guitars, equipped with EMG -81 and -85 active pickups, with a "bulls-eye" graphic on them, a design he used to differentiate himself visually from Randy Rhoads – who was also frequently identified by his cream Les Paul Custom, the guitar Wylde has used since he was 12 years old. The "bulls-eye" paint job was originally supposed to look like the spiral from the Alfred Hitchcock movie Vertigo, but when it came back incorrect from the paint shop, he liked the result and decided to keep it.[21] One of Wylde's favorite stage guitars is a GMW RR-V, a model that is famously known as the "Polka-dot V" Created originally by luthier Karl Sandoval of California, used by Randy Rhoads, often mistaken as a custom Flying V.

Wylde performing in April 2005

Wylde's signature Les Pauls 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,[22] and a "camo" bulls-eye model with mother of pearl neck inlays and a green camouflage paint scheme. His original bulls-eye Les Paul was 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". 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; since receiving the guitar, he has only ever used it on stage to play "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. Wylde has an extensive relationship with Marshall Amplification due to his love for their amplifiers, both solid state and valve powered. 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.[23]

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.[24] Currently he now is seen playing Wylde Audio equipment almost exclusively.[25]

Media appearances

Guest album appearances

Wylde has made guest appearances on various albums by other artists:

Guest live performances
Black Label Society performing in October 2011
  • On August 1, 1993, at Great Woods Amphitheatre in Mansfield, Massachusetts, Wylde appeared on stage with the Allman Brothers on lead guitar since Dickey Betts was unable to make the show, and they needed a guitarist at the last minute. This show is documented on the bootleg Zakk Goes Wylde.[38]
  • Wylde performed the U.S. national anthem on the electric guitar during a New York Rangers game in October 2005. He has also played the anthem at Los Angeles Kings and Dodgers games. A video of a Kings performance is included as an extra feature on the DVD Boozed, Broozed, and Broken-Boned.[39]
  • On February 1, 2007 Wylde and Nick Catanese began a tour of acoustic shows at the Hard Rock Cafe in various cities across North America. Although Catanese had to leave mid-tour due to unspecified personal reasons, Wylde continued to play shows alone. He performed several songs on both the acoustic guitar and keyboard. The tour was eventually canceled due to unspecified reasons.[40]
  • On April 13, 2011, he was the guitarist for James Durbin on American Idol, during Durbin's performance of "Heavy Metal" by Sammy Hagar.[41]
  • On April 20, 2011, he joined Michael Bearden and the Ese Vatos (house band for Lopez Tonight) to perform the Lenny Kravitz song "Are You Gonna Go My Way".[42]
  • On May 14, 2011, Wylde performed the U.S. national anthem at Rockfest in Kansas City, Missouri.[43]
  • Wylde appeared onstage December 8, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana, to play a cover of AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie" with Guns N' Roses while Black Label Society opened for Guns N' Roses during a leg of the US tour. Wylde also did this on subsequent shows before Black Label Society finished their run on the tour.[44]
  • In Fall 2014, Wylde appeared as one of the performers on the "Experience Hendrix 2014" tour along with Billy Cox, Eric Johnson, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Buddy Guy and others. Wylde performed "Manic Depression", "Little Wing", and "Purple Haze", as well as playing with many of the other performers.

Acting
  • In 2001, Wylde appeared as the lead guitarist for a band called Steel Dragon in the movie Rock Star, also starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston.[45]
  • Wylde appeared in Aqua Teen Hunger Force episode "Spirit Journey Formation Anniversary" as himself
  • Wylde appeared in the Californication episode "Suicide Solution" in 2011, credited as "Guitar Guy".[46]
  • Wylde also appeared playing guitar alongside Lorne and other audience members in Angel's season 4 episode "The Magic Bullet" in 2003.
  • Wylde appeared in the 2010 film Bones as Jed, Bones' uncle.

Other media

Discography
Main article: Zakk Wylde discography
Solo
gollark: They sound bad, actually.
gollark: Just say seductresses.
gollark: We are not speaking Latin or Spanish or whatever and I don't think the word is from either of those.
gollark: I lied. That is not correct.
gollark: The correct plural is seductros.

References
  1. "Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)". Archived from the original on March 17, 2019.
  2. Wawzenek, Bryan. "Zakk Wylde Pays Tribute To Randy Rhoads". Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  3. Loudwire (February 10, 2016). "Zakk Wylde - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?". YouTube. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  4. "What Could Have Been: Zakk Wylde Talks Guns N' Roses". 2.gibson.com. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  5. "Articles > "I Spent A Week Jammin' With Guns N' Roses". Zakk Wylde to join GN'R?!". Here Today... Gone To Hell!. January 28, 1995. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  6. Archived January 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Saulnier, Jason (September 22, 2010). "Zakk Wylde Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
  9. "Zakk Sabbath - Black Label Society". Black Label Society. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  10. "Zakk Sabbath - Live In Detroit". Discogs. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  11. "OZZY OSBOURNE And ZAKK WYLDE Reunite For 2017 Tour". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. April 28, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  12. "Zakk Wylde Shows Off New Son Sabbath". Blabbermouth.net. July 9, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  13. "Zakk Wylde: 'Dimebag Was Proof That God Exists'". Blabbermouth.net. November 5, 2005. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  14. "Blair's Sauces and Snacks: The Official Home of Blair's Death Sauce and Extreme Food: Hot Sauces: Zakk Wylde". Extremefood.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  15. "Zakk Wylde (@zakkwyldebls) • Instagram photos and videos". Instagram.com. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  16. "Valhalla Java Odinforce Blend". Death Wish Coffee Company. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  17. Joe Bosso (August 26, 2009). "Zakk Wylde hospitalized for blood clots, cancels tour". MusicRadar.com. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  18. "Zakk Wylde Issues Health Update | Music News @". Ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  19. "Black Label Society's Zakk Wylde Doesn't Drink or Trash Hotels Anymore". Noisey.vice.com. October 31, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  20. Hartmann, Graham (January 10, 2012). "Black Label Society's Zakk Wylde Calls Himself a 'Soldier of Christ'". Loudwire. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  21. "Where did the Bullseye design come from?". YouTube. June 22, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  22. Archived December 8, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  23. Cooper, Adam (July 1, 2000). "Zakk Wylde's 1988 Ozzy Osbourne Guitar Rig". GuitarGeek.Com.
  24. NAMM 2015 – WYLDE AUDIO – Zakk Wylde Leaves Gibson and Marshall to Start His Own Company Retrieved on 2015-01-29.
  25. "Rig Rundown: Zakk Wylde". Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  26. "Amazon.com". Amazon.com. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  27. "Pantera's New Found Power Has A Name: Damageplan". Blabbermouth.net. October 16, 2003. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  28. Rosenberg, Axl. "Now That Awful Dope/Zakk Wylde Collaboration Has An Awful Video". MetalSucks.net. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  29. "Fozzy". Prog-nose.org. January 14, 2005. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  30. "DPRP Specials : Derek Sherinian .:. Interview 2004". Dprp.net. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  31. "PRLog". PRLog. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  32. Archived April 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  33. "Porn Star Dancing (Extended Uncensored)". YouTube. June 17, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  34. "Jamey Jasta: New Song Featuring Zakk Wylde Available For Streaming". Blabbermouth.net. May 23, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  35. "Zakk Wylde Set to Guest on Black Veil Brides EP". Guitar World. November 22, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  36. "Interview: Russ Freeman and The Rippingtons Are 'Built To Last'". Guitar World. November 14, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  37. "Eric Gales: Good For Sumthin' Review". Blues Rock Review. December 4, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  38. R. Scott Bolton (August 29, 2005). "Interview with Zakk Wylde". Roughedge.com. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  39. "Zakk Wylde Performs National Anthem at Madison Square Garden: Photo Available". Blabbermouth.net. October 30, 2005. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  40. hrcadmin. "Hard Rock | Zakk Wylde Brings Sounds of Black Label Society To Hard Rock Cafes". Blog.hardrock.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  41. "How Zakk Wylde wound up on 'American Idol'". Content.usatoday.com. April 14, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  42. "Zakk Wylde Performs Lenny Kravitz song on Lopez Tonight". June 14, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  43. The Examiner. "Rockfest 2011: Zakk Wylde to perform National Anthem - Worldnews.com". Article.wn.com. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  44. "Guns N' Roses and Zakk Wylde Perform AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie"". Ultimateclassicrock.com. December 12, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  45. "Zakk Wylde Working on New Movie Project?". Blabbermouth.net. November 7, 2006. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  46. "Zakk Wylde On Californication; Video Available". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
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