TRU ROCK REVIVAL
April 2024
Rock 'n Roll Roulette
Fast paced, rapid fire, and unedited
Zakk Wylde
You know his sound when you hear it. Power and virtuosity, and a great showman to boot. He's a producer, multi-instrumentalist and Zakk Wylde embodies unabashed Rock guitar. The first album, which Zakk Wylde made in collaboration with Ozzy Osbourne, was No Rest for the Wicked, created in 1988, which hit number 13 in the Billboard 200. The album ended up with certified gold and double platinum by the RIAA. In 2004 Ozzy Osbourne announced that Wylde was to play as the official guitarist for his album, Black Rain (released in 2007). He also has played in his own group called, Black Label Society, which headlined the second stage at the 2006 Ozzfest; Wylde playing double time, with Ozzy and them. In 2011 Wylde played a guitar solo on Black Veil Brides' cover of Kiss' "Unholy," on the 2011 EP Rebels. He also joined Osbourne for the Ozzy and Friends Tour in 2012.
Since 2014, Wylde has led a Black Sabbath cover band called, Zakk Sabbath, doing guitar and vocals, joined by Rob "Blasko" Nicholson on bass, and Joey Castillo (of Danzig, Queens of the Stone Age) on drums. 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. Zakk Wylde increased his fame when he got custom-made guitars from Gibson Les Paul because of the "bulls-eye" graphic. He created a company, Wylde Audio, which produces custom guitars and amplifiers. For three years, he was voted in the ‘Guitar World’ magazine polls as being the Most Valuable Player. In the Hollywood Rock Walk of Fame, Wylde’s name has been inducted and inscribed.
KM: Hi Zakk. Welcome to Tru Rock Revival's Rock 'n Roll Roulette. This is going to be about 10 questions, fast- paced and unprepared. You can answer briefly or spill your guts. Are you ready?
ZW: Yep. Let's do some Roulette!
KM: When's the last time you saw yourself in the mirror without the beard?
ZW: Man, it's been some time. Definitely over 20 years.
KM: You ever want to shave it off?
ZW: Would take too much time. Maybe if I want to go unrecognized for a while. Hell, I'd probably see myself in the mirror and wouldn't recognize me either.
KM: (laughing) You played the lead guitarist for the band Steel Dragon in Rockstar. You want to do some more acting one day?
ZW: If someone came knocking with something I found interesting, sure.
KM: The first time you met Sharon and Ozzy, were you intimidated?
ZW: By Ozzy, nah. Not really. Now Sharon, she's a tough one. But, she's like a mother figure to me. I owe my whole career to both of them. Both are amazing people and funny as hell, too.
KM: In what ways?
ZW: They're both just very funny people. Great personalities. What you see is what you get with both of them.
KM: That's cool. Any plans to do something with Ozzy again?
ZW: Not at the moment, but if he calls, I'll drop whatever I'm doing to help him out.
KM: In 2009, you were hospitalized for blood clots. That must have scared the crap out of you.
ZW: Yeah man, it was a wake up call.
KM: In what way?
ZW: I had to slow down and get off the bottle. I thought to myself, "I've got a family, wife and kids. I'd really like to be around to see my kids have kids of their own."
KM: Important. I've heard Ozzy played a big part in helping you get sober.
ZW: LOL. Yep. Imagine that! The guy who supposedly snorted a trail of ants helps me with my sobriety. Amazing. LOL
KM: Biggest misconception people have about you?
ZW: That I'm some crazed Viking who comes to their town to pillage and take claim of all the women.
KM: (laughing) When's the last time you pillaged?
ZW: Can't say that I've ever really pillaged. I've done some hotel room destruction. Does that count?
KM: Umm, I'm gonna say no.
ZW: Alright then. Bucket list.....Pillage!
KM: Perfect. A couple years back you toured with Generation Axe. That was one hell of a lineup; You, Steve Vai, Yngwie, Nuno, Tosin Abasi. Out of all of those guys, who really impressed you the most?
ZW: Man, that's a hard one to answer. All those guys are amazing.
KM: If you had to choose one.
ZW: I'm gonna say, Tosin. That guy is pretty amazing. He plays 7, 8, 9 strings, and does these crazy cool harmonics that are just beautiful. Very original sound. I like it a lot. Very talented guy.
KM: Yeah, it's very cool to hear that. Most proud accomplishment as a musician.
ZW: Hmm. That's a tough one. There's been so many. I've been pretty fortunate. To pick one? Man, that's tough.
KM: What's the first thing to come to your mind?
ZW: Man. You're putting me on the spot. Proudest. I'm gonna say completing my first solo album.
KM: It's Roulette here! Book of Shadows?
ZW: Yeah. That was a lifetime of work, struggles, to finish that. I'm very proud of that.
KM: My favorite song from that album, "Heaven and Hell." Is there a lot of personal meaning in the lyrics for you?
ZW: Thanks. Yeah. A lot of meaning in those words. Was a good time in my life.
KM: Are you a fan of Gregg Allman?
ZW: LOL. Can you tell? Ha.
KM: What's on your schedule at the moment? Any plans for touring this year?
ZW: No tour scheduled so far but I'm sure I'll be making some appearances.
KM: We'll be watching for some new stuff coming from you. Thanks for the talk, Zakk. This has been cool!
ZW: Thank you too man. Keep the rock alive. Love what you guys are doing here with Tru Rock. Now you've got some roulette on the table. Very cool. Hope you got a trademark on that.
KM: Yeah, people keep asking us, and yes we do!
ZW: Nice!
Kreig Marks, Founder/Publisher, TRR
Kreig Marks is the Founder/Publisher of Tru Rock Revival Magazine.
Rock music has always been his passion, and to promote musicians. In is spare time he is an internationally recognized neuro-fitness trainer/ kinesiologist.