If the phrase 'less is more' were a can of beer, Zakk
Wylde would crack it open against his skull, guzzle the contents, and
then crush the empty with one hand. Next, staring at the crowd like a
caged lion, he would launch into a cadenza of blistering blues licks,
lightning-fast single-note runs, apocalyptic diminished flurries, and
bone-crushing detuned passages-all delivered through walls of Marshall
full-stacks so huge they're probably visible from space. Wylde is a
maximalist to the core, and every time the larger-than-life guitarist
steps onstage, he proves conclusively that more is, in fact, still
more.
Asked what it takes to rock tens of thousands of screaming
metalheads, Wylde replies, "You gotta go out there and beat some
ass." And, twice a day, that's exactly what he does at Ozzfest.
First he'll play a rowdy set fronting his own band, Black Label Society.
Later, when darkness falls, he'll deliver his explosive guitar heroics
with Ozzy Osbourne.
Despite his over-the-top onstage persona, Wylde is an inspiring
player who has forged a unique, high-octane brand of lead guitar from
metal, blues, classical, and even chicken pickin'. His tremendous
dedication to practicing has yielded amazing dividends.
Best known for his trademark pinch harmonic squeal, Zakk Wylde explored
a tamer and acoustic-based side to his music with first solo album, BOOK
OF SHADOWS. Closer kin to his one-off Pride & Glory project (as
compared to the full-throttle ...
Around the late '90s/early 21st century, the traditional guitar solo in
hard rock/heavy metal appeared to be a dying beast, as most bands were
rejecting six-string leads in favor of focusing solely on detuned
riffage (culminating a few years later ...
Zakk Wylde/Black Label Society: Zakk Wylde (bass instrument). Zakk Wylde
is among a rare breed of guitar heroes, an iconic role that, by the time
of this release in 2004, had all but disappeared from hard rock. Not
simply content with ...