Bringing Metal To The Children

n the two decades since Ozzy Osbourne hired him away from his job at a New Jersey gas station, Zakk Wylde has established himself as a guitar icon known and revered the world over. Wylde has won nearly every guitar award imaginable, graced countless magazine covers and is a major influence to a new battalion of rock guitarists. Writing and recording with Osbourne led to multi-platinum success, inspiring him to create the now iconic Black Label Society in 1998. To date, Black Label Society has sold more than 3.5 million albums worldwide and continues to be a massive presence on the worldwide touring and merchandising circuits.

Zakk Wylde. Great Player. Great Sound. Great Friend. EDWARD VAN HALENIf Zakk Wylde did not exist we would have to build him like Frankenstein's monster. The hands of Randy Rhoads sewn onto the body of Conan the Barbarian implanted with the brain of Larry David. ROB ZOMBIEZakk Wylde possesses the strength Thor, heart of a lion, and endowment of a steed. When I wage war in Ragnarök, I shall order my Valkyries to bring this brave and noble Berzerker to fight along my side. ODIN, NORSE GOD AND RULER OF ASGARDWhen Zakk plays it's like Guitarmageddon!! It's an audio assault coming from his fretboard and the true meaning of guitar hero. KERRY KINGI love and respect Zakk as if he were my son. Matter of fact, he says he is my son! He is the ultimate musician, great guitarist, and incredible on the piano. His guitar playing makes me grin ear to ear and that is a true gift. LESLIE WESTZakk is a man with a truly remarkable voice that stands alongside his crazyman guit-fiddle skills. He and Darrell were always blowin' shit up, but the way I look at it, you can always fix stuff, but you can never replace the memories. RITA HANEY, DIMEBAG'S HAGWhenever I'm stuck on a scene, I find myself thinking, 'What would Zakk do?' Invariably, I think back to the first time I met the guy. He pulled me into a thunderous man-hug, shoved a cold Stella in my hands, whipped out his rather prodigious member, stretched it around his wrist like a fleshy Timex and asked me what time it was. Then he urinated in a trash can for about five minutes. It was, in a word, awesome. Much has been said about Zakk's status as the world's last real guitar hero. Not enough has been said about his abilities as a comic actor. If the fucker would just stop working out and let himself go already, he could be the next Belushi. TOM KAPINOS, CREATOR/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, CALIFORNICATIONThere ain't a fake bone in his body. STEVE AUSTIN