Zakk Wylde

Zakk Wylde

Zakk Wylde with his custom "Bullseye" Gibson Flying V
Background information
Birth name Jeffrey Phillip Wielandt
Born January 14, 1967 (1967-01-14) (age 44)
Bayonne, New Jersey
Genres Heavy metal, hard rock, Southern rock
Occupations Musician, songwriter, producer
Instruments Guitar, vocals, bass, banjo, piano, keyboards, mandolin, harmonica
Years active 1987 - present
Labels Geffen, Spitfire, InsideOut Music, Artemis, Roadrunner, Epic, Sony
Associated acts Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society, Pride & Glory, Derek Sherinian
Website zakkwylde.com
Notable instruments
Zakk Wylde Signature Les Paul,
Zakk Wylde Signature Gibson Flying V

Zakk Wylde (born Jeffrey Phillip Wielandt; January 14, 1967 in Bayonne, New Jersey) is an American musician and songwriter, who is best known as the former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and founder of the heavy metal band Black Label Society. He was the lead guitarist and vocalist in Pride & Glory, who released one self-titled album in 1994 before disbanding. As a solo artist he released Book of Shadows in 1996.

Contents

Equipment

He is known for his use of Gibson Les Paul Custom model guitars with a "bulls-eye" graphic on them, a design he used to deliberately differentiate himself visually from Randy Rhoads - who was also frequently identified by his white Les Paul Custom. Interestingly, one of Wylde's favorite stage guitars of late is a replica of Rhoads' Flying V. The "bulls-eye" paint job was originally supposed to look like the spiral from the movie Vertigo, but when it came back incorrect from the luthier, he liked the result and stuck with it.

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 [1], 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 Metaltronics Amplification. Metaltronics 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". Zakk also has a Custom Dean Splittail With Mud Splatter Bulls-eye graphics, 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.

Live: Zakk 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 > Dunlop Wylde Wah > Dunlop Rotovibe > MXR EVH Phase 90 > MXR Wylde Overdrive > MXR Black Label Chorus split signals, one to each distorted amp. In certain songs Zakk uses a Rocktron Banshee Talk Box.

Personal life

Wylde currently lives with his wife, Barbaranne, and his three children: Hayley Rae, Hendrix, and Jesse—who is godson to Ozzy Osbourne.

Health

Wylde's health has come under scrutiny for several years. Wylde was asked by Sharon Osbourne to attend rehab, but left very early on.[2]

In August 2009, Wylde was hospitalized due to blood clots.[3] He was forced to cancel his tour, stating that singing would cause an embolism.

Appearances in media

Music

Live performances

Film and television

Video games

Discography

With Black Label Society
  • 1999: Sonic Brew
  • 2000: Stronger Than Death
  • 2002: 1919 Eternal
  • 2003: The Blessed Hellride
  • 2004: Hangover Music Vol. VI
  • 2005: Mafia
  • 2006: Shot to Hell
  • 2009: Skullage
  • 2010: Order Of The Black
With Ozzy Osbourne
  • 1988: No Rest For The Wicked
  • 1991: No More Tears
  • 1995: Ozzmosis
  • 2001: Down to Earth
  • 2007: Black Rain
Other albums
  • 1994: Pride & Glory
  • 1996: Book of Shadows

References

External links