Watch Zakk Wylde Perform Live at Paste Studio
Black Label Society's 10th album, Grimmest Hits, came out this month.
Photo: Justin Reich Music Video Zakk Wylde
Zakk Wylde lives at the intersection of his (and many others’) music dreams. One of the most recognizable rock guitarists of his era (playing one of the most recognizable guitars), he’s been leading his Black Label Society for two decades, churning out album after album of throwback blues-based metal and unabashed head-banging anthems. The group’s 10th record, Grimmest Hits, was released Jan. 19, along with a massive tour that will take them around the world into April.
When he’s not leading BLS, Wylde’s side gig is pretty good, too. Back in 1988, he joined Ozzy Osbourne’s band as a 19-year-old metal prodigy and quickly became the Prince of Darkness’s most trusted shredder. The pair endured some inevitably rocky years together, balancing triumphant world tours with long hiatuses. They reunited last summer for some Ozzy dates, and when the Black Sabbath icon announced his farewell tour for 2018, fans were glad to see that Wylde will be there by his side. When he’s not playing with Black Label Society or Ozzy, Wylde fronts the metal cover band Zakk Sabbath, allowing him to basically do both at once.
In the meantime, Grimmest Hits marks the highly anticipated follow up to 2014’s Catacombs of the Black Vatican. In the years since, Wylde released Book of Shadows II, the sequel to his 1996 solo debut of the same name.
Watch Zakk Wylde perform LIVE at Paste Studio Tuesday at 2 p.m.!