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History Behind Zakk & 1919 Eternal |  |
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| Prepare yourself for the ultimate statement from the premiere rock guitarist of our generation. Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society return with a spectacular new studio album, 1919 Eternal, through Spitfire Records on March 5, 2002. An uncompromisingly heavy set of songs from Ozzy Osbourne's favorite guitar-slinger, the release of the trio's third album culminates an incredible 12 months of activity for Zakk. Along with a summer-long stint on the main stage of OZZfest 2001 with Black Label Society, Wylde also appeared in the major motion picture Rock Star, composed the ring-entrance music for the WWF's Stone Cold Steve Austin, performed on Ozzy Osbourne's triumphant certified-gold Down To Earth album and is currently touring the globe with the Ozz-man himself. 1919 Eternal was produced by Zakk himself, in conjunction with Black Label Society's live sound engineer Eddie Mapp. Tracking took six weeks at Rumbo Recorders and Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. Not only is the result the most pleasing Black Label set to date, it also sees the band fine-tuning their sound. Hardcore fans will be thrilled by enormous bone-crunchers like "Demise Of Sanity" and "Battering Ram" along with the album's first single, "Bleed For Me", but Wylde adds new tones to his riffing on the likes of "Lords Of Destruction". The ballad "Bridge To Cross" only serves to highlight the diversity on display. Though he is indisputably one of the worlds last remaining rock star personalities, Zakk Wylde eschews self-promotion and indeed self-examination as much as possible. To him, 1919 Eternal is just the latest Black Label Society record. Take it or leave it. However, he gratefully accepts the compliment when it is suggested that the infectious and power-packed epic "Bleed For Me" conjures many of the same emotions as the work of his friend and mentor Ozzy Osbourne. "Black Label Society are disciples of Black Sabbath," he smiles. "They're my favorite band, and those records will still be around when the planet is done. Whether or not we've progressed, that's for the critics to decide. Okay, there's a ballad on there, but you can't be pissed off all the friggin' time. The album's a roller coaster ride, as much as I love bashing my brains out to Sabbath and Pantera, sometimes I want to kick back with some Elton John and Neil Young." Continues Wylde, with a grin: "Listen, my ideal bio would say, I started when I was 19 years old with Ozzy, and I've made a few stupid albums of my own. I play guitar and clean up Rottweiler dog shit. Then I go home. Anybody who knows me will tell you, that's me." The album's title is intended as a tribute to the enduring spirit of Zakk's father, Jerome, and the World War II generation. "You can beat those suckers down, but they'll always get back up again," he explains. "It's a mindset, and it's about strength and determination, merciless forever, man. It's the same with this band. If you get knocked down, you get your stupid ass back up on your feet again. You gotta keep on marching. That's why we've got the song "Berserkers" on there; it sums up this bands whole mentality." Zakk Wylde made the musical world sit up and take notice when in 1988 he was plucked from the obscurity of a New Jersey bar to join Ozzy's group. Having co-written and played on that year's million-selling No Rest For The Wicked album and the Just Say Ozzy EP (1989), the pairing really took off with multi-platinum No More Tears (1991), 1993's Live And Loud (which won a Grammy for the track "I Don't Want To Change The World") and the platinum-selling Ozzmosis (1995). Since 1994, Zakk has forged Black Label Society as a vehicle for his true vision: uncompromising, unfiltered, no-bullshit rock n' roll. Inspired by guitarists like Frank Marino, Robin Trower and Al DiMeola and the vocal styles of Elton John, Gregg Allman, Ozzy, Ray Charles and late Lynyrd Skynyrd front man Ronnie VanZant, Zakk and Black Label Society have issued the critically acclaimed albums Sonic Brew (1998) and Stronger Than Death (1999). Both proved that Wylde was a master of the incendiary blues riff, as well as darker, more malevolent grooves. Besides releasing the live set Alcohol Fueled Brewtality Live + 5, in 2001, both Zakk and fellow BLS guitarist Nick Catanese appeared in the Warner Brothers film Rock Star. The movie starred Planet Of The Apes heartthrob Mark Wahlberg, and Jennifer Aniston of Friends fame, with a cameo from Brad Pitt. The project was loosely based on the true saga of Tim "Ripper" Owens and Judas Priest. Black Label Society completed by Catanese and ex-Crowbar drummer Craig Nunenmacher will begin touring 1919 Eternal in the summer of 2002. Wylde enjoyed a busy 2001 with his return to Ozzy Osbourne's band and in 2002 there will still be much more touring to do with Ozzy. Although Zakk knows it will require much hard graft, he plans on keeping his two separate careers running for the foreseeable future. "It just means I've gotta work harder," he shrugs. "I've got a family to support, so I know I've gotta work hard. I love being in Black Label, but I'll always be around for Ozzy, too. Just because you move out of the house, doesn't mean you don't love your dad anymore. Ozzy knows all he has to do is call and I'll be there." ALL BIO Taken from www.zakkwylde.com |
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