Interview with frontman Zakk Wylde | By Natalee Coloman
While many received presents and surprises at the end of December, Black Label Society fans had to wait a little longer for their long-awaited treat: the band’s 10th studio album, The Grimmest Hits. Set for release on Jan. 19 via Entertainment One Music, the new record proves the band still pack the same punch as they did on their first album, released 20 years ago in 1998.
Zakk Wylde, lead vocalist, guitarist, and founding member of Black Label Society, says the album represents the band’s next season—similar to a sports team—and that they are just as ready for this journey as they were when they first toured. “I can’t believe they keep giving me money to make records,” Wylde jokes. “I still get just as excited making this album as I did when we first started. I expect a lot more dancing and stuff like that when we get out on the road.”
The band’s full North American tour with Corrosion Of Conformity—also featuring Eyehategod, and Red Fang on select dates—kicked off in late December and will wrap up Feb. 27 in Los Angeles. At the midway point, Jan. 21 through 25, the band will play aboard the USS Carnival Liberty for the 2018 ShipRocked cruise alongside Stone Sour, In This Moment, Seether, and many others.
Wylde says they are excited for “full blown Black Label Society tour mode,” which includes endless comedy, lots of makeup, daily shaving to prevent tears in their pantyhose, garter belts, and the diet of champions: White Castle, In-N-Out, Five Guys, and a touch of Jenny Craig. “I’ll probably increase my Jenny Craig, because now that we are touring with Black Label, sex sells, and you just have to make sure your thigh gap is in complete and utter dominance when you are attacking the rock stage,” Wylde admits.
Like Wylde’s comical responses, the band always strive to keep the laughs flowing while on tour. He states that this is what makes being in a rock band—or any band, for that matter—lots of fun. “There’s no shortage of comedy at any time,” he says. “Every day, it’s something different, whether you’re in a van or in your tour bus or flying in a jet.”
While Wylde has spent more than half of his life playing onstage with Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Sabbath, and Black Label Society, it wasn’t an easy road to success for him. He says the key to success in the music industry is going all in. “If that’s what you want to do with your life, you have to dedicate everything to that. Make it your job. Your entire life should revolve around the band and everything in it,” Wylde asserts. “The band is your company, make it a business and have your hand in everything. Every time you wake up, have a grocery list of things that you’re looking forward to doing every day.”
Wylde proves this perspective on success to be true, ending 2017 as the Loudwire Music Awards’ “Best Guitarist” and entering 2018 celebrating Black Label Society’s 20th birthday. Wylde remains humble when it comes to the award, teasing that he won due to bribing his friends to gift it to him, but it’s obvious his talent is well-deserving of recognition. “It’s really cool. Whenever we do these award shows, it’s great seeing all your friends,” Wylde says. “It’s definitely an honor, but [even if I had just been] nominated and didn’t win, I was still in the presence of all my friends and all these great players.”
Of all his accomplishments, the one thing Wylde is most proud of is his relationship with his wife, Barbaranne Wylde. He says the two are having just as much fun now as when they were living in an apartment as boyfriend and girlfriend, and he jokes that he has won “Best Husband of the Year” eight years in a row—which is most surprising to his wife.
Whether or not Black Label Society and Wylde stick around for another 20 years, it’s clear the band enjoy their lives and will continue to have fun in each other’s presence. Here’s to 20 more years of metal and a lifetime of memories for the band!
Purchase The Grimmest Hits here: Physical | iTunes
