Wylde and Crazy: A Conversation with Zakk Wylde
26 min read
If you’re a fan of Ozzy Osbourne, the chances are pretty good that you’ve heard of Zakk Wylde. Zakk had the dubious distinction of taking the guitar helm after Jake E. Lee and expected to pick up where legend Randy Rhoads left off. Little did that twenty three year old kid know that he’d one day carve out such a deep niche that people would no longer be uttering Zakk’s name after Randy’s, but along side of his. That’s quite an accomplishment for someone who helped usher in Ozzy’s most successful period in music. As a guitar player, his reputation precedes him. As a student of music, he is intensely serious about embracing it in all of its forms. Zakk currently fronts the Black Label Society, which was originally formed as a side project, but has developed into a franchise that goes beyond just his music. It’s a culture. I recently caught up with him as he was preparing to kick off Ozzfest and we engaged in a no holds barred conversation that is guaranteed to keep your attention. And as you will soon see, Zakk isn’t afraid to talk about anything.
C6M: Hello?
Zakk Wylde: Paul.
C6M: Hey.
Zakk Wylde: What are you doing brother? It’s Zakk.
C6M: Hi Zakk, how are you? Thanks so much for calling.
Zakk Wylde: Sorry, I’m running late here man.
C6M: That’s okay, that’s okay. I was just talking to your publicist too, just hoping to get the stuff together, so we get it today.
Zakk Wylde: I dig it brother, cool.
C6M: Very awesome. How is your health? I was reading about your health issues recently, and I was wondering.
Zakk Wylde: No, no, I’m doing — I’m fine. I just got off the Coumadin and I took that for almost a year. So, it was just blood thinners, you know what I mean. I mean the only thing that changed, the doctor was just like, “Zakk, you got to — the booze, say goodbye to that.”
I was just like “Well,” and he just goes, “Well, it’s a blood thinner Zakk. You put blood thinner on top of blood thinner.” He goes, “Literally, you’ll be hanging out at Hooters watching Monday night football with the guys, you’ll start bleeding out.”
He goes, “Every orifice of your body will be — you’ll have blood trickling down like a river dude.” And he goes, “Not advisable”, he goes, “That will be the last Hooters you’ll ever be going to.” I said, “Okay, well, that will be the end of that.”
Some guy asked me to go, “Oh, so Zakk, you’re with the 12 step program brother?” I go, “No. Black Label, man up, and that’s it, padding up and Black Label up.” “You’re done. Stop drinking. I don’t know what to tell you.” It’s just like, “Well, how’d you do it?” I go, “You stop. If I tell you not to stick your hand under the lawnmower while it’s running, what are you going to…?”
C6M: Right. So, it was real easy for you then to just make that decision?
Zakk Wylde: Well, I mean yeah, if you’re going to ask me if I’d like to still be drinking beer and just hanging out {top of the buzz} enjoying myself, playing a guitar, watching the Yankee game, of course, you know what I mean? Who wouldn’t?
C6M: Right, right.
Zakk Wylde: You know what I’m saying? It’s like really saying, “I can’t stand it now that my wife doesn’t rub my shoulders anymore when my back’s killing me.” You know what I mean? It’s like yeah, it feels good, who wouldn’t want that? You know what I mean?
C6M: Right, well, very cool, that’s great to hear then.
Zakk Wylde: Well, yeah, I mean you just got to stop. I don’t need to pay a therapist $40,000 to remind me or go to a rehab to go — to be sitting there talking with you, a bro going like this, going “Paul, how do you feel today?”
C6M: Right, right.
Zakk Wylde: “You feel like you want to drink?” You go, “Well, who wouldn’t?”
C6M: Right, right.
Zakk Wylde: You know what I mean? It’s just like, “Well, what are you guys doing for me in here that I couldn’t do at my house?”
C6M: Well, some people, they don’t cope well.
Zakk Wylde: Yeah, it’s pretty ridiculous man, because the minute you’re going to get out of there Paul, you’re going to drink, you’re going to drink dude or whatever it is that you do, you know what I mean?
C6M: Right.
Zakk Wylde: Me, I just had to go to this rehab for crapping my pants, because my wife was like, “I’ve had enough of this man. You can’t be shitting in the bed anymore.”
C6M: Right [laughter]. So, I listened to the new album and enjoyed it a lot.
Zakk Wylde: Thanks bro.
C6M: I noticed that you guys just did a benefit show with your band at The Roxy, how did that go?
Zakk Wylde: Oh, slamming. At St. Jude’s, we had a good time man, it was very cool, we had a blast.
C6M: Yeah, that was a very noble cause. And you were joking a little bit about next award you win could be the Nobel Peace Prize, but it might be the Nobel prize for something, for caring for the kids.
Zakk Wylde: Yeah. The wife would be — yeah, just stop screaming around the house. But yeah, I mean the St. Jude’s thing was awesome man. I mean you know, it’s just like — I was talking to some one dude not too long ago, and he was just like, “Zakk, thanks so much. I’m actually cured from cancer man. When I was a little guy, when I was actually in there, when you guys started donating,” stuff like that.
So, I mean it’s like really super cool, like somebody can come up to you man and just say that, you helped save his life. You know what I mean?
C6M: Yeah, exactly. And it’s funny because you know, metal heads usually get this reputation for the kind of lyrics they write or the kind of guys they are, but I mean you guys are going out there and actually putting your money where your mouth is.
Zakk Wylde: Yeah, it’s entertainment dude, you know what I mean? It’s like saying, “Linda Blair, I don’t want to date that chick, she was in the exorcist.” It’s like, “Dude, it’s a movie man.” You know what I mean? It’s just like, come on, give me a break dude.
C6M: Right. So, Ozzfest this weekend, you’re on the second stage. Are you guys going to play some new stuff there?
Zakk Wylde: Oh yeah, without a doubt. We’re only up there 45 minutes, so you know, I figure that’s about seven songs right there. I mean before you know it, you start getting going, and then you’re off the stage. We usually do like a hour and a half, you know?
C6M: Right, right, so it will be a real quick in and out.
Zakk Wylde: Yeah, in and out man.
C6M: Yeah. So, how about this, your Black Label Berzerkus?
Zakk Wylde: Yeah, we’re going to start that in September. Just going out with Children of Bodom, and then we got Clutch, kick-ass, I mean all the bands. Alexi is amazing, and then you got the 2Cents guys, they’re all killer bands.
C6M: So, was it nerve racking to start up your own festival or was it just something that was like a natural progression?
Zakk Wylde: No, I love it. I mean if the whole thing is — I love doing all of it, you know what I mean? It’s just like with Jimmy Page is with Zep, like that was his baby. You know what I mean? It was just like — he bled that band, and I mean it’s the same thing with Black Label, it’s all that for me.
I mean it’s just like — aside of it just being a band, it’s bigger than the music. I mean Black Label is bigger than me. I mean we’re doing hot sauces, beef jerky, beer, we’re going to have coffee, everything down to the artwork, the merging and I’m talking about starting — we’ve got our own label, Panworkz, we’re going to be able to sign bands and do stuff like that, all for E1.
Then I’m talking about doing between all the new gear and everything like that, and then also with Panworkz coming up, talking about doing Doom Crew Pubs and stuff like that man. So, I’m looking forward to doing all of it.
C6M: Right on, right on. Well, let’s talk a little bit about your time with Ozzy, past and present. Do you ever get tired of the Randy Rhoads comparisons?
Zakk Wylde: Why would I? I mean he’s my hero.
C6M: Well, because I mean there’s always — it seems like there’s always those factions, you know, who is better or whatever.
Zakk Wylde: No, it couldn’t be. Well, he’s my teacher, so you know what I’m saying? So, I mean it’s just like saying it doesn’t matter who hits more home runs than Babe. Babe is Babe, you know what I mean? He’ll always be the Jesus Christ of baseball, you know what I’m saying?
C6M: Oh yeah, I know, absolutely.
Zakk Wylde: It doesn’t matter who — it will always be the house that Ruth built. No matter what Mickey does, no matter what Lou Gehrig does, no matter what Thurman did, no matter what Jeter does, no matter what anybody does, it will always be known as the house that Ruth built. And I would say what Ozz is, it’s the house that Rhoads built, and I just happen to be one of the guys lucky enough to wear the pinstripes.
C6M: Well, you know, you actually had a lot to do with his success later on though, so you’re no slouch.
Zakk Wylde: Well, I mean like I said, I mean I always look at Ozzy as the Yankee franchise, especially as a guitar player, you put the pinstripes on, that’s what’s expected out of you, is to win the World Series every year. So, I mean like with Ozz, it’s like now what’s expected out of Gus, is to keep the franchise, to keep the pinstripes going, you know?
C6M: Right, right. So, was it a shock to have the time end or did you just feel like it was coming and you were ready to do something else?
Zakk Wylde: No, no, I mean Ozz was saying — one of my buddies was like, “Zakk, you know how much of a compliment that is, that Ozz is saying everything is starting to sound like Black Label?” He goes, “Think about that.” He goes, “If John Mayall said to Eric Clapton, everything is starting to sound like Cream.” You know what I mean? I mean that’s a compliment. That’s not a diss at all, you know what I mean?
C6M: Right.
Zakk Wylde: I mean, rightfully so, I mean if Ozz was — let’s break it down, if he was playing with Rand or Jake at the time, and everything started to sound like Quiet Riot, everything started to sound like Badlands, same thing would have happened, you know what I mean?
C6M: Yeah, yeah.
Zakk Wylde: And you know, there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s just like — it’d be like let’s say if Ozz, even with Black Sabbath was like, “Guys, I want to try and do — I want to do so much of doom and gloom stuff. I want to do more like pop rock stuff or anything. I want to do a jazz record.” You know, I mean it’s just something different, you know what I mean? It’s just like, “Alright, no problem Ozz,” you know what I mean? It’s just like “I want to work with other musicians.” I mean there’s nothing wrong with that. I mean put it this way, without Ozzy, it would be no Zakk Wylde, there’d be no Black Label, there’d be no Black Label Bunker, there’d be no hot sauces, there’d be no Zakk Wylde guitars. There’d be no Zakk Wylde Marshalls, there’d be no — all the stuff I got is because of him.
C6M: Well, let’s talk a little bit about your legacy, and your influence as Zakk Wylde and your own label itself. Is it hard to put that sort of stuff into a perspective, like someone who influences the younger guys coming out and things like that, while you’re still making music? Do you think about that at all?
Zakk Wylde: Well, no, I mean put it this way, it’s just a trickled down effect. Everybody that Randy Rhoads got it from, and everyone that Jimmy Page got it from and Eddie Van Halen got it from, and all the guys that I idolize, it’s just they got it from — you know, it’s just like Jimmy Page got it, I mean he got it from Robert Johnson, all the blues greats. That’s where — he loved all the old blues records, and so I went back and listened to those records, because Jimmy Page said so.
C6M: Right.
Zakk Wylde: And Eddie Van Halen mentioned Allan Holdsworth and all these other great guys, and I checked out Allan Holdsworth, you know what I mean, because of Eddie Van Halen. And then Randy Rhodes mentioning all the guys that he liked, I checked them out because Randy Rhoads said so. So, I mean the whole thing is just a — so if any kid that’s into me, if he’s like “Zakk, you’re the reason why I picked up the guitar.” Then he’s going to find out about — and obviously all the guys that taught me, whether it was Frank Marino, Robin Trower, Jimi Hendrix, Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, Paco, Eddy, Randy, all the — the list goes on man. It’s just, go check out all the guys that Zakk talks about, you know what I mean?
C6M: Yeah, absolutely. So, ultimately were you surprised? I noticed on your website, there was — Justin Bieber’s guitarist was playing a signature Zakk Wylde guitar.
Zakk Wylde: Oh yes, and I mean because he was playing Saturday Night Live with Justin, and like people were on the Twitter, they were going, “Zakk, dude this dude in Justin Bieber’s band is playing a Zakk Wylde guitar” and this and that, and like I go, “Dude, I fully endorse it man.” I go like this, I go — my Twitter account just went from 30,000 to 18 million people.
C6M: Right…
Zakk Wylde: So, I know, and I just like to say [inaudible], I mean I’ve spoken to Dan and everything like that, so yeah — because he’s just a huge, he digs all the stuff I did with the boss and the Black Label stuff. And he digs all types of music, I mean he digs the heavy stuff, he digs everything from Dimebag, from Pantera down to John Mayer or anything, you know what I mean?
C6M: Yes.
Zakk Wylde: So, it’s just — I mean dude, if you like — there’s only two types of music. You’ve got bad music and good music in every form of music. There’s bad jazz and there’s bad classical, and there’s bad rap and there’s bad rock, you know what I mean?
C6M: Yeah. Well, do you think that ultimately then that sometimes music fans take too much ownership and take it too seriously? I mean if someone like yourself can look at it — a guitar player…
Zakk Wylde: Well, I know, and some dudes will go, “Dude, that’s sacrilege that he’s playing a Zakk Wylde guitar man. He can’t be playing that.” I go, “Dude, who cares?” It’s so funny. I go, “All those Justin Bieber fans, they might even find out about me through Dan Kanter.” And I go, “The funny thing is, they’re all going to be going — when they see me they go, yeah, I see some dude with a beard. It’s this big dude playing a Dan Kanter guitar.”
C6M: Yeah…
Zakk Wylde: You know what I mean? That’s going to be the comedy matter, but I said who cares man? I said, “That’s what it’s — music is for everybody man.”
C6M: Right, totally agree, totally agree. Well, let’s talk a little bit about the fans and I guess it’s a new era that we’re in. I mean it seems like everyone I have talked to is really having — either they’re really hot to it or they’re really cold to kind of like what YouTube does to music, and what iTunes does to music. I mean do you feel like the game has changed so much now that you have to be as yourself really actively involved with your fan base much more so now than ever before?
Zakk Wylde: Oh, then like when Zeppelin was around?
C6M: Yeah, yeah.
Zakk Wylde: Well, I think like if Led Zeppelin was around today, I mean think about how cool it would have been back in the day if we would have been on Twitter and Jimmy Page would have answered one of mine and your questions.
C6M: Yeah.
Zakk Wylde: I mean nothing for nothing, that’s pretty cool, you know what I mean? It’s just like if me and you would say, where we ask like Tony Iommi, we’re on the Twitter thing with Black Sabbath and we could actually ask Tony Iommi, “Tony, what gauge strings do you use?” And he goes, “Oh, I actually use sixes, and I use to .10 or whatever. It would be like, “Oh dude, Tony Iommi just wrote back to us, oh my God.” You know what I mean?
C6M: Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Zakk Wylde: Or Jimmy Page writing back to me and you, you know what I mean?
C6M: Yeah, yeah.
Zakk Wylde: I mean I think that’s like so cool, but I mean it’s just — well, it doesn’t bother me at all, I mean like with the Twitter thing, I think it’s going — I mean with Black Label, I don’t consider — we don’t have fans. I call them fams, so Black Label has just got one gigantic fan base, it’s bigger than the band, it’s one gigantic union, it’s a big gigantic family. So, you’ve got the Boston chapter, then the New York Chapter, the New Jersey chapter, the Philly chapter, I mean, and everybody hangs out and talks, you know what I mean? So, it’s just like — I think it’s awesome.
C6M: Yeah, that is, that is. And it’s strange, because it starts to really — as strange as it is that the world is shrinking in terms of that, is it also weird that like you’re approached by things that you probably never would have thought about 10, 15 years ago, like now you’re in a video game.
Zakk Wylde: Oh yeah, no. I mean it is funny, I mean it’s just like — I remember my guitar teacher Leroy said it when MTV came out, I mean — because you got to remember, that’s before — because my guitar teacher was a huge Jimi Hendrix guy. The only media you really had with bands back then, it was like when the Beatles were doing Hard Day’s Night and stuff like that was a big deal, to go to the movies and see The Beatles. So, you know, I mean when you look back on it now, you think it’s amazing that they didn’t come up with MTV way back then.
C6M: Yeah, yeah.
Zakk Wylde: You know what I mean? It was just like — because Zep would have been doing it. Because was the only way you got a chance to see your bands back then, your favorite bands, whether it was Zeppelin, Van Halen, Sabbath, all the 70s stuff, whether it was Jethro Tull, Fleetwood Mac or anything, you had to read Creem magazine, Hit Parader, all the rock mags, Rolling Stone magazine. I mean that was the only way you got any info, and it was like, “Oh my God, Jimmy Page finally does an interview.” You know what I mean?
C6M: Right, and it was like five magazines, period, yeah.
Zakk Wylde: Yeah, that’s all that was out. And so, I mean like when Led Zeppelin came to town, it was a big deal man. And you know, I mean, it was a lot of mystery shrouded around stuff, you know what I mean?
C6M: Sure.
Zakk Wylde: Mystique, you know what I mean, which is cool too man. I mean, you know nothing for nothing, I don’t know if I would have wanted to see a reality show on Jimmy Page, him walking around in Boleskine House with Aleister Crowley, you know what I mean, it would kind of take away the whole mystery and the whole — the mystique of the whole thing, and you know what I mean?
C6M: Yeah, absolutely. So, yeah definitely — did you happen to see that movie It Might Get Loud that he was in with The Edge and Jack White?
Zakk Wylde: I know. I got to get that movie. A buddy of mine told me, he said it was awesome.
C6M: Yeah, the thing that he said in the movie, and I wanted to extend this to you, because it was something that blew my mind. He kind of threw it out there almost like — it was almost like a nothing statement, but he said that when he moved into his house, when he was a kid, that there was a guitar there, and that was like his first guitar. And I was like, “Man, what if there wasn’t a guitar there? What would happen if there was no Jimmy Page?” If there was no Jimmy Page, do you think there would be still be a Zakk Wylde?
Zakk Wylde: Yeah, I know what you’re saying about Jimmy. I remember that one credit card commercial, there was a — it had a little kid in front of the music store, a little black kid, and it had accordions in the music store, and then all of a sudden then they just had another black kid in front of a — the same kid in front of a music store, and it had guitars. And it said — and then also I think he started playing the national anthem, maybe it’s a good thing Jimi didn’t walk in front of the accordion store. You know, it was just like blasting the national anthem, like maybe it was a good thing he did find a guitar, you know what I mean? But no, I know what you’re saying. I mean yeah, like let’s say if Jimmy would have started playing a piano or something, you know what I mean?
C6M: Which definitely changed the face of music in some ways…
Zakk Wylde: Oh, without a doubt dude, I mean Zeppelin changed so many things. I mean The Beatles, I mean there’s not that many bands you could say that really changed — like I mean not {predominantly}, like I said, The Beatles, it was like dude, they didn’t just change the music, they changed the world bro.
C6M: Right, right.
Zakk Wylde: I mean that’s pretty huge, you know what I mean?
C6M: Yeah, absolutely. So, let’s talk a little bit about, like I said, you got your hand into a lot of things. You also did a little bit of acting and was in Rock Star. How much of that character was you?
Zakk Wylde: Well, no, I mean it’s just — let me put it this way, when I went down there, they go — I go, “What is it you need me to do?” And they go, “Well, just act kind of like this — the guy that drinks beer, you got to lift weights and play guitar, and we’ll have you shooting guns” or whatever, I go, “And you’re going to pay me for this?” I was just like, “Yeah, I know.” And you know, Mark Wahlberg, super cool guy, and then Jennifer Aniston is a sweetheart, and Steve Herek, I mean the guy, the director, everybody that was down on that thing was — just really super cool people. So, I was just going down and having a good time. Painless man; I mean everybody that was there, really nice people man. So, I was just like — I mean every experience I’ve ever had doing those things, every record I’ve ever made, I’ve always had a good time. Everyone has been always super cool, the producers, everybody. I’ve never done a record where I was just like, “God, I”, you know. And dude, if I have a problem with anybody, anyways I’ll just get right in your face about it anyway. I’m not going to sit around here talking behind your back. I mean you got a problem, we can step outside if you want, you know what I mean? But it’s just like, I got tired of messing around with anybody — it’s like it’s going to hurt your feelings.
C6M: Right. Well, speaking of just being around and having a good time, you just recently got an award with the Golden Gods, right?
Zakk Wylde: What was that, the Golden, right brother?
C6M: Golden God, yeah, the Golden God?
Zakk Wylde: Oh yeah, yeah, that was the award for that thing, yeah.
C6M: Right. Do you think that ultimately your career as a guitarist will be measured by awards or do you think that — do you not care that much about it as long as you’re playing for as long as like Rob Halford and Ozzy Osbourne is?
Zakk Wylde: Well, no, I mean the whole thing is it’s — ultimately what people are going to remember you by is what they’re going to remember you by. You know what I mean, it’s just like Randy Rhoads, I know what I — Randy is just an amazing — he’s just a huge influence on me, you know what I mean? Still is to this day. I mean when I go [indiscernible] I still feel like I’m 14 years old, you know what I mean?
C6M: Right…
Zakk Wylde: And he always will be a huge influence on me till the day I die. So, you know what I mean? So, it’s just like that will never go away, but I mean the impact those records had on me, all of them, you know what I mean? They really carry on with you for the rest of your life man, so I mean it’s just like — no, I mean it’s just like — to put it this way, if you’re going to inspire somebody to do something, like how Randy Rhoads inspired me to pick up the guitar, and Jimmy Page and Eddie Van Halen and John McLaughlin, all these guys, Al Di Meola and everybody, I mean that’s awesome man.
C6M: Right.
Zakk Wylde: And then all you’re doing, you’re just passing it on, you know what I mean?
C6M: Sure, sure, and so last question, and it’s actually a non music question. You’re obviously a Yankee fan, but what did you think of A-Rod 600?
Zakk Wylde: Well, I thought it was hysterical. Bill Maher, he goes, “Well, instead of putting asterisks near the 600th home run,” he goes “Why don’t they just write 368?” [Laughter] I mean my whole thing is with the whole steroid thing, nothing for nothing, they should just legalize it and put it under a doctor supervision. No, seriously, I mean put it this way, if you’re getting tested once a week, and I’m saying like if your liver enzymes are high, your pancreas and he starts noticing your heart is getting enlarged or your lungs, it’s just like, “Dude, I got to back you off on some of this stuff.” And so, none of these guys have health issues when they are in their 50s, and if you noticed, the majority of the older guys are dying. The wrestlers, football players, I mean every — I mean dude, baseball players are on steroids, baseball players, that’s a joke. I mean dude, go to the NFL man.
C6M: Oh, right, it’s definitely much higher.
Zakk Wylde: I mean there’s not one offensive lineman, defensive lineman, I don’t care who you are in the NFL dude, you cannot get that massive and that big and then be doing a 40 yard dash in like 4.3 seconds man. I mean it’s just like saying to me — I’m a huge fan of Dorian Yates and Ronnie Coleman, you know, professional bodybuilder, not [xx], just all the discipline that goes into it, and power lifting. You mean to tell me on a professional bodybuilding stage, the 10 best guys in the world, in professional bodybuilding, that you see on those Flex magazines, they’re going to do a drug testing thing for that and go, “Oh yeah, this is all natural. This is protein powder and just eating clean.”
C6M: Right, no way.
Zakk Wylde: It’s just like, dude, it’s impossible — it’s like, “So, what are you doubting that?” I go “No, I’m not doubting at all that the amount of hard work that goes into getting into that kind of condition, the cardio, the lifting, the eating,” and then I go, “But dude, you — I mean no, it’s just impossible dude.” I don’t know what to tell you. That’s like me trying to tell you that an acoustic guitar can sound like a frigging wall of Marshall’s and an electric guitar, okay?
C6M: Right…
Zakk Wylde: No, it’s just like well, how come that electric guitar is a trillion times louder than that acoustic? Because it’s amplified through a couple of hundred watts, that’s why. I mean it’s just like basically yeah, you can take a Les Paul guitar and it sounds great. Plug the thing into a wall of 200 watt heads, that thing will shake the foundation of a building. That’s steroids for you bro. You know, so I mean it’s just like — I just think if it’s under a doctor’s supervision, then everybody is on the same playing field. If you want to take them, cool. If you know what I mean, because then you take out all the guessing game. You know what I mean? I just think it’s ridiculous, I mean how you can get a drug test for guys. Drug test every guy in the NFL, you won’t have the NFL.
C6M: Yeah, yeah, that’s probably why they do it random.
Zakk Wylde: You know what, drug test the NBA for marijuana. I mean seriously, just go in and take hair samples, and just like they do — my buddy is a narcotics division detective. They drug test the guys, they take hair samples, urine and a blood sample, like every two months to make sure that the guys aren’t taking anything. And dude, I mean they’ll tell you — I mean I’ve done it before for insurance purposes. They take your hair samples, they take some piss, and then they’ll tell you what I was taking a year ago, whether I’ve had a drink or anything, whether I’ve been taking steroids or I’ve taken anything, so it will come clean up, whether you took heroin, cocaine, anything. It will come right up on your — I mean it’s ridiculous. I mean you can’t go up to Mark McGwire and go — or Barry Bonds and go, “Piss in a cup right now, let me take some of your blood.” “Oh, no, no, no, I can’t do it,” “Let me do it.” And it’s just like it’s still shrouded in a realm of shit that Barry Bonds was ever on anything. It’s like how can you not just walk up to the guy and go, “Dude, piss in a cup right now, and let me draw some blood.” And then he goes — because I guarantee, within — “Actually in a couple of hours from now, Barry, we’re going to know what the hell is in your body right now.” “Well, fuck you man, I ain’t doing any of these tests.” It’s just like, “Well then, guess what, you’re not playing.” So, what you’re saying is, Mark McGwire, I plead to fifth. I say, “Wait, so you’re not saying you did and you’re not saying you didn’t, so as far as I’m concerned you’re guilty dude, because if you didn’t do anything, I’ve never taken, I’m not on roids.” I’ll tell you right now, here you go. It’s just like saying that you’re an illegal immigrant. “No, I got my — here’s my license right here.” What, you got a problem from me stereotyping you, because you’ve got long hair and a beard? Because that’s how — where most people have beards and long hair are illegal immigrants.” I go, “No problem, you can test me. Here is my passport and here is my license. I’m a legal citizen. I have no problems with that at all.” “Okay Zakk, do you want to take this drinking test right now to see if you’re drunk driving?” I go, “I’ll take the test, I haven’t had a drink, so go ahead. What, because you’re pulling me over, because I look — because I’ve got long hair, what, rock guys drink? Yeah, I’ll take the test right now. You could test me for cocaine or heroin, I ain’t on either one of them either.” But you know what I mean, the minute you’re going to go, “No, I plead to fifth.” Dude, you plead to fifth, you just say you’re guilty there. It’s just — I’m just saying it’s a joke. I mean they’ve got to test baseball players. Look at the size of baseball players and look at an offensive lineman, look at a defensive lineman man, a linebacker in the NFL dude. Come on, give me a break. I mean I’m saying — it’s not that I don’t advocate it. I mean dude, you’re doing everything else you can. You’re eating clean, you’re eating right, you’re training, you’re lifting weights. You’re taking all your vitamins and everything like that. Put it this way, you just want to bring it to — if you’re going to a doctor and he’s actually testing your internal organs and making sure that physically you’re fine, then who cares, you know what I mean? Just get it over with.
C6M: Yeah, totally, totally. Well, once again, thank you so much for taking the time out of your day, I know you were busy.
Zakk Wylde: No problem brother. Well, listen, we’ll see you out on the road brother.
C6M: Absolutely, I’ll see you this weekend.
Zakk Wylde: Alright Paul, so you have a good one brother.
C6M: Okay, bye.
Zakk Wylde: Bye-bye.
Zakk Wylde was definitely one of the biggest highlights of Ozzfest and I considered it an honor to chat with him. If you’re going to buy a ticket, I highly recommend you check out the Black Label Society on the second stage. And don’t forget the new album Order of the Black. It’s definitely picks up where he left off with Ozzy, which in this case is a good thing.
By Paul Stamat
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All Photos by Erick Bieger 8/14/10 at San Manuel Amphitheater (Devore, CA)
