Rock hellraiser Zakk Wylde, the former alcoholic brother of heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne, has lifted the veil on the couple’s night of destruction of £ 41,000 in Prague.
And reflecting on those alcohol-fueled tours as the Birmingham superstar’s guitarist, Zakk admitted, “People were like, ‘he’s trying to trap you in his web, don’t let him trap you in his web.’ . But I wanted to be trapped in his web!
The 48-year-old and his iconic bull’s-eye decorated guitar dubbed The Grail are expected to return to these shores this month. A tour of his acclaimed band Black Label Society will take place at The Institute, Birmingham on February 12.
One thing is certain, it will be much more tamed than those dark days with Osbourne, the self-proclaimed prince of darkness of rock.
Zakk, like the singer of Black Sabbath, is in the wagon. He hasn’t touched a drop since he suffered from a blood clot six years ago.
We met the father of four – Ozzy is the godfather of his son Jesse – in Miami.
And he revealed that a night of carnage in the Czech Republic had managed to get through the alcohol-induced mental fog.
The two men didn’t so much trash a hotel room in Prague in 2002, they almost demolished the thing, causing damage worth £ 41,000.
Zakk admitted, “I threw the TV out the window and the boss got the bill. They said the room could not be used for 41 days and cost around £ 1000 a night.
He burst out laughing, before drawling, “Hey, you and I could have cleaned up the place in two hours – with the right kind of equipment, something chemical, maybe biological.”
Zakk added by way of explanation, “I was the only one drinking with him. They were like, “Zaccy, you have to listen – he pulls you into his web, get away from the web.”
“Now I’m just sniffing glue,” he said with a laugh.
In truth, the ax man, recruited by Ozzy in 87 and still a member of the group, needed little coaxing. He freely admits that alcohol consumption started on the tour bus and continued virtually without interruption.
“I never drank when I was depressed,” he insisted, “I always drank because I was having fun. Me and Ozzy were still on the floor, making fun of each other.
He and Ozzy have paid for these hedonistic days, but are far, far from joining the Pipe and Slipper Squad. At the height of their mutual self-destruction, Sharon Osbourne begged Zakk for rehab.
He tried it and didn’t like it. Zakk apologized and left.
It’s easy to warm up to Zakk, a wiser, larger-than-life character with a belly laugh louder than the Gibson Les Paul guitar he hammers on stage.
He was signed up by Ozzy after sending in a demo tape and now smiles: “There was the guitar playing, but I think the fact that I could do the dishes and vacuum won it.”
“I was living the dream,” he admitted. “I’m a super fan and I’m a huge fan of Sabbath, so I’m in the band.”
He and Ozzy remain close – Zakk calls the biting heavy metal pioneer his “big brother” bat – but their professional relationship has been cut short. Zakk was originally hired to replace Jake E Lee, who replaced Brad Gills, who replaced the late Randy Rhoads. It was a spiral staircase that is almost Spinal Tap.
Zakk was replaced by Joe Holmes in 1995, but was recruited again in 2001. He remained fiercely loyal to Ozzy and the Brummie legend was present when Zakk appeared on the Hollywood Rock Walk of Fame in 2006.
Sobriety hasn’t quenched Zakk’s desire for raw rock. He said, “I love music, it’s in my DNA. Some people don’t like steak, some don’t like veg, but I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like music.
Of Black Label Society he said, “Every time you go to make a new record, it’s exciting. When you are in the studio, you can approach it like Salvador Dali where you have a blank canvas in front of you.
“You can paint a little bit, sit and look at it and say, ‘Oh man, let’s add some more red here, make it darker there.’ Live? It’s a game for everyone. on fire You are attacked by grizzly bears …
“I’m looking forward to Britain, I’m still having a blast.”
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