Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, etc.) will hit the road next month for a West Coast solo acoustic tour. The intimate run of shows coincides with the paperback release of his book “Bringing Metal To The Children: The Complete Berzerker’s Guide To World Tour Domination” on April 09th. Dates for the acoustic trek include:
04/21 San Francisco, CA – Independent
04/22 Chico, CA – El Rey Theater
04/24 Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
04/25 Reno, NV – El Dorado
04/26 Modesto, CA – Fat Cat
04/27 Las Vegas, NV – Hard Rock Hotel
04/28 Scottsdale, AZ – Pub Rock
04/30 San Diego, CA – Belly Up
05/01 San Juan Capistrano, CA – Coach House
Last night, Black Label Society kicked off their Canadian tour in St. John’s, NL. The Canadian national anthem played before the BLS show began with the song “Godspeed Hell Bound”. SOME of the other songs preformed included: Destruction Overdrive, Bored to Tears, Bleed for Me, In This River, Parade of the Dead, Overlord, The Blessed Hellride, Suicide Messiah, and Stillborn.
Black Label Society: Live @ Mile One, St. John’s, NL, Oct. 16, 2012
Opening bands for the show were Protest the Hero and local support provided by Wizards of Kaos.
A full review and more pics will be posted to Metal-Rules.com in the coming days.
Black Label Society: Live @ Mile One, St. John’s, NL, Oct. 16, 2012
Complete Canadian tour dates include:
Oct. 16 Mile One Centre, St. John’s, Canada
Oct 18 Halifax Forum Halifax, Canada
Oct 20 Métropolis Montreal, Canada
Oct 21 Rapids Theater Niagara Falls, NY
Oct 23 Guelph Concert Theatre Guelph, Canada
Oct 24 Kool Haus Toronto, Canada
Oct 26 The Community Auditorium Thunder Bay, Canada
Oct 27 Burton Cummings Winnipeg, Canada
Oct 28 Odeon Saskatoon, Canada
Oct 30 MacEwan Hall Calgary, Canada
Oct 31 Edmonton Event Centre Edmonton, Canada
Nov 01 Edmonton Event Centre Edmonton, Canada
Nov 03 The Vogue Theatre Vancouver, Canada
Re-machined – A TRIBUTE TO DEEP PURPLE’S MACHINE HEAD
Eagle Records is delighted to announce the release of Re-Machined – A Tribute To Deep Purple’s Machine Head album on September 25 [MSRP $13.99 for CD, digital TBA].
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the release of this landmark album and in recognition of the influence of the band, and of Machine Head in particular. Some of rock music’s biggest names have each contributed a version of their favorite track on the album to create Re-Machined – A Tribute To Deep Purple’s Machine Head.
Re-Machined features specially recorded tracks from Jimmy Barnes & Joe Bonamassa, Black Label Society, Chickenfoot, former Deep Purple Mk III member Glenn Hughes with Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Iron Maiden, the “supergroup” Kings Of Chaos (featuring Joe Elliott, Steve Stevens, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum), Metallica, Carlos Santana&Jacoby Shaddix and Steve Vai.
There are two wildly differing versions of the album’s most famous track “Smoke On The Water”, one from guitar hero Carlos Santana with vocals by Jacoby Shaddix and one from alternative rockers Flaming Lips, and Metallica have contributed their own special take on “When A Blind Man Cries”, a track recorded at the “Machine Head” sessions but originally released as the B-side to “Never Before”.
Iron Maiden’s “Space Truckin’” cover was actually recorded back in 2006. Lead singer Bruce Dickinson explains, “Initially we didn’t think we’d be able to contribute anything due to our touring commitments. Then we remembered ‘Space Truckin’ which we’d recorded as a single B-side during our A Matter Of Life And Death album session, but never used. However now, thanks to Kevin Shirley’s remixing skills, we’re able to include it on Re-Machined”
Initially released as a limited edition Classic Rock “fanpack” on September 3, this is a truly unique release that will appeal to rock fans everywhere. Eagle Rock Entertainment is the largest producer and distributor of music programming for DVD, Blu-Ray, TV, Audio and Digital Media in the world. Eagle works directly alongside talent to produce top quality, High Definition and 3D programs, both concerts and documentaries, including The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, Queen, The Doors, Jeff Beck, U2, Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney and Ozzy Osbourne. Eagle is a Grammy Award winning company and has received over 30 multi-platinum, over 50 platinum and over 90 gold discs, worldwide. Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices in London, New York, Toronto, Paris and Hamburg.
TRACK LISTING:
1) Smoke On The Water – Carlos Santana & Jacoby Shaddix
2) Highway Star – Chickenfoot
3) Maybe I’m A Leo – Glenn Hughes & Chad Smith
4) Pictures Of Home – Black Label Society
5) Never Before – Kings Of Chaos (Joe Elliott, Steve Stevens, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum)
6) Smoke On The Water – The Flaming Lips
7) Lazy – Jimmy Barnes with Joe Bonamassa
8) Space Truckin’ – Iron Maiden
9) When A Blind Man Cries – Metallica
10) Highway Star – Glenn Hughes / Steve Vai / Chad Smith
Bringing Metal To The Children: The Complete Berzerker's Guide To World Tour Domination
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY mainman Zakk Wylde (ex-OZZY OSBOURNE) spoke with Billboard recently about a number of topics including his new book, Bringing Metal To The Children: The Complete Berzerker’s Guide To World Tour Domination. Here are a few excerpts from the chat:
Billboard: What’s your number one rule when touring?
Wylde: “No crapping on the bus. You’d figure that would be rule number one for any band going out on the road. It really is amazing to this day when we’re out on the road how many people want to use the bathroom and we have to tell them that. We still have to put signs up.”
Billboard: What’s your advice about groupies?
Wylde: “People always ask me how I’ve remained faithful to my wife for 26 years. I go, ‘Well sexually I would keep it hot in the bedroom.’ Instead of having her dress up in garters and a bustier and stuff like that, I’ll have her dress up in a gorilla suit and I’ll punch out the holes for all the spots I need and that way not only do I feel like I’m conquering her, I’m also conquering wildlife…. Being out on the road is definitely a great summer trip for the kids.”
Billboard: Vinnie Paul said if Pantera reformed you’d be the man to replace Dimebag” Darrell Abbot (PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN).
Wylde: “I love all those guys. It would be an honor. How could I say no? I’d do my best to make them proud.
Hellfest arrives for its 5th edition. The French festival has been growing incredibly huge and very fast. This year it traditional location in the sport facilities of Clisson couldn’t take anymore of the mass of metalheads coming to this small part of France from all over the world.
This year’s crowd-moving, main acts where none less than Rob Zombie, Scorpions, Ozzy, and Judas Priest, with tons of other goodies in between. An excellent line-up as usual, as it’s part of the winning formula that gave success to the organizers of this event, nowadays already one of the biggest metal fests in the European summer.
The weather won’t be the most pleasant ever, but on the other hand it could have been way worse than just some strong wind and rain here and there, and the sun has been lighting the fields from time to time, still giving the impression to be in summer, after all. But as this festival is amazingly fun if you are among the beer-drinking hellraisers in the audience, you can somehow understand the “hell” part when you have to keep up with the insanely long queues to get into the photo pit, along with running all over the festival area from stage to stage, trying not to fall over some boozer laying on the ground. Oh well… running is good for your health!
John DeServio is best known from his long career with Black Label Society. DeServio was the original bass player for Black Label starting from 1998 but he decided to quit with the band in 2000. The man returned into their ranks just five years later following the departure of James Lomenzo and has been a part of “the family” since then. DeServio also has his own band called Cycle of Pain whose debut album was released in 2009 and he’s also been working with such names as Vinnie Moore, Ritchie Kotzen and Derek Sherinian. We had the honor to sit down with the man himself prior to Black Label’s triumphant performance at Sweden Rock – here are the results of that interesting discussion… Read on!
Let Me Hear You Scream Sweden Rockkkk.Well the annual roadtrip to Swedenrock by the Finnish Metal Rules.com team is already into it’s 11th year! The 2011 line up presented a wide range of metal and hard rock in the line-up. Over 70 metal and rock bands offered one hell of an experience for the attendees. Sweden Rock has been successful during the past ten years as the festival has always been sold out. This year wasn’t any exception as the fest was sold out despite the lousy economic situation worldwide and the ticket price had risen a little bit. ver these 11 years of coverage, it has become quite logical for us to give an in depth article of several bands performing at Sweden Rock to all the readers out there. The weather once again showed positive and negative aspects like in 2010. It either rained or was windy with a little sunshine. But we were there for bands, not for having some beach party crap. Unfortunately, we are not able to cover every bloody band, but hopefully you will have a pleasant reading experience… Enjoy or die!!!
Texas radio disc jockey Angela Chase of 97.1 The Eagle recently cornered the bearded one of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY on the radio during her May 11 show, and she got the former OZZY axe man to say: “I’d be honored!”, if he’s indeed asked to be part of any kind of future one-off PANTERA reunion event that would essentially bring back the surviving members (Rex, Phillip, and Vinnie Paul) with Zakk Wylde as the guest guitarist.
Earlier this year a small army of devoted PANTERA fans began piling up on each other in honor of the late great rocking Texas metal band and to support the cause (obviously a sore subject to many, including Vinnie Paul himself), one by one on Facebook…
JASTA has debuted another brand new song called “The Fearless Must Endure” featuring the one and only ZAKK WYDLE. A video was recently shot for the track as well. Photos from that shoot can be seen HERE
LISTEN TO “THE FEARLESS MUST ENDURE” FEATURING ZAKK WYLDE HERE HERE
JASTA will be releasing a solo record simply titled “JASTA” this summer on July 26th, 2011 via eOne Music. A record many years in the making, this is a very different project which is explained in the video below.
A diverse variety of guest appearances can be found on this record. Tim Lambesis (AS I LAY DYING), pro skater Mike Vallely, Philip Labonte (ALL THAT REMAINS), Randy Blythe and Mark Morton (LAMB OF GOD) and guitar god ZAKK WYLDE just to name a few.
NOISECREEP recently followed around JASTA while doing press in Los Angeles and is featuring him in their “Day in the Life” feature, view that here.
Jamey will be touring with KINGDOM OF SORROW this summer on the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. Visit http://rockstarmayhemfest.com for more information and breaking news.
Zakk Wylde and Black Label Society hit HFX, NS full force in support of their latest disc entitled ORDER OF THE BLACK. The tour is labeled Berserkus and has 3 other bands on the bill with them. Clutch and CoB put on a fairly good performance but nothing really stood out about their music or stage show for me. 2 Cents were totally forgettable but BLS on the other hand…… Read the rest of this entry »
Guitar virtuoso Zakk Wylde is best known about his long stint in support of former Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne and leading his own band Black Label Society which recently released its 8th studio album ORDER OF THE BLACK. Wylde has gone through many changes during the last two years. His long term run as Osbourne’s guitarist came to an end and he also faced serious health problems in 2009 when he was suddenly hospitalized due to blood cuts. Fortunately, everything seems to be fine in Wylde’s camp now. His health problems are long gone and ORDER OF BLACK is becoming their most successful release to date. Black Label Society’s new tour reached Finland in early March and in Helsinki we had a pleasure to speak with the man himself and hear all the latest news from Wylde’s world. Read on!
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY 'The Song Remains Not The Same'
BLS frontman/guitar god Zakk Wylde is proud to announce the upcoming release of THE SONG REMAINS NOT THE SAME (Entertainment One Music) on May 3rd. The offering features unplugged versions of material from Black Label Society’s latest album, ORDER OF THE BLACK, as well as additional material recorded during the ORDER OF THE BLACK sessions. THE SONG REMAINS NOT THE SAME was conceived, created and compiled by Zakk Wylde himself and the title is, of course, a nod to one of Wylde’s favorite bands, Led Zeppelin. To the right is the cover art and please see below for full track listing.
In other Black Label Society news, the next single from ORDER OF THE BLACK, “Darkest Days” will impact radio on March 21st. The track showcases Wylde’s softer side with soulful lyrics, a hauntingly beautiful melody and captivating piano played by the guitar icon himself. An alternate version of the song featuring country superstar John Rich will appear on THE SONG REMAINS NOT THE SAME.
The Song Remains Not The Same” track listing:
01. Overlord (Unplugged version)
02. Parade Of The Dead (Unplugged version)
03. Riders Of The Damned (Unplugged version)
04. Darkest Days (Unplugged version)
05. Juniors Eyes
06. Helpless
07. Bridge Over Troubled Water
08. Can’t Find My Way Home
09. Darkest Days (featuring John Rich)
10. The First Noel
Heavy metal with a Southern groove. That was the concept when former Ozzy Osbourne-guitarist Zakk Wylde formed Black Label Society in 1998, and that’s how it still looks today. To date the massive – in both senses of the word – guitar-hero/frontman and cohorts have released eight studio albums, including such successes as “Mafia” (2005) and last year’s “Order of the Black”. As we all know, American and European metalheads have different preferences, but in this case both sides agree: Black Label Society is one of the finest American metal bands today. Even if Zakk himself has given up beer, he can still count on countless beerdrinkers to give a warm reception to him, his trusted associates Nick Catanese (guitar) and John DeServio (bass), and newly appointed drummer Johnny Kelly (ex-Type O Negative).
Did we mention that the band will play just before Ozzy Osbourne on june 11th?
As always, the top albums are for releases from 2010 that are full albums (no EP’s or demos). They also have to be new studio albums for 2010, not re-recordings, re-releases, cover songs, or live material. Below the combined TOP 30 are links to each staff members personal "best of" lists which besides the top albums contains such things as best new band, best DVD/Blu-Ray, disappointments of 2010, greatest hopes for 2011, personal metal discovery of 2010, and various other metal-related categories. Enjoy!
The Top 30 Heavy Metal Albums of 2010
(Click the album cover to read our review.
If no review is available the link it to the band’s MySpace page.)
1. Accept – Blood of the Nations
Wolf Hoffman’s reaction to the band’s #1 placement in our list was:
"Sensational!!! We are so happy about this reaction by the fans. This last year has been nothing short of phenomenal for Accept."
BLOOD OF THE NATIONS is a fantastic album, so fantastic that it very easily came out on top when we compiled our best of 2010 list! In the media, producer Andy Sneap said when he worked with the band he made them go back and listen to the 80’s albums, and it worked. Accept have delivered the album they needed to make. Accept reformed with a vocalist who is just as good as Udo Dirkschneider. Vocalist Mark Tornillo rages through the songs with power and charisma, without being a clone. Accept have proven to the world in 2010 they are still relevant, powerful, uncompromising and most of all entertaining. Welcome back!
2. Blind Guardian – At the Edge of Time
Easily the best and strongest Blind Guardian album since NIGHTFALL IN MIDDLE-EARTH with a maximum of variety and everything that has turned these guys from Krefeld into what they are today: one of Germany’s most successful and influential metal bands. With AT THE EDGE OF TIME, Blind Guardian returned to the fold in total triumph. This is an album to be enjoyed for numerous repeat listens. Newer fans should eat it up, and older fans should be appeased with the band’s renewed emphasis on their thrashy roots.
3. Ratt– Infestation
Ratt is Metal. Always have been and likely always will be. From their appearance on the very first Metal Massacre compilation in 1981 alongside the likes of Metallica, Malice, and Bitch, to the new 2010 album, Ratt have always been among the heaviest of the so-called "hair metal" bands. So despite what the revisionists may think, Ratt have a firm spot in the development and evolution of the Heavy Metal genre and have earned their spot in this year’s list. Sonically the Ratt Pack is back! The band had stated they wanted a real up-tempo record and distinctly aimed for the classic sound. They nailed it. It’s all there, the swagger and slight sneer of Pearcy voice, the fluid and fiery soloing of DeMartini’s axe-work, the complimentary work of Cavazo…it’s a beautiful thing to behold!
4. Triptykon – Eparistera Daimones
Thomas Gabriel Fischer (AKA Tom G. Warrior) has nothing to prove to anyone. As the principal architect behind Hellhammer and Celtic Frost, Fischer’s body of work is the reason that many bands exist today. Two years since Celtic Frost’s very public dissolution, Fischer could have easily opted to rest on his laurels and bask in the afterglow of his evil legacy, but nooooo. To the contrary, Fischer has assembled a new band and recorded an album of new material that’s arguably some of the best in his career. Triptykon is the band, EPARISTERA DAIMONES is the album, and yes – it’s as good as Fischer has promised it to be!
5. Melechesh - The Epigenesis
Black/Death/Middle Eastern "Mesopotamian Metal" extremists made a big impact this year. Originally from IsraHELL and now based out of the Netherlands, the band has been around in some form since 1993. That Melechesh are able to maintain the album’s early momentum through to the record’s dying moments makes what they have achieved with THE EPIGENESIS that much more remarkable. Unlike so much of what passes for modern-day extremity, every one of this disc’s eleven tracks bristles with its own identity and design. It will demand a lot of attention – this definitely isn’t the record to whip out at your next kegger – but the rewards far outweigh the investment. Absolutely superb in every way.
6. Helloween – 7 Sinners
Helloween are very comfortable right now. They are back on a major label, the line-up has been stable for probably the longest stretch in the bands history, and they have fallen into a great pattern of releasing a studio album every couple of years (right around Halloween naturally). Relaxed, confident and mature the band have nothing to prove but instead of delivering a complacent record, the band have delivered the fastest, heaviest album of their career. It’s their 26th release over and 13th full-length studio album of all-new, original material. Lucky #13 for the band sees a crowning achievement with 13 killer cuts spread across the hour. Helloween have delivered a masterpiece. It will quickly silence all the fans who couldn’t stomach UNARMED from earlier this year.
7. OverKill – Ironbound
The veteran New Jersey boys return with a compelling slab of unmistakeably old school thrash that is tinged with a fine mix of groove, progressiveness and melody that separates Overkill from the multitudes of carbon-copy thrashers out there. This is modern thrash the way it should be played: roots in the 80s but with its direction and ambition befitting a metal scene on the cusp of its 30-year anniversary. It’s a beautiful thing to behold: while most of their contemporaries have split up or sold out, Overkill are still doing their thing, updating and improving but never forgetting where they came from.
8. Nevermore – The Obsidian Conspiracy
Five years – that’s how long Nevermore made us wait for a sequel to the still awe-inspiring THIS GODLESS ENDEAVOUR. By modern-day standards that’s an absolute eternity, the length of which only the likes of Slayer or Metallica could reasonably be expected to get away with. Regardless of delay, the album is a perfect example of heavy metal in its purest, most intelligent and provocative form. As always the band defies classification with elements of power, thrash, prog, blended together into a mixture that is uniquely Nevermore.
9. Sabaton – Coat of Arms
Sweden’s war metallers, Sabaton, have been consistently moving to the forefront of the power metal movement in the last few years. COAT OF ARMS continues Sabaton’s fine tradition of power metal with bite. The band is in fine form throughout and do not disappoint. You listen to a Sabaton album for the pounding marches (“Uprising”) the fast assaults (“Midway”, “Screaming Eagles”), and the catchy hooks and choruses (every damn song!) and COAT OF ARMS has it all!
10. Halford – IV – Made of Metal
Finally! Halford was really overdue. Despite having a skeleton of a catalog, Halford really needed to put some meat on the bones of his solo career. MADE OF METAL is really only the third studio album of all new material in over 10 years. Sure the catalog looks impressive but in reality, live albums, demo albums, EP’s, digital only live albums and novelty Christmas albums are just filler. Halford needed to deliver the goods and we’re pleased to say he is still made of Metal. The album clocks in at a whopping 14 tracks at over an hour it is his longest solo album to date.
Number 11 to 20
11. Crazy Lixx – New Religion
12. Iron Maiden – The Final Frontier
13. Scorpions – Sting In The Tail
14. Immolation – Majesty and Decay
15. Avantasia – The Wicked Symphony / Angel Of Babylon
William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers today announced plans to release on May 10, 2011 the handbook to all things heavy metal:BRINGING METAL TO THE CHILDREN by Zakk Wylde, guitar legend and Black Label Society frontman. Wylde invites all who dare onto the tour bus for tales of glory, debauchery, and general mayhem. The book is co-authored by Eric Hendrikx.
In BRINGING METAL TO THE CHILDREN, Zakk Wylde, the man who turned heavy metal touring into a journey of fantastical excess, shares what really goes on behind tour bus windows and backstage doors. The twenty-five year music veteran of the Ozzy Osbourne band and Black Label Society details his survival techniques for maintaining a life on the road, managing a band of raging vikings, and somehow making it on stage and blowing the crowd away night after night.
Beginning with Wylde’s “true rocker test” (TRT), the reader answers and self-scores ten questions to determine if he is a true rocker and should continue reading, or if he’s just a complete tool who needs to hand the book to someone more metal. Wylde continues the journey with his epic stories about life on the road, using his Black Label Society (BLS) coaching techniques to instruct the reader on proper touring hygiene, pre-concert preparations, and post-show etiquette. The road stories include wild nights with many of heavy metal’s gods including; Rob Zombie, Eddie Van Halen, Dimebag Darrell, Alice In Chain’s Mike Inez, Skid Row’s Snake Sabo, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, professional wrestlers Chris Jericho, Bubba Dudley and Stone Cold Steve Austin, UFC Former Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin and of course the Godfather of heavy metal, Ozzy Osbourne.
BRINGING METAL TO THE CHILDREN also features Wylde’s roadmap for success in the music business, tour planning and exclusive tips for the aspiring “metal musician,” as well as the best methods for surviving a mosh pit and plans for how to set up a shooting range on the tour bus.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
In the two decades since Ozzy Osbourne hired him away from his job at a New Jersey gas station, Zakk Wylde has established himself as a guitar icon known and revered the world over. Wylde has won nearly every guitar award imaginable, graced countless magazine covers and is a major influence to a new battalion of rock guitarists. Writing and recording with Osbourne led to multi-platinum success, inspiring him to create the now iconic Black Label Society in 1998. In the decade plus since, BLS has turned the notion of what a rock band should be upside down by inspiring legions of fans (known as Berserkers) all over the world to follow the mantra: Strength, Determination, Merciless, Forever (SDMF for short). Wylde and his Berserkers have established a heavy metal institution true to the vision of uncompromising, unfiltered and unrestrained rock ‘n’ roll. To date, Black Label Society has sold more than 3.5 million albums worldwide and continues to be a massive presence on the worldwide touring and merchandising circuits. Black Label Society’s latest album, ORDER OF THE BLACK, was released in August, 2010 and debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart.
Writer, photographer, and fellow Berserker Eric Hendrikx is a notable contributor to more than a dozen books including Forrest Griffin’s New York Times bestsellers Got Fight? and Be Ready When the Sh*t Goes Down. A lifelong musician, Hendrikx played guitar in the rock band Snake River Conspiracy and toured with bands including Queensrÿche. He currently lives in Southern California with his son Stone.
