A few hours before meeting the Paris Chapter, we had the huge privilege to meet and tchat with Mr. Zakk Wylde.
How was the first show yesterday with the London chapter?
Zakk Wylde (vocals/guitar): Oh great. We’ve had an awesome time. Obviously on the first shows you always had kinks you have to work out but it was cool. Otherwise yeah no farm animals were injured, nobody was injured. All was good.
You released “Book Of Shadows II” a few weeks ago. How are the feedbacks?
Zakk: Everybody’s just asking me when I’ll stop making music (laughs) and when I’ll go away and just retire. (laughs) I said “that’s not really nice”. (laughs) The name speaks for itself because it’s in the same vein but feedbacks are great.
In “Bringing Metal To The Children” you said: an album is like a high school yearbook photo, a snapshot in time of where you were and what you were doing/what was going on at that time in your life”. Refering to that, what was going on in your life that lead you to write “Book Of Shadows”’s follow-up 20 years later?
Zakk: We wanted to break the record of “Chinese Democracy” and its 15 years; so first we wanted to break that record so that’s why we waited for 20 years. When we got to 16 years we already broke the record but as I said “let’s go for another 4 years” because this way the only way to break that record was to be independently healthy like Richard Branson, to be that unemployed for 20 years. (laughs) So now that we got to 20 years that was the game planned.
I never really thought about it because since Black Label Society is born then we were bleeding black and working since 1998 and I’ve been doing my own songs on those records too. We also did the “Hangover Music” but that was a melo record.
Between our Black Label Family Worldwide, people kept asking when we were doing another “Book Of Shadows” album, the melo stuff, so I was like “yeah we have to get around to it” between changing dippers, cleaning the dog, doing the dishes so I never really thought about it. Then it was the 20th anniversary and I was like “hey you know what? Why don’t we make another one of these records” but I’ve been writing these songs for 20 years.
The way I usually work, you’re my manager or business partner, we always figure out the chest moves, where we’re going and I’ll ask “how much time do I have before the guys fly out to the Black Vatican?” “you have about a month and a week” so I’ll have a month and a week to write a record.
The way I look at it: we know there are dinosaur’s bones out in the area so we’ll start here today, if we find them, we find if we don’t, no big deal. We’ll got out for some food and coffee and then tomorrow we’ll start again because they’re out here.
It’s the same thing with the songs. If you get nothing today maybe tomorrow you’ll find two great ideas.
You did the Unblackened Tour then with “Catacombs Of the Black Vatican” you went a bit smoother than “Order Of The Black” for example. Was “BOS II” almost unavoidable? Going smooth and calm.”
Zakk: I don’t think so. As you said it’s a snapshot in time depending of the mood you’re in. And you want to be different in anyway so.
How did you process? Did you work from scratch or did you use some ideas you gathered in time?
Zakk: Black Label, we never demo. The only things that we ever demoed was like “Mama I’m Coming Home” and stuff like that and we were always chasing the demo so that’s why I don’t like to demo, you just do it right the first time because that’s where the magic is, it’s for real. You just go and do it the first time.
How long did it take this time to write and record the album?
Zakk: This time it was on and off because we were touring. We tracked the drums in five days or so and we had like 40 ideas. Then we narrowed it down to 14 for the record then I focused on writing lyrics for those.
Which subjects do you deal with/through those new tunes?
Zakk: As far as the song matter, the lyrics always took along because you need something to sing about. It could be any situation that happen to me or to you, something I read about like someone’s autobiography or if you watch the news and see a story. It’s just what’s going on around you. But to me lyrics always have been a weight depth. Where you use metaphors and stuff like that. In my opinion, two of the best lyricist are Chris Cornell and Jerry Cantrell. They’re great lyrics, they have weight and depth to them so that’s what you’re trying to write for me anyway and I enjoy writing as much as I like writing solos and everything else. It’s just like cooking I like making steak, vegetables and even dessert, it’s the whole thing.
There’s “BoS II” but also another hot topic: Wylde Audio. The guitars were launched at NAMM and are already in sale. You said it was a natural thing, the next level to achieve. When did this idea really come up?
Zakk: I’ve been doing it with Gibson and I’ve been blessed with Gibson and they’re still family to me. It’s like you’re moving out of your parents’ house, then get an apartment and the next step is getting a house. It’s just an evolution to the next step. To me it’s no different than an athlete that wins championships with his club, then get to train the team, and manage the club and finally being a team owner.
Not everybody wants to be like that but I enjoy being hands-on now. To me it’s fun because you’re creating all the time like if you own a magazine: pictures, interviews, stories, layouts. You’re in charge here and it’s fun. Every day you wake up and think “oh i’’ll be cool if we do something like that” I’m the whole process. It’s just like making music. Apart from writing, I love to come up with melodies, then lyrics and of course solos.
You surround yourself with great people and you delicate the power to all your talented buddies at what they do.
What’s the next level? You have the band, your coffee, gear; will you consider managing bands or something like that?
Zakk: Yes you can get into that. My buddy and business partner Blasko got into the management side of things. He loves doing it like “I can help these kids”. He enjoys doing it.
I always told kids, you have to have passion for whatever you’re doing. Whether it’s skateboarding, being a marine biologist, that’s what you should be doing because that’s where you excel and you’ll shine. (talking to the photographer) You love photography and that’s why you’re doing it. It’s just art and you love it.
If you don’t have passion for what you’re doing so it’s shit, what’s the point doing it? That’s the whole secret of life. Find what you love and do it. And that’s why I love porn and I like sitting all day like I never want to come out. (laughs)
We’ve seen many videos of you punching JD or Jeff or you getting punched. Is there a testosterone excess in the band?
Zakk: Getting knocked out? (laughs) We just love doing it. We just all love getting knocked out (laughs) It’s just a little nap for a while. (laughs)
What can we expect for tonight?
Zakk: I need to prepare the whole Black Label Lingerie thing. Then I’ll have to shave my legs for a while so I won’t have trouble with my fishnets stockings. (laughs) Well it’s easier to do those kind of shows in high heels because there’s not a lot of action because it’s the melo stuff. (laughs)
Finally we are “RockUrLife” so what rocks your life?
Zakk: What rocks my life? Everything I’m doing. Between the band, the music and obviously my family, my wife and kids, my dogs, I couldn’t ask for anything more. Truly blessed. I thank the Good Lord every day I wake up.
Website: blacklabelsociety.com
