Breaking It Down with Chad Szeliga of Black Label Society
February 11, 2012 by Publisher
Filed under Interviews
by Cameron Edney
Guest Staff Writer –
One of the most anticipated bands to play on this year’s Soundwave Festival line-up is none other than Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society. Having last toured Australia in September 2006 fans have been eagerly awaiting the bands return and with them will be a brand new member, best known as Breaking Benjamin’s drummer Chad Szeliga will be dawning on his leather vest and bashing the skins. Known as one of the world finest and most diverse drummers Chad has toured and recorded with a number of rock bands including Switched and Hourcast.
In 2010 when Breaking Benjamin announced an indefinite hiatus rumours started to circulate around the possibility of Chad joining Avenged Sevenfold. Chad had denied the rumors via Facebook later saying he had spoken with the band briefly but felt they would stick with Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy. Breaking Benjamin fans were crused to learn of the band’s hiatus and with Chad now a full-time member of Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society hope withers a little more in their hearts but all hope may not be lost.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Chad recently about his upcoming Australian tour with Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society, how he became the bands new drummer, drumming and the future of Breaking Benjamin. This is what Chad had to say…
Hardrock Haven: Hi Chad, thanks so much for taking the time out to answer the following questions for our readers. How’s everything going?
Chad Szeliga: It’s going great real busy with the upcoming Australian tour and teaching drum lessons on Skype all over the world. Loving life and things are great!
Hardrock Haven: Late last year you became the new drummer for Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society, did you sit through an audition process for the gig?
Chad Szeliga: No, I didn’t have to audition because I toured with them and hung out with JD and Nick every day. We just clicked, the chemistry was there and they got to see what I brought to the table. I paid them a lot of money to get me the gig [laughs].
Hardrock Haven: [Laughs] Before joining what were your impressions of the band, were you a big fan of what they’d done?
Chad Szeliga: Unfortunately I only knew a couple of their songs before I joined. In actuality, when I first toured with them they scared me [laughs].
Hardrock Haven: [Laughs] And now that you’re out there on the road with them has your impressions of the guys changed much?
Chad Szeliga: My impressions of the guys were totally different impressions to what they are on stage and off. They’re one of the friendliest; kind hearted, group of men I’ve ever worked with. They are my boys for life! There songs are amazing and I can’t believe I didn’t know much of the band. So excuse me while I slap myself in the face [laughs].
Hardrock Haven: Before we get into your background and drumming let’s first talk about your upcoming Australian tour with Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society! You must be excited to be heading our way?
Chad Szeliga: I have never been to Australia so yes I am stoked and looking forward to rocking out!
Hardrock Haven: You’re heading here of course as part of the Soundwave Festival bill which showcases an awesome line-up for this year’s event; will you be putting a lot of time aside to check out the other bands on the bill?
Chad Szeliga: Yes, even though I’ve been doing this for so many years I still enjoy listening and watching other people play when I am not performing. I love music and everything that comes along with it.
Hardrock Haven: It’s been almost six years since Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society last played in Australia, so fans are certainly eager to catch your live sets, what can they expect this time around when you hit the stage?
Chad Szeliga: Wow six years huh … Get ready to hear a great rock and roll band and we bring it every time we hit the stage! We’re going to be playing a lot of stuff from the new record and not to mention an amazing guitar solo that comes along with it.
Hardrock Haven: You’ve played many festivals over the years, are you a fan of doing the large festival bills or do you much prefer the smaller more intimate club shows?
Chad Szeliga: I love playing small venues because I feel like I can interact with them on a personal level better, but don’t get me wring playing big festivals and arenas have their perks as well. The only downfall of playing huge venues is your in and out quicker and not so much interaction. I always try to take the time out to spend with the fans. If it wasn’t for them there would be no me!
Hardrock Haven: One of the coolest things about the upcoming Australian tour is that there is some off days in between so you get a chance to kick back and see the sites, do you have much planned for this trip besides playing the shows?
Chad Szeliga: I would actually like to go out with the crew and venture out and see more of the scenic atmosphere than your typical mall. I will be also teaching Skype lessons while I am out on the road.
Hardrock Haven: Chad you’re certainly a phenomenal drummer, these days before a show is there anything specific you do to warm up and prepare?
Chad Szeliga: Well thanks so much for the compliments; it means the world to me that people do find me as a decent drummer. What I do for my warm ups backstage, is I like to play about four to five hours a day practicing time, rudiments, showmanship and speed; driving the BLS crew and band crazy [laughs]!
Hardrock Haven: You’re currently endorsing a fantastic brand of led light drums called Urban Underflow; this is a company I can see many drummers getting behind as time goes on! How did you become involved with these guys?
Chad Szeliga: I am great friends with one of the guys that work at the company. His son Jason Waaugh introduced me to his father. I am very blessed to know them as family.
Hardrock Haven: I grew up influenced by many great rock drummers such as Eric Carr, Tommy Lee and Vinny Appice, in the beginning who were your main influences and how have your influences changed over time?
Chad Szeliga: Everybody to me in the drumming community that is a drummer or a musician inspires me to better myself but my main influences that got me where I am at today are Gregg Bissonette , John Bonham ,Tony Williams , Steve Gadd , Manu Katche, Stewart Copeland , Neil Peart Dennis Chambers , Vinnie Coliatua, and the list goes on and on and on.
Hardrock Haven: You have worked with many artists from OurAfter to Breaking Benjamin and now Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society, and you’ve played many different styles over the years; do you feel doing so has helped create the drummer that you are today?
Chad Szeliga: Absolutely it has molded me into who I am today, because learning all the styles that I’ve acquired it has helped me in my eyes a unique musician.
Hardrock Haven: Over the years you have played to some fantastic crowds, and you certainly have the best seat in the house to witness everything that happens in the crowd whilst playing. What comes to mind as some of the most outrageous / crazy things you’ve seen happening whilst playing?
Chad Szeliga: I’ve seen people spit up in the air and it land in their hair; I’ve seen people rip their pants. I’ve heard people crack voices when they sing. I’ve seen people fall on and off stage. I’ve heard people say the wrong place of the venue that we were playing at, and lastly I have heard people forget lyrics [laughs]. I just thank God everyday that I have there middle seat to watch all the madness and fun unfold. I wouldn’t want it any other way!
Hardrock Haven: Just before we wrap this up Chad, although you have just joined a killer heavy metal band, Breaking Benjamin fans want to know what happening… are you guys talking about any new material?
Chad Szeliga: I am just looking to get back in the studio with Breaking Benjamin… Yes, I’m answering the question that everybody asks me every day… Breaking Benjamin is still together. We will definitely and hopefully be doing another record in the future!
Hardrock Haven: That’s great news mate! Well Chad, thanks again for your time and enjoy the Australian tour! Do you have any last words for our readers?
Chad Szeliga: I’d like to thank everybody in the world that has given me the time of day to live a dream and to play drums for all of you that are reading this, it means the world to me; hopefully I’ll see you at the show.
LIVE! | Judas Priest with Black Label Society
November 7, 2011 by Publisher
Filed under arccon2011
by Deb Rao
Staff Writer –
October 23, 2011 at The Joint, Las Vegas, NV.
Metal fans came out in full force as Judas Priest’s Epitaph Tour invaded The Joint in Las Vegas with special direct support act Black Label Society for a sold out performance on Oct. 23. Las Vegas is known for bringing the top performers in the music business into Sin City and tonight metal’s finest took the stage for a full metallic assault.
Black Label Society featuring Zakk Wylde hit the stage at 8:10 P.M and got the crowd pumped up for Judas Priest. The Las Vegas Chapter of BLS fans showed up in full force. Zakk Wylde and company took the stage with a vengeance. Highlights of the set were, “Suicide Messiah,” and the 10-minute guitar solo that followed ”Fire It Up” by Zakk Wylde. The guitar virtuoso held the audience spellbound shredding the strings in perfect execution. The guitar solo tradeoffs between Zakk Wylde and Nick Catanese shined. One of strongest songs of the evening was “Concrete Jungle.”
I had the opportunity to speak to Black Label Society guitarist Nick Catanese regarding the tour and Black Label Society’s longevity. Nick comments, “The tour is going great. It has been amazing getting to see Judas Priest perform every night! I can’t believe I have been doing this now for 15 years. We’ll will be out on the road with Judas Priest through Dec. 3.”
Black Label Society Set List:
Crazy Horse
Funeral Bell
Bleed For Me
Demise of Sanity
Overlord
Parade Of The Dead
Suicide Messiah
Godspeed Hellbound
Fire It Up
Concrete Jungle
Stillborn
Veteran rock band Judas Priest has an illustrious career that has spanned over four decades. Tonight one of the greatest rock bands in metal history chronicled their rise to rock stardom in a two and half hour set. Opening with ”Rapid Fire”, Judas Priest front-man Rob Halford took full command of the sold out audience. Amidst a sea of pyrotechnics and smoke, and a stage show that bedazzled the audience complete with lasers and a video backdrop that displayed various album covers of the bands 16-studio album career.
Singer Rob Halford was in great vocal form, introducing every song with a little bit of rock and roll history. The momentum of the night built, as Judas Priest launched into ”Never Satisfied” from Rocka Rolla. One of the highlights of the set was the remake of the Joan Baez song, “Diamonds And Rust,” as the acoustic metal ambiance filled the venue. Perhaps, the most exciting moment of the evening transpired when the audience sang the chorus of ”Breaking The Law” louder than Rob Halford. During the evening, Rob sported many costume changes including a long leather spike metal coat, and a silver metallic cloak during ”Nostradamus.”
The momentum of the night never ended, as Halford hit the stage with his Harley during ”Hellbent For Leather.” The hits kept on coming as ”You’ve Got Another Thing Coming” and final encore, “Living After Midnight” roared through the speakers. Perhaps Rob Halford summed it up best, as he commented during the 2-hour long set, ”We’re a classic metal band. That’s what we do best.” From the response of the audience, this was surely a magical night that will go down in metal history. The lights may shine bright in Vegas, but nothing could outshine guitar virtuoso Zakk Wylde and the spellbinding performance of Metal God Rob Halford.
Judas Priest Set List:
Rapid Fire
Metal Gods
Heading Out To The Highway
Starbreaker
Victim Of Changes
Diamonds And Rust
Dawn Of Creation
Prophecy
Night Crawler
Turbo Lover
Beyond The Realms Of Death
The Sentinel
Blood Red Skies
The Green Manalishi
Breaking The Law
Painkiller
Electric Eye
Hellbent For Leather
You’ve Got Another Thing Coming
Living After Midnight
Five Must See Bands From Rock on the Range
June 14, 2011 by Publisher
Filed under arccon2011
by Chris A.
Staff Writer
Energy, Great Vocals and Stage Vibe Make These Bands Worth Shelling Out the Bucks To See Live
Now with its fifth year behind it, “Rock On The Range” has become a real-deal rock and roll concert institution. Held each year in Columbus, Ohio, at Crew Stadium, fans, bands and media agree it’s one of the best run high- value for money rock festivals in North America. The success of the Rock on the Range franchise has inspired a Canadian variant and similar festivals including the 2011 “Carolina Rebellion.”
The 2011 Rock on the Range featured 40 bands and added a free Friday night party for ticket holders. With three stages and that many bands it impossible to see every act. Headliners for the event included Avenged Sevenfold, A Perfect Circle, Disturbed, Korn, Stained and many more.
As the summer schedule heats up, here are a few suggestions for bands to consider going to see based on their performance at Rock On The Range:
Korn: Okay, the bands been through several members and has been around the block, but this train just keeps on rolling. From the moment they walked onto the main stage at ROTR it was pandemonium on the stadium main floor. Jonathan Davis is a presence behind the microphone, with his often constrained, hypnotic vocals adding credibility to the insanity of Korn’s musical world. A genuine must-see band that never fails to deliver live!
Black Label Society: Zakk and the boys in BLS are back and putting more “brutal”into the old-school “brewtality” the band originally built its reputation on. After several tumultuous years and two ho-hum albums, Wylde’s ejection from Ozzy Osbourne’s band was perhaps what the iconic metal shredder needed to help him find his way back to reality. The now-healthy Zakk Wylde took the stage donning a full indian war bonnet Ala-Ted Nugent and for the next 30 minutes treated the crowd to inspired wailing.
Pop Evil: Wow! An absolutely explosive band with a frontman who has it all. I like bands that are “frenetic” and that’s one way to describe the energy expelled by the rockers in Pop Evil. With great guitar tone and a vocalist who instantly seems to connect with the fans, Pop Evil is one of those bands that deserves serious consideration. There’s no standing still when this band is on stage.
Trust Company: While these guys hail from Alabama, they’re not “good ole boys” by any means. Mixing tight guitar grooves with big soaring vocals in a melodic metal mix of head-banging inducing tunes, this band has great potential. Radio friendly with tunes that should appeal to a broad range of rock fan. The band is absolutely crazy onstage with youthful enthusiasm and high-powered rock-star appeal.
Asking Alexandria: This is a kick ass metal band. I’d never heard of them before ROTR but I’m gonna be keeping an eye on them. With steam-roller precision this British quintet of guitars match perfectly with the incredibly diverse capabilities of the vocalist. If you like it brutal these guys deliver.
|
Day 1 (Saturday, May 21)
Monster Energy Stage: Avenged Sevenfold FYE Stage: Danzig Jagermeister Stage: P.O.D. |
Day 2 (Sunday, May 22)
Monster Energy Stage: A Perfect Circle FYE Stage: Hollywood Undead Jagermeister Stage: The Damned Things |
2011 Rock on the Range Photo Gallery
Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society / Ozzy Osbourne
May 29, 2011 by Publisher
Filed under arcint2011
by Steve Black
Guest Staff Writer
Steve Black from Chop Shop Radio has a friendly interview with legendary guitar slinger Zakk Wylde at Rock on the Range 2011.
Exclusive Video Interview with Zakk Wylde
LIVE! : KC Rockfest Music Festival 2011
May 18, 2011 by Publisher
Filed under arccon2011
by Shawna McHenry Luehring & John Kindred
Staff Writer
Saturday, May 14th at Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, MO.
Kansas City’s Rockfest kicked of its annual metal salute with Zakk Wylde performing the “National Anthem” with an armed forces color guard to more than 50,000 crazed fans. This year’s event was welcomed by a cold front instead of an onslaught of rain. After last year’s “Mudfest” debacle, local city leaders were fired up and demanded ending the use of Penn Valley Park as the stomping grounds for Rockfest.
Thankfully for fans, AEG, the concert promoter, paid to repair the damage caused by the 2010 event. Their efforts included putting down sod on the 14 acres of damage caused by the rain and the festival goers, who trampled down grass, which created a muddy mess and troublesome trash clean up. AEG and 98.9 the Rock have put in place safeguards to keep the event as clean and safe as possible, including additional trash cans, better placement of port-o-potties, additional security and added fencing.
As always, Rockfest is hyped as the Nation’s Largest Single-Day Music Festival and a concert event with reasonably priced food and beverages. Although this year’s crowd was not a sellout, there were plenty of fans on hand for the festivities.
This year’s lineup featured two band stages. Monster Energy sponsored the main stage, which featured headliners Disturbed, Stone Sour, Papa Roach, Alter Bridge, Sevendust, Hinder and Halestorm. The second stage was sponsored by Jose Cuervo and featured Black Label Society, All That Remains, 10 Years, Redline Chemistry, Crossfade, Art of Dying, New Medicine and Evalyn Awake.
The crowd seemed to relish in its patriotic side this year as Americans flags were visible throughout the crowd. Mardi gras beads where tossed out to those willing to show their “wares” to onlookers. Besides the music, Rock radio personality, “Moose,” officiated a wedding ceremony of about 20 couples or more. Turning back to the stages, the crowd was entertained by pornstar Ron Jeremy aka “The Hedgehog,” and Moonlight Bunny Ranch owner Dennis Hof, and his lovely sidekick, Bunny Love, made an appearance.
With the exception of 15 minutes of warm, bright sunshine for Papa Roach’s performance of “Burn” (pretty ironic), fans spent the cold, gray and windy day enjoying the metal mayhem.
Monster Energy Drink Main Stage:
Halestorm 1:30pm
Hinder 2:40pm
Sevendust 3:55pm
Alter Bridge 5:10pm
Papa Roach 6:30pm
Stone Sour 8:00pm
Disturbed 9:40pm
Jose Cuervo Drink Main Stage:
Evalyn Awake 12:00pm
New Medicine 1:00pm
Art of Dying 2:10pm
Crossfade 3:25pm
Redline Chemistry 4:40pm
10 Years 6:00pm
All That Remains 7:30
Black Label Society 9:00pm
KC Rockfest Music Festival 2011 Photo Gallery
Photos appear courtesy of Shawna McHenry Luehring
Black Label Society LIVE!
October 26, 2010 by Publisher
Filed under arccon2010
October 12, 2010, House Of Blues on Lansdowne Street in Boston, Mass.
by Deb Rao
Staff Writer
Black Label Society is currently on the East Coast Leg of their tour promoting their latest release Order Of The Black. BLS performed to a sold out audience at the House Of Blues on Lansdowne Street in Boston, Massachusetts on October 19th. The Boston Chapter of BLS fans arrived early and formed a line that made it’s way to the top of Lansdowne Street. Opening the show were 2Cents, Children Of Bodom, and Clutch. It’s has been a year since Black Label Society has performed in The Hub and as usual the band gave a stellar performance.
I arrived at the venue in time for Clutch. This was my first time seeing the band perform and I was very impressed with their rap-metal sound which was very unique. For some reason the sound reminded me of The Blues Brothers in heavy mode.
Black Label Society hit the stage at 9:30 P.M. for a 90-minute set in which the momentum of the performance never let up from start to finish. Zakk Wylde seemed healthy and energized and happy to be back onstage. As Black Label Society ripped through a set that was carefully orchestrated and full of BLS hits such as ”Concrete Jungle”, ”Suicide Messiah”, and ”Stillborn” plus new material from Order Of The Black. Fans lit their cigarette lighters when Zakk Wylde sat down at the piano, as the band paid homage to their fallen brother Dimebag Darrell Abbott on “In This River.” Highlight of the set was during ”Fire it Up” as guitar virtuoso Zakk Wylde masterfully shredded the strings in a blistering 10 minute guitar solo.
Black Label Society returned to their Southern country roots on ‘The Blessed Hellride’ in which Zakk Wylde and guitarist Nick Catanese performed on twelve string acoustic guitars. The band ended the set with their first hit “Stillborn.” I had the opportunity to speak with guitarist Nick Catanese and he told me, “The tour has been going great with a lot of sold out shows.”
Be sure to check out Black Label Society on tour this fall. During the set Zakk Wylde referred to himself as Keith from the Rolling Stones and Nick Catanese as Ronnie. It was refreshing to see the two guitarists unleash their powerful fury with dueling guitar solos. This past year has seen many health scares for guitar virtuoso Zakk Wylde and it was so good to see him back onstage performing again. The staff of Hardrock Haven wishes Zakk Wylde the best and much continued success with his new album Order Of The Black and tour.
Black Label Society Set List:
The Beginning…The Last
Crazy Horse
What’s In You
The Rose Petalled Garden
Funeral Bell
Overlord
Parade Of The Dead
In This River
Fire It Up
Godspeed Hellbound
The Blessed Hellride
Suicide Messiah
Concrete Jungle
Stillborn
Black Label Society Tour Dates:
23 – Masquerade Music Park – Atlanta, GA
24 – The Fillmore Charlotte – Charlotte, NC
26 – Hard Rock – Orlando, FL
28 – Verizon Wireless Theater – Houston, TX
29 – Concrete St. Ampitheater – Corpus Christi , TX
30 – Verizon Theatre – Grand Prairie, TX
31 – Lonestar Pavilion – Lubbock, TX
November
2 – Stubbs Waller Creek Ampitheater – Austin, TX
3 – Brady Center – Tusla, OK
5 – DeltaPlex – Grand Rapids, MI
6 – Congress Theater – Chicago, IL
7 – The Fillmore – Detroit, MI
9 – Main Street Armory – Rochester, NY
10 – The LC Pavilion – Columbus, OH
12 – Cotilion – Wichita, KS
13 – Uptown Theater – Kansas City, KS
14 – The Fillmore Auditorium – Denver, CO
16 – The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
18 – Dodge Theatre – Phoenix, AZ
19 – The Palladium – Los Angeles, CA
20 – Warfield – San Francisco, CA
21 – House of Blues – Las Vegas, NV
Ozzfest 2010
September 9, 2010 by Publisher
Filed under arccon2010
August 22, 2010 at Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden, NJ
by Steve Trager
Staff Writer
We often had wondered about Ozzfest returning to the concert stage for yet another blistering day of pure metal, and we the eager maniacs of metal give OZZY the horns up for yet another blistering day of metal on two stages. Sadly this seems to be the shortest run for Ozzfest this year with only six US dates, among them a stop at Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, N.J. As this year’s lineup seemed to be a slight slant with just a few larger scale names such as Halford and Motley Crue rounding out the main stage and Black Label Society and Drowning Pool rounding out the second stage for a blast of a day, despite the weather conditions. For the first four bands that were set to play in Camden on the second stage, I raise a glass to the people behind the production of Ozzfest, as they announced the threat of bad weather and moved the set times up and had set changes moving at a rapid rate of speed to a point that it seems like the first two hours went by so quick you just couldn’t keep up with any set list.
Even with mandatory 20 set list and ultimately quick set changes throughout the second stage, we had the pleasure of catching a great set from Drowning Pool who, graced the main stage several years back. Still with a different front man, Drowning Pool shreds with tracks like “Sinner,” “Enemy,“ and the song that broke the mold for this band “Bodies;“ if that doesn’t get your blood going better have a few more beers at Ozzfest. Many of us respect the music as do some bands covering their inspired mentors Pantera dropping tributes to Dimebag with “Cemetery Gates“ and “Walk.“ I was never a fan of other bands covering material in metal but you have to give these guys more than just credit with that alone period, a well job done with a true inspired moment of greatness.
The second stage was cut short due to the threat of thunder and lighting which forced Black Label Society not to play. After looking around I could see alot of pissed off people who paid some great money to see Zakk kill it on songs like “Stillborn.” For the most part not even a little rain would stop a show but with constant downpour and equipment getting trashed, it seemed to be a smart move at a quick decision.
Thanks to the rain for letting everyone miss out on BLS closing out the second stage, we were forced to just wait for like 90 minutes for the main stage to get going. With just four bands rounding out Ozzfest, this years’ run of dates we the fans were treated to some great metal from NonPoint’s opening slot with “Miracle“ and “Bullet with a Name.“ Such a great time to watch front man Elias Soriiano whip his dreads around a mad man during Ozzfest.
Certainly Ozzfest wouldn’t be complete without Dez Ferrara and Devil Driver who, just truly killed it with a memorable performance with a great tracks spanning Devil Driver’s musical career, that including “I Could Care Less.“ And “Not All Who Wander Are Lost.” While we enjoyed the old days of Coal Chamber, Devil Driver brings to the fold a fresh bit in metal all these years with a great live show at this years Ozzfest on the main stage.
As we metal maniacs looked forward to a great set by Halford and all those the contributions he has dropped into the bucket with Fight and Judas Priest spanning history behind him, his set list was actually decent but very disappointing as he pulled out songs I never heard before other than “Nailed to the Gun“ and ‘’Never Satisfied.“ One would think taking the stage right before Motley Crue, Rob Halford would just squeeze in his set with as many great pieces of material that made this individual famous as a front man of two separate worlds that collide under one genre. Being a fan of certain years of Fight and Priest material, you get pumped up waiting to hear those songs blast right through your skull and you don’t hear them you wonder has Halford lost it? Sadly we know Rob has more material than meets the eye and could kick your ass up and down the block but, we had to settle for an unusual set list.
Gracing the stage for this first time in the history of Ozzfest none other then a classic band all themselves Motley Crue. Another band that certainly earned themselves more than just a musical career in the ‘80s. It’s always a great set for this band as you want to hear the classic Crue songs, you ask and you shall receive it’s that simple. Just how many songs can Motley Crue leave out in a 60-minute blaze at Ozzfest … quite a few but it it a trip down memory lane for all of us fans who grew up listening to Vince and the boys since 1981. Not only is this a special slot for the likes of Motley Crue, they got their first big break as an opening slot on Ozzy’s tour in 1984 which is a big deal for any band to share a stage with a living legend such as Ozzy. It’s like a true classic rock show with all the classics not to mention the pop or pyros jetting to the sky behind the stage as key songs are jammed down your throat. I always loved watching Motley Crue bring it home with a musical career spanning countless generations of fans even as co-headliner this year.
The Great and Powerful OZZ man has returned at Ozzfest with all new material in the fold, not to mention a new lineup including axe man Gus G from Firewind. You could say to play along side with Ozzy is a guitar heroes’ dream come true as I watched this guy shred every song in Ozzy’s set to bare bones. Is 90-minutes enough soak up a typical Ozzy set… the answer will always be no. While he tossed in a few Black Sabbath songs for good measure, Ozzy also unleashed the new single “Let Me Hear You Scream “. A nice addition to all the old traditional great anthems Ozzy has kicked out time and time again at each and every Ozzfest.. It’s no surprise that this year was just a short run in the States, but Philly has been a great market for Ozzy all these years. Nothing truly says Ozzy without “I Can’t Fuckin’ Hear You” and Ozzy tossing buckets of water on him and fans in the pit.
Will this be the last Ozzfest ever once again? One never knows as Ozzy is getting older but, still can kill it as a great performer and front man that has carried the metal flame at Ozzfest for more than a decade.
Ozzfest Photo Gallery
Black Label Society The European Invasion Doom Troopin’ Live
August 18, 2010 by Publisher
Filed under arcrvws2010
by John Kindred
Staff Writer
Often dubbed “Prince of Darkness,” the Godfather of metal Mr. Ozzy Osborne has launched the careers of some of the finest axe slingers to grace vinyl and the digital landscape. Rhoads, Lee, Gillis and of all those Zakk Wylde has built the strongest post-Ozzy career and still finds himself in good graces with Ozzy. Enough so that he has rejoined Ozzy band all the while still fronting his own band, Black Label Society.
Preceding the release of Black Label Society’s latest studio effort Shot To Hell, Eagle Vision released the 2-disk DVD release of Black Label Society’s The European Invasion Doom Troopin’. Now in 2010 the DVD gets it’s release on the Blueray format.
Filmed during Black Label Society’s European tour the band is captured live at the Elysee Montmarte in Paris and the Astoria in London. Intense, brutal and aggressive, The European Invasion Doom Troopin’ is Black Label Society on the war path and taking no prisoners. Wylde, is shall we say, simply “Wild!” If you haven’t kept up with Zakk Wylde career then you wouldn’t know that he is truly a survivor of the fall of metal in the early ‘90s.
Having forged on, performing his brand of music, with a take-no-prisoners attitude all the while shifting his image from a clean cut axe slinger to the biker persona that he exudes within the confines of his band, Black Label Society. Through all the changes of mainstream music, Wylde still holds true to being a guitarist first and continues to be a fore runner as an influence on the electric “twanger” for a multitude of fans, young and graciously aging alike.
This attitude is captured on film as Black Label Society performs a set of blistering rock n’ roll. Inspired by Wylde’s influences from Hendrix, Rhoads, Van Halen to his apparent love for Southern Rock. A true shred-a-holic, the leather clad madman pummels his instrument with a genius that is more inspiring than the uneventful ramblings of today’s nu metal foundlings.
The DVD is chalk full of bonus features including: a 50-minute on the road documentary, three promo videos taken from Black Label Society’s ’05s studio release MAFIA, as well as the making-of documentary for the promo video for “Suicide Messiah.” Fans will surely want this DVD.
Genre: Heavy Metal
Track listing:
Paris Chapter
1. Stoned and Drunk
2. Destruction Overdrive
3. Been a Long Time
4. Funeral Bell
5. Suffering Overdue
6. In this River
7. Suicide Messiah
8. Demise of Sanity
9. Spread Your Wings
10. Solo Acoustic Jam
11. Spoke in the Wheel
12. Fire it Up
13. Stillborn
14. Genocide Junkies
Backstage Pass (50 minute featurette)
Music Videos
1. Suicide Messiah
2. Making of Suiciede Messiah
3. In This River
4. Fire It Up
London Chapter
1. Been a Long Time
2. Suicide Messiah
3. Stillborn
4. Genocide Junkies
Label: Eagle Vision
HRH Rating: 7.8/10
Black Label Society Skullage
April 28, 2009 by Managing Editor
Filed under arcrvws
by John Kindred
Staff Writer
Skullage, the latest DVD release from Black Label Society, provides fans with a varied mix of performances that span the course of the band’s career. Featuring Zakk Wylde, whose notoriety was born under the tutelage of Ozzy Osborne, Black Label Society has given the guitarist a home to explore his musical endeavors.
Unlike previous Ozzy-axemen, Wylde has been a surviror of the Ozzy machine. His predecessors have not fared well — Rhoads died in a plane crash and Jake E. Lee had a brief solo career with Badlands before becoming a recluse.
Wylde delivers music for a generation of bikers keen on metallic, southern rock flavored, heavy metal. Extreme and loud, leather and chains … and skull crushing, Wylde is, well, wild. Besides the music he takes us to his home for an inside perspective on the guitarist. The documentary provides bits of comedy and chaos providing a glimmer of insight into the inside workings of the man, who portrays himself externally as hard and dangerous.
Skullage is fan DVD only. If you’re not a fan nothing compiled here will change your views on the man or the music. With so little new content as the DVD pulls from previous DVD performances its hard to say that that it is even a must have. Although the previously unavailable radio performance in Lehigh, Penn. is interesting to say the least.
Label: Eagle Rock Entertainment
DVD:
Videos:
• “Stillborn”
• “Suicide Messiah”
• “In This River”
• “Fire It Up”
• “New Religion”
Concert Performances:
• “Spoke in the Wheel” (from Doom Troopin’: European Invasion)
• “All for You”
• “13 Years of Grief”
• “Bleed for Me” (all from Boozed Broozed & Broken-Boned)
“Slightly Amped” acoustic songs taken from a radio performance in Lehigh, PA, on February 13, 2004:
• “The Blessed Hellride”
• “Spoke in the Wheel”
• “We Live No More”
• “Stillborn”
“Welcome to the Compound” 30-minute interview and behind-the-scenes segment with Wylde at his home.
CD:
• “Machine Gun Man”
• “Dead As Yesterday”
• “All For You”
• “13 Years of Grief”
• “Bleed For Me”
• “Doomsday Jesus”
• “Stillborn”
• “Won’t Find It Here”
• “Suicide Messiah”
• “In This River”
• “Fire It Up”
• “New Religion”
• “The Blessed Hellride” (acoustic)
• “Spoke in the Wheel” (acoustic)
• “Stillborn” (acoustic)
“Welcome to the Compound,” a brand-new 30-minute interview and behind-the-scenes segment with Wylde at his home.
HRH Rating: 7/10
Black Label Society Live!
April 9, 2009 by Publisher
Filed under arccon2009
April 6, 2009 at Webster Theatre in Hartford, CT
by Deb Rao
Staff Writer
Black Label Society performed to a sold out crowd at the Webster Theatre in Hartford, Conn. on April 6. Black Label Society performed many of their hits and also dug dig into their older catalog. Highlights of the 90-minute set included “Concrete Jungle,” “Suicide Messiah,” “Fire It Up,” “The Blessed Hellride” and “Stillborn.”
Black Label Society featuring Zakk Wylde, John “JD” Deservio on bass, guitarist Nick Catanese, and drummer Craig Nunenmacher performed a blistering set of metal to the sold out enthusiastic Hartford crowd. During the set, Black Label Society singer Zakk Wylde dedicated “In This River” to the band’s Immortal brother Dimebag Darrell Abbott in which posters of Dime were unveiled, as Zakk performed an emotional and moving piano solo and launched into “In This River” dedicating this song to his fallen friend. Guitar solos were the theme of the evening, as Zakk Wylde burst into a riveting version of the Star Spangled Banner after the song, “Fire It Up.”
Beach balls filled the air, on “Fire It Up”, as The Webster Theatre was quickly transformed into a beach party. Other highlights of the set included “The Blessed Hellride,” as BLS went back to their Southern roots and Zakk and Nick both performed on a double neck guitar infusing great melodies and true showmanship.
It has been awhile since Black Label Society has peformed in Hartford, and tonight the Connecticut Chapter of Black Label Society could not get enough of Zakk Wylde. The guitar virtuoso is back, at the top of his game once again proving “Blood is thicker than water,” as the Connecticut Chapter of BLS fan re-united for one of the hottest shows of the Spring.
Black Label Society is currently embarking on the East Coast leg of the tour with special stops which include the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H. on April 9, The Hammerstein Ballroom in New York on April 10, and a sold out show at newly opened House Of Blues in Boston on April 14.
Black Label Society Tour Dates:
April
9 – Manchester, NH – Verizon Wireless Arena
10 – New York, NY – Hammerstein Ballroom
11 – Philadelphia, PA – The Electric Factory
14 – Boston, MA – House Of Blues
15 – Baltimore, MD – Ram’s Head Live
17 – North Myrtle Beach, SC – House Of Blues
18 – Duluth, GA – Wild Bill’s
21 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
24 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Waller Creek
25 – Dallas, TX – Palladium Ballroom
26 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
28 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
29 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
May
1 – Las Vegas, NV – House Of Blues
2 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
