Zakk Wylde recently shared his thoughts on how guitarists inevitably retain their unique sound and discussed how he approaches playing Pantera’s solos in a way that honors Dimebag Darrell’s original style.
Wylde, known for his role as Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist and as the leader of Black Label Society, is a fan favorite for a potential Pantera reunion. His skills and deep friendship with Dimebag Darrell made him a top choice. When Pantera reformed, Wylde brought his own touch to the band’s music, respecting Dimebag’s solos while infusing them with his distinctive style. The result was a performance that felt authentically Pantera but also showcased Wylde’s unique nuances.
In a recent interview, transcribed by Ultimate Guitar, Wylde explained that no matter how hard he tries, he can’t escape his own sound:
“I don’t think you can do that. Just listen to Eddie Van Halen. Whenever he’s playing, you know it’s Eddie. Even when he’s playing ‘Fire’ with Steve Lukather, it still sounds like Eddie Van Halen.”
He continued, “Randy [Rhoads] would play Sabbath songs with Ozzy Osbourne. When he did ‘Children of the Grave,’ it sounded like Randy playing Black Sabbath. If Dime had played the solo to ‘No More Tears,’ it would sound like Dime playing my solo, and he’d still have his own touch. You can’t escape that.”
Wylde also pointed out that even if Phil Anselmo were to sing a Doors song, it would still sound like Phil due to his distinctive voice.
Despite this, Wylde strives to stay true to the original solos as much as possible:
“In that regard, you try to stay as faithful as you can to the solos, like when I’m playing ‘Walk’ or ‘[I’m] Broken.’ Dime wrote those solos. There’s some flexibility in songs where Dime might improvise, like with an ascending lick in E minor. In those cases, you can add a bit of your own flair. But for most solos, you need to stick closely to what Dime played.”
Wylde likened this approach to playing iconic solos by Randy Rhoads or songs like ‘Hotel California’ and ‘Stairway to Heaven,’ emphasizing that some solos are integral to the song and must be played as originally written.
