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Zakk Wylde’s Guitar Journey with Ozzy Osbourne: A Mix of Respect and Creativity

by Madonna

In 1989, Zakk Wylde reflected on his early years with Ozzy Osbourne, revealing his deep admiration for the iconic singer and Black Sabbath, calling them his “all-time favorite band.” At the time, Wylde was stepping into some massive shoes, following in the footsteps of guitar legends like Jake E. Lee, Randy Rhoads, and Tony Iommi.

Despite the immense legacy, Wylde remained respectful of his predecessors and the towering figure of Ozzy himself. However, he also brought his own ideas to the table when it came to his first album with the Prince of Darkness, No Rest for the Wicked (1988).

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Wylde quickly learned how to mesh his creative ideas with Ozzy’s expectations. He figured out when to hold back and when to unleash his signature sound, all while adapting to some of Osbourne’s more unique guitar preferences.

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One of the key guidelines from Osbourne was a directive on pedal use. Wylde had been keen on incorporating more slide guitar and wah pedal effects, but Ozzy was not a fan. “The minute Ozzy hears a wah-wah, he immediately thinks of Jimi Hendrix,” Wylde recalled. “I could be playing Mary Had a Little Lamb with a wah-wah, and he’d be going, ‘Hendrix, Hendrix, Hendrix.’”

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The guitar rules didn’t stop there.

Wylde’s iconic bull’s-eye Les Paul, equipped with powerful EMG pickups, was subjected to another instruction from Ozzy—use only the back pickup. “Ozzy hates the sound of the front pickup. He calls it the ‘cow tone,’” Wylde explained.

Despite these restrictions, Wylde didn’t view Osbourne’s influence as a limitation. “Ozzy’s been rocking out since before I was born, so I had to respect his opinion as to what would work in the studio,” Wylde shared. He also clarified that Ozzy’s goal was always to ensure the best musical output, and that Osbourne wanted to avoid the excessive technicality of players like Yngwie Malmsteen.

Ultimately, their collaboration led to the creation of a new chapter in Osbourne’s career, one that balanced Wylde’s ideas with Osbourne’s seasoned experience.

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