Zakk Wylde shared his thoughts on why he performs famous guitar solos exactly as they were originally written, emphasizing that the phrasing alone can make the same melody sound different when played by another guitarist.
Taking on the legacy of legendary guitarists is a tough task, even for an influential player like Zakk Wylde. Musicians in this position often face the dilemma of whether to replicate iconic solos as closely as possible to honor the original, or to make the solo their own and show respect for the uniqueness of its creator. While there are valid arguments for both approaches, Zakk Wylde tends to lean toward the former.
With years of experience, from his long-time collaboration with Ozzy Osbourne to the Experience Hendrix tour and performing with Pantera, Wylde has encountered this challenge countless times. For him, staying true to the original versions of solos is key. In a recent interview with Andertons Music Co. (transcribed by Ultimate Guitar), Wylde explained his philosophy:
“Whether it’s ‘Walk’ or something else, Dime has signature solos. Like ‘I’m Broken’… If me and you are playing the solos to ‘Hotel California’ with the Eagles, you’ve got to play those solos exactly like they are on the record. If there are other solos with room for improvisation, then sure, you can add your touch, as long as you’re in E Minor and hit the signature notes.”
“But for songs like ‘Hotel California,’ ‘Stairway to Heaven,’ or when I’m doing Dime’s stuff, or if Dime were with Ozzy playing my solos, he’d still bring his unique touch. If he did it note for note, it would still be Dime’s feel.”
Wylde believes that seasoned guitarists don’t need to alter a solo to let their personal style shine through:
“Every time we do the Generation Axe tour, whether it’s with Steve Vai, Nuno Bettencourt, Tosin Abasi, or Yngwie Malmsteen, they only need to play one note — just a vibrato or a chord — and you can instantly hear their unique guitar tone, their feel, and their vibrato. I can tell exactly who’s playing. Even if I’m not looking, I don’t need to listen to a couple of notes. I just hear one, and I immediately know it’s Tosin, or when Nuno shreds, within two notes, I know it’s him.”
Wylde concluded by highlighting what he sees as the true beauty of guitar:
“That’s the beauty of guitar. You could take the same scale and have two different players, and it sounds completely different. They’re using the same ingredients in the soup, but it tastes completely different. It’s two different bowls of soup, and I think that’s just awesome. That’s the beauty of guitar.”
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