In a new interview with Dave Evereley from Metal Hammer, Zakk Wylde talks about Ozzy’s band as “The House That Randy Built”, his love of Elton John and his Black Label Society family.
“We don’t have fans, we have fams – as in families,” he says in an excerpt. “It’s like The Grateful Dead on steroids. If you see some guy with the colours on in a pub, you start talking to him and the next thing you know you’re best man at this guy’s wedding.”
Metal Hammer: Why is that? Is it the music? Is it the Cult Of Zakk?
Wylde: “I don’t know, man. It’s a religion. A religion of confusion! Everyone’s, like, ‘What the fuck’s goin’ on?’ But everyone’s happy, and that’s what matters.”
Metal Hammer: It’s telling that he describes BLS as a ‘religion’. Zakk has made no secret of his beliefs. Born and raised a Catholic, he describes himself only half-jokingly as “a soldier of Christ”. How often does he go to church?
Wylde: “I go to church every Sunday when I’m home,” he says. “Especially now I’ve replaced the booze with glue.”
Metal Hammer: You’re friends with Dave Mustaine. Do you ever pray together?
Wylde: “Dave and us were on the road. He’s a good dude. I’ve known him for a while…”
Metal Hammer: So when you were on the road, did you pray together?
Wylde: “[Seriously] No, we did not pray together. [Long pause] We spoke about another religion. [Another long pause, then much laughter] The religion of Jimmy Page! The religion of awesomeness!”
Read more at Metal Hammer.