Zakk Wylde, supreme metal deity and Black Label Society front man, wants his Michigan fans amped for the band’s Grand Rapids stop.
“Tell them to keep bleeding black. Tell the Michigan order that church services will start soon, when we get out there,” said Wylde, who jokingly referred to each individual show on the Berzerkus tour as “church services.”
Wylde gained his metal horns when he started his career alongside legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne – whom Wylde can understand when he speaks. Wylde played guitar and wrote songs for Osbourne’s band for 23 years. The multi-platinum success Wylde had with Osbourne spurred the creation of his own band, Black Label Society, in 1998. Until recently, Wylde split his time between both projects.
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Black Label Society wsg Clutch, Children Of Bodom, 2Cents
Orbit Room, Grand Rapids
Nov. 5, 5:30 p.m.
$30 in advance, $34 day of show
orbitroom.com, (616) 942-1328
NOTE: This show was originally scheduled at the DeltaPlex. Previously purchased tickets will be honored at The Orbit Room.
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Wylde now focuses entirely on Black Label Society as Osbourne selected Gus G. (well-known in the metal realm) to take over on guitar.
“It’s just Black Label, instead of 24/7,” Wylde says, “it’s 25/8 366 days a year, you know?”
Currently, the band is on tour to promote Order of the Black, its eighth studio album. Order of the Black was released this past August, emerged as number four on the Billboard 200 chart; four years after the band released its previous album, Shot to Hell.
“It just goes to show that the Black Label community is getting bigger and bigger,” he said.
The Black Label community includes “fams,” which is what the band refers to its fans. Wylde says the fams have sustained the band’s success over the years. Supporters includedehero,” Wylde said.
The band keeps its demographic in mind when its members determine the set list, which proves difficult considering the hits that span the band’s eight studio albums. Wylde compared the predicament to bands that have a large catalogue, for example, if the Rolling Stones played all its top songs in one night.
“They would have to put on a six hour concert.”
For this tour, Wylde wants fans to expect a good mix of both old and new.
“You can only bludgeon people for about an hour and 20 minutes and they’re done,” Wylde said.
Photo: Zakk Wylde, by Clay Patrick McBride
