In the two decades since Ozzy Osbourne hired him away from his job at a New Jersey gas station to become his new guitarist, Zakk Wylde has established himself as a guitar icon known and revered the world over. Writing and recording with Osbourne led to multi-platinum success, inspiring him to create the now legendary Black Label Society in 1998. In the decade since, BLS has turned the notion of what a rock band should be upside down by inspiring legions of fans (known as Berserkers) all over the world to follow the mantra: Strength, Determination, Merciless, Forever. SDMF for short, the Berserkers, along with Wylde have created a heavy metal institution true to his vision of uncompromising, unfiltered and unrestrained rock and roll. Wylde’s inspiration comes from not only the fans, but from such notable guitarists including Randy Rhoads, Eddie Van Halen, Frank Marino, Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Albert Lee , as well as the vocal stylings of Elton John, Gregg Allman and late Lynyrd Skynyrd frontman Ronnie VanZant. Wylde has won nearly every guitar award imaginable, and is a major influence to a new battalion of rock guitarists currently popular today. One thing is for certain, wherever Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society travels: brewtality is sure to follow.
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