BLACK LABEL SOCIETY; photo Reuben Martinez
Black Label Society brought guitar domination to San Diego, where Zakk Wylde proudly gave a “Big Black Label Thanks to the San Diego, CA Chapter for a Pummeling BL Quilt Craft/Sewing Festivus Miracle on Ice”. The month-long tour included metal veterans Obituary and Lord Dying.
As a longtime guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, Zack created Black Label Society over 20 years ago, but reunited with Black Sabbath in 2000. In fact, he was slated to play with Ozzy on his farewell tour this year, but it was postponed due to Ozzy’s health issues. This inadvertently provided Zakk with some time to kill which resulted in this tour.
Zakk Wylde; photo Reuben Martinez
Dario Lorina/BLS; photo Reuben Martinez
Zakk’s other side project Zakk Sabbath recently played a few shows in England celebrating 50 years of Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut album. The album that changed metal.
But this was a Black Label Society show, and the fans were wearing BLS shirts, vests, hats and other items proudly. During one moment of the night I heard Zakk say that the song, “In This River”, will never leave the Black Label Society playlist. It was written and dedicated to Dimebag Darrell Abbott who was shot in 2004. Zakk displayed banners of Dimebag and now Dime’s brother Vinnie Paul who passed June of 2018.
John “JD” DeServio/BLS; photo Reuben Martinez
There were so many highlights from Zakk, John “JD” DeServio on bass, Dario Lorina on guitar and Jeff Fabb on drums. Everyone in the band were well showcased.
Zakk should be joining Ozzy on his farewell tour probably in 2021. So, check out the band when you can as well as Zakk’s Instagram. It’s a very entertaining outlet, showing off his humor, his line of guitars, amps and coffee. Total tongue in cheek humor.
Set list: San Diego:
Genocide junkies
Funeral Bell
The Rose Petalled Garden
Heart of Darkness
Suicide Messiah
Trampled Down Below
Seasons of Falter
Peddlers of Death
Spoke In The Wheel
In the River
The Blessed Hellride
A Love Unreal
Fire it Up
Concrete Jungle
Stillborn