Don’t Worry, Zakk Wylde is Still Ozzy’s Live Guitarist
If you’re like me, you had a mild panic attack when Zakk Wylde said he had “nothing to do with” Ozzy Osbourne’s new album. Not that the album isn’t good — what we’ve heard so far is surprisingly fantastic! — but Zakk IS Ozzy’s live show at this point, whatwith the Ozzman’s physical limitations plaguing him on stage for the past couple of decades already. And that was before his recent bout of injuries! Seeing Ozzy’s show in Long Island a couple of summers back almost felt like going to see a Zakk Wylde solo show that happened to feature Ozzy’s songs, with special guest Ozzy Osbourne on lead vocals; that’s to extent to which Zakk’s stage presence carried the thing.
So, worry not, friends: Zakk is still in Ozzy’s live band and will be shredding up his bullseye Les Paul, junk hanging down freely under his kilt, for the upcoming North American and U.K./Europe tours. Sed Zakk in a recent interview with Mitch Lafon:
“Yeah. The plans are to go out with the boss and then if that changes, then we’ll either be out doing Zakk Sabbath or whatever, the Pride and Glory reunion or whatever.
What’s more, Zakk isn’t even bitter about having been shut out of Ozzy’s recent album — or at least isn’t publicly letting on if he is — saying, “I think it came out great. I think it sounds awesome.”
The Zakk Sabbath gigs Zakk is referring to are the ones he’s got planned for Europe in February celebrating the 50th anniversary of Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut. The same album that Zakk recently re-recorded. You might say the guy is super loyal to Ozzy!
Here are those upcoming Ozzy live dates, should you want tickets (trust me, you do):
North America with Marilyn Manson:
May 27 Atlanta, GA State Farm Arena [Tickets]
May 29 Sunrise, FL BB&T Center [Tickets]
May 31 Tampa, FL MIDFLORIDA Credit Union [Tickets]
June 2 Charlotte, NC PNC Pavilion [Tickets]
June 4 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Amphitheater [Tickets]
June 6 Hershey, PA Hershey Park Stadium [Tickets]
June 11 Pittsburgh, PA KeyBank Pavilion [Tickets]
June 13 Bangor, ME Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion [Tickets]
June 16 Montreal, QC Bell Centre [Tickets]
June 18 Hamilton, ON First Ontario Centre [Tickets]
June 20 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena [Tickets]
June 22 New York, NY Madison Square Garden Arena [Tickets]
June 24 St Louis, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheater [Tickets]
June 26 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center [Tickets]
June 28 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena [Tickets]
July 1 Milwaukee, WI Amer. Family Ins. Amp–Summerfest [Tickets]
July 3 St Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center [Tickets]
July 7 Edmonton, AB Rogers Place [Tickets]
July 9 Vancouver, BC Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena [Tickets]
July 11 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome [Tickets]
July 15 Portland, OR Moda Center [Tickets]
July 17 Sacramento, CA Golden 1 Center [Tickets]
July 23 Phoenix, AZ Ak-Chin Pavilion [Tickets]
July 25 San Francisco, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre [Tickets]
July 27 July Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl [Tickets]
July 29 San Diego, CA North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre [Tickets]
July 31 Las Vegas, CA MGM Grand Garden Arena [Tickets]
U.K. and Europe with Judas Priest:
October 23 Newcastle, Utilita Arena, UK [Tickets]
October 25 Glasgow, SSE Hydro, UK [Tickets]
October 28 London, The O2, UK [Tickets]
October 31 Birmingham, Resorts World Arena, UK [Tickets]
November 2 Manchester, Manchester Arena, UK [Tickets]
November 5 Dublin, 3Arena, Ireland [Tickets]
November 8 Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena, UK [Tickets]
November 11 Dortmund, Westfalenhalle, Germany [Tickets]
November 13 Prague, O2 Arena, Czech Republic [Tickets]
November 16 Vienna, Stadthalle, Austria [Tickets]
November 19 Bologna, Unipol Arena, Italy [Tickets]
November 22 Madrid, WiZink Arena, Spain [Tickets]
November 24 Zurich, Hallenstadion, Switzerland [Tickets]
November 26 Munich, Olympiahalle, Germany [Tickets]
November 28 Mannheim, SAP Arena, Germany [Tickets]
November 30 Berlin, Mercedes-Benz Arena, Germany [Tickets]
December 3 Hamburg, Barclaycard Arena, Germany [Tickets]
December 5 Stockholm, Friends Arena, Sweden [Tickets]
December 7 Helsinki, Hartwall Arena, Finland [Tickets]
[via Ultimate Guitar]
