From the precocious 19-year-old introduced to the world on a “Headbanger’s Ball” episode in 1988 as Ozzy Osbourne’s new guitarist, to a long-bearded, kilt-wearing, chest-pounding, six-string slinging maniac, Zakk Wylde has grown before our very eyes.
Wylde has played with The Ozzman Cometh for 20-plus years while fronting his own Black Label Society. Last Wednesday, however, he brought another faction to the Aztec Theatre — his tribute to Osbourne’s Black Sabbath days in the form of trio Zakk Sabbath.
Introduced by “That Metal Show” co-host Don Jamieson after part of the comedian’s opening monologue included the fact that Wylde once went 77 consecutive days without showering, the beast behind the axe took to the stage with his BLS bassist John “J.D.” DeServio and energetic drummer Joey C. In addition to the 2-hour plus performance of Sabbath tracks from the first four Osbourne-sung albums, Wylde gave fans a treat by including several rarities on the setlist while omitting entirely, or merely including a portion of riffs, of the likes of “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,” “Black Sabbath,” “The Wizard,” “Symptom of the Universe” and “Sweet Leaf” — the latter revealed by Jamieson as his favorite Sabbath tune.
Opening with “Supernaut” (setlist in 30-photo slideshow below), Wylde often turned the Sabbath songs into his signature long but entertaining guitar jams and solos. Unlike with BLS, though, the more informal occasion of paying tribute to another band yielded the green kilt-wearing Wylde the freedom to play among the fans. And he liked it so much, he did it twice.
Wylde first went into the back of the general admission area during “Into the Void” and shredded away while fans encircled him while filming every note with their phones. As he walked back to the stage, Wylde played his axe behind his head the entire way. No professional media footage was allowed of the concert. But after rare track “Wicked World” and crowd favorite “Fairies Wear Boots” (ATM Facebook Live footage here), Wylde, who was often pegged as the favorite to replace the late “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott if Pantera had ever reunited, broke into a riff of “I’m Broken.” It was his only deviation from Sabbath material all night in a virtually non-stop exhibition of pure guitar madness.
DeServio, who was celebrating his birthday, became the recipient of a cake from Jamieson and crew members as he blew out the candles on stage. DeServio and Joey C., a wildman in his own right on the drums, were particularly impressive during finale “War Pigs.” That’s when Wylde left the stage again, this time using a security escort to visit the upper level of the Aztec, delighting fans up there. Wylde stood in the middle of the deck and riffed to his heart’s content before walking along the balcony railing and visiting those fans, security staff in hot pursuit. As Wylde eventually made his way out of the upper level, yours truly was the first to greet him in the hallway and received a sweaty fist-bump. Security continued to earn their keep as Wylde once again visited the center of the general-admission universe.
All told, the 15 to 20-minute solo had everyone fixated on Wylde to the point that some in attendance may not have realized DeServio and Joey C. never stopped playing throughout.
And with that, the Aztec Theatre was officially added to Zakk Sabbath’s San Antonio metal brotherhood chapter. And it was time for everyone to head home and hit the showers. Optional, however, for the man of the hour.
