Black Label Society

Black Label Society

Black Label Society is a heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, United States in 1998 by Zakk Wylde, the former Ozzy Osbourne and Pride & Glory guitarist. The group remains active and is centred on Wylde, who records the guitar parts on the band’s albums.

Line-up and related projects

The band’s line-up includes bassist John "JD" Deservio, drummer Jeff Fabb and rhythm guitarist Dario Lorina. Earlier members include Phil Ondich, Nick Catanese, Craig Nunenmacher, James LoMenzo, Chad Szeliga, and other bassists and drummers have also passed through the group. Phil Ondich forms the band with Wylde, and Nick Catanese is Wylde’s touring rhythm guitarist from the Book of Shadows period.

Style and background

Black Label Society works within heavy metal, hard rock, groove metal, rock and acoustic rock. The band develops out of Wylde’s earlier projects, including Pride & Glory, which mixes southern rock and heavy metal, and his acoustic solo album Book of Shadows. It is distinct from Wylde’s solo work and from Pride & Glory.

Recordings and notable songs

The band’s debut album is Sonic Brew. It has released ten albums in total, eight of them studio albums. Among its songs, "Fire It Up" appears as a bonus track in the PlayStation 2 game Guitar Hero, while "Stillborn" appears in Guitar Hero: World Tour, which also includes an avatar of Zakk Wylde.

History

After Ozzy Osbourne’s retirement following the No More Tears tour, Wylde forms Pride & Glory. When Osbourne returns to recording with Ozzmosis, Wylde is also offered the open guitar position in Guns N' Roses, but neither that opportunity nor the other project leads to a lasting result. After the limited commercial success of Book of Shadows, Wylde and Phil Ondich start Black Label Society and record Sonic Brew. Craig Nunenmacher later joins on drums from 1919 Eternal onward.