Zakk Wylde grew up in Jackson, New Jersey and started playing the guitar aged 14. He went to Jackson Memorial High School, where he graduated in 1985. He has stated that he would practice guitar as much as 12 hours a day and would often play almost non-stop between coming home from school and going to school the next morning!
Zakk played locally with his first band, 'Stone Henge', then later with local Jersey band 'Zyris'. He was taught by neo classical guitarist Sean Roche for some years until unknown 19 year-old Wylde landed the coveted role as lead guitarist and co-writer for Ozzy Osbourne. He sent Ozzy a demo tape in 1987 and was hired to replace Jake E. Lee who had replaced the late Randy Rhoads, Ozzy's guitarist after leaving Black Sabbath.
Equipment
Zakk is famous for his Gibson Les Paul Custom model guitars with the 'bulls-eye' graphic on them, a design he used to deliberately differentiate himself visually from Randy Rhoads, who was also frequently identified by his white Les Paul Custom. Interestingly, one of Wylde's favorite stage guitars of late is a replica of Rhoads' Flying V. The 'bulls-eye' black and antique white paint job was originally supposed to look like the spiral from the movie Vertigo, but when it came back from the spray shop done incorrectly, he liked it so much he stuck with it.
This infamous bullseye-painted Gibson Les Paul Custom has become known as 'The Grail'. The guitar became lost for some time when it fell from the back of a truck transporting equipment as he was travelling between gigs in Texas. Rewards were offered to anyone that had information about the guitar. Wylde and 'The Grail' were reunited years later when a fan bought it at a Dallas pawn shop and saw the initials 'Z.W.' carved into the back of the pickups.
Wylde's signature Les Pauls include a red flame-maple bulls-eye model, a black and antique-white bulls-eye model, an orange 'buzz-saw' model, the pattern on which was inspired by a design on a Zippo lighter, and a 'camo' bulls-eye model with mother of pearl neck inlays and a green camouflage paint scheme.
Now, the Five-Time Most Valuable Metal Guitarist of all time has joined Epiphone to produce the Zakk Wylde ZV Custom.
Zakk's take no prisoners attitude extends to his quest for tone too. When he wanted to develop his signature overdrive pedal, he turned to Dunlop. The result is the Zakk Wylde Overdrive and the Zakk Wylde Signature Wah.
Available from Digital Village online, in-store or via telephone mail-order, contact any DV store for signature guitars and pedals from Zakk Wylde