Zakk Wylde has opened up about a pivotal moment in his career. He found himself caught between two legendary rock icons. In a recent interview, the guitarist reflected on mid-1990s jam sessions with Guns N’ Roses, revealing how Ozzy Osbourne’s impatience forced him to make a life-changing decision. This decision ultimately led to the formation of Black Label Society.
According to Wylde, the opportunity came when Guns N’ Roses was actively searching for another guitarist. “So, the guys were looking for another guitar player. I knew Slash, Duff [McKagan, bass], and Matt [Sorum, ex-GN’R drummer] at the time, and it was just like, ‘Let’s ask Zakk if he wants to jam with us,'” Wylde explained. Axl Rose personally called him up with an invitation to jam. Wylde eagerly accepted.
The sessions began casually, with the band exploring ideas together. “So, we were noodling on ideas and demoed a couple riffs over at Duff’s house, and then we’re all jamming. The guys are all great guys. They’re awesome,” Wylde recalled. However, what started as promising creative collaboration quickly became mired in uncertainty.
The turning point came when Ozzy Osbourne, who was preparing for a tour, demanded clarity about Wylde’s commitment. “Ozz was like, ‘Zakk, you playing with the fellas or you jamming with me? What are we doing? We’re getting ready to do the tour,'” Wylde recounted. The legendary metal vocalist wasn’t willing to wait indefinitely while Wylde explored his options with Guns N’ Roses.
Osbourne’s patience wore thin as the GNR situation remained unresolved. “Ozz was like, ‘Zakky, I gotta find another guy, because I can’t be sitting around wondering whether you’re jamming with the guys,'” Wylde said. The ultimatum forced Wylde’s hand. Osbourne ultimately hired Joe Holmes as his guitarist instead.
With both opportunities slipping away, Wylde found himself in creative limbo. “I wasn’t playing [anybody], everything was just sitting around. I was like, ‘I gotta do something.’ And then, right after that, that’s when Black Label was born. I got all these riffs sitting around. I said, ‘I’ll just sing on them myself.’ And that was it,” Wylde explained.
This moment of frustration became the catalyst for one of metal’s most enduring bands. What could have been a footnote in Guns N’ Roses history instead became the foundation for a legendary solo project.
