Bringing Metal to the Children by Zakk Wylde

Make no bones about it, this is a VERY different book to those that I normally review here! But the funny thing is, the content and all that it represents has gone a hell of a long way to making this blog, and ‘Portsmouth’s World War Two Heroes’ possible.

Zakk Wylde began playing guitar with Ozzy Osbourne in 1988, at the tender age of 19. He’s recorded 5 albums with ‘the Boss’, several solo albums, and an incredible 7 studio albums with his band Black Label Society. Not to mention live albums and DVD‘s. Suffice to say I’m a big Zakk fan – introduced to his playing by his work with the Ozzman, I quickly became a big fan of BLS. I’ve got some very happy memories of BLS related times. I was lucky enough to meet the man himself on their UK tour back in 2005.

This book, co-authored with Eric Hendrikx, is set out as a guide to world heavy metal domination. And it’s got an eminently suitable author as its a path that Zakk has trodden. Several times. To say that it’s a light-hearted look at heavy metal wound be an understatement- there is certainly something of Spinal Tap about it. Zakk sure has a lot of rock and roll stories, and he loves telling them. It’s almost impossible to know where to begin trying to sum up what’s inside. There’s plenty of swearing, and lots of shit, piss, ‘marital aids’, light-hearted questioning of bandmates sexuality and the like. Some of the touring tales had me in stitches – who the hell sets up a fishtank in the back of their tourbus, and casts baited hooks into it? How do you spend $30,000 dollars on booze in one month? And those are some of the TAMER stories.

One thing that has always really inspired me about Zakk is the way in which he quit drinking. Stories of his boozing are legendary – but anybody who drinks 15 bottles of Becks before lunchtime is going to hit a crossroads at some point. A few years ago Zakk checked into hospital with pains in his legs, and it was found that he had blood clots that had passed through his heart. Prescribed Warfarin, he quit drinking. No rehab, no excuses, no Thai meditation retreats, he just stopped. The funny thing, he did it in almost the same way that I did some years ago (no, readers, I was not an alcoholic!).

And that sums up the man, and his approach to life. One of his mottos is ‘Get it Fucking Done’. I couldn’t agree more. I get fed up with hearing excuses as to why something hasn’t been done, or people saying ‘I was I was…’ or I would love it if…’ – make it happen. If you’re trying and nothing’s happening, well you need to try harder. If you really want something bad enough – a record deal or, indeed, a publishing deal – work your arse off as if you will be sent to the burning depths of hell if it doesn’t happen. I try and write books the same way that Zakk records albums – write it, get it out there, and on to the next one.

So, all in all, not only a very entertaining read, but also with some very succint life lessons.

Related articles

• ZAKK WYLDE Says It “Would Be An Honour” To Play With A Reformed PANTERA (bravewords.com)
• Ozzy Osbourne Performs in Sweden With Geezer Butler + Zakk Wylde (loudwire.com)
• Phil Anselmo ‘Not Too Sold’ on Zakk Wylde Playing in Potential Pantera Reunion (loudwire.com)
• ZAKK WYLDE’s ‘Bringing Metal To The Children’ Book To Finally Arrive In April (roadrunnerrecords.com)
• Zakk Wylde Dishes on New Book, Upcoming Ozzy Osbourne Gigs + More (loudwire.com)

Youtube picks

Heres a few vidoes on youtube that I’ve been watching recently. Enjoy!

HMS Hermes returns from the Falklands

This is a pretty historic piece of footage. Not only does it show the Flagship of the Falklands Task Force returning to Portsmouth, my mum and dad were on one of the black and buff Navy tugs escorting her in! Presented by Michael Buerk and Brian Hanrahan, we see thousands of people gathered on the waterfront at Portsmouth, and there are interviews with Margaret Thatcher, and the Captain Lin Middleton. There are interviews with the crews families at the quayside.

The Somme: From Defeat to Victory

A pretty good documentary about the Battle of the Somme that I’ve just found. It’s refreshingly non ‘Janet and John’ style, which makes a nice change!

Royal Navy Sea Wolf Missile firing

I’ve been having a look at clips of missile firings on youtube, because it occured to me that I write about them a lot, but have never really seen what they look like in evidence! Heres a clip of a Sea Wolf missile firing from a Type 22 Frigate.

Black Label Society – Parade of the Dead (Live)

From the new album, Order of the Black. Zakk Wylde is back to his best!

Youtube picks

David Beckham visits troops in Afghanistan

Now, lots of harsh words are spoken about footballers – some of it true (yes you, Ashley Cole!) and some of it not so true. But David Beckham’s recent visit to Afghanistan showed what a true gent he is. He’s always struck me as more grounded than people seem to think, and he certainly comes across like that here.

Solidarity Poland 1981

This is a section of the BBC Documentary series The Cold War that looks at the Solidarity Movement in 1980′s Poland. It also focuses on Pope John Paul II and Lech Walesa. I can remember watching this in College for A-Level History. There has always been something tragic about Polish history that has fascinated me.

Black Label Society – In This River (Live)

I spent many years of my youth listening to this band. Zakk Wylde has to be the greatest heavy metal guitarist out there, and this is his tribute to Dimebag Darrell of Pantera, who was murdered onstage in 2005. Its a very emotional song and means a lot to me too.

Dimebag Darrell RIP

Dimebag Darrell, the guitarist with heavy metal band Pantera, was murdered on stage 5 years ago today. Maybe not a historical news item itself, but the story is similar to many others I have covered – good people should not die young.

Heres a video of perhaps Pantera’s best known song, Walk, and Zakk Wylde’s emotional tribute In this River.

Pantera – Walk

Black Label Society – In this River