BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's ZAKK WYLDE: 'When You're Thinkin', You're Stinkin''

June 15, 2005

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY mainman Zakk Wylde recently spoke to ChartAttack.com about his songwriting approach and the group's latest album, "Mafia", available now on Artemis Records. Several excerpts from the interview follow:

On his recording approach:

"Making music shouldn't be like a dentist visit. I don't know why the hell it takes [some bands] eight months to make a record. If you're in the studio that long, you start second-guessing everything. Lay it down and move on.

"With this album ['Mafia'] we didn't have anything. We just walked into the studio ready to go. Eight days later I wrote 23 songs and we recorded the music. Then when it came time for the lyrics, I told the guys to go watch 'Seinfeld' and have some beers while I record the damned thing. It's like that with my guitar solos too. People think because I'm a guitar player, I just wanna wail away, but that's not the case. Guitar solos are icing on the cake, but you gotta have a cake, man."

On his past recorded outut:

"I'm proud of every one of my songs. Each album is a snapshot in time. That was the best job I could do at that time. Listen to LED ZEPPELIN. Jimmy Page's favourite album was 'Presence', their least-selling album. It depends on your mood. Like drinkin' beer. 'What's your favourite beer?' Hell, any of ‘em as long as it's not non-alcoholic!"

On the band's live shows:

"When you're thinkin', you're stinkin'. I realized that if we do our albums in this loose vibe, the show should have it too. You gotta just get out there and do it. The joy of improvisation is the thrill of what's going to happen. If you want to see a live band, see what may happen. Otherwise stay home and listen to the record. But when it works for us, it's fuckin' brutal! Playing with great musicians, you don't hear each other, you feel each other. That's what it should always be when you're listening to great music: you just feel it."

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