ZAKK WYLDE Gets Doctor's 'Green Light' To Perform In NYC

Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE) has gotten a "green light" from his doctor to take part in the Halloween (October 31) BLACK LABEL SOCIETY performance in Times Square (New York City) to promote his new limited-edition Epiphone Graveyard Disciple guitar. Zakk has also scheduled an in-store midnight signing session on October 30 at Sam Ash in New York City to unveil the guitar.

As the lead guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and founding leader of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, Zakk Wylde has torched many a stage. And like Zakk, his new limited-edition Epiphone Graveyard Disciple will also make a big impression.

Designed by Wylde in cooperation with Epiphone, the new Graveyard Disciple combines killer sound with equally killer looks. Shaped like a coffin, the edges of the body are tapered and 'pin-striped' in silver, giving it a striking visual appearance and depth while providing for a comfortable feel. Pick one up on stage and you will raise the dead!

While looks are important, the new Graveyard Disciple doesn't compromise in the performance department. As with most all Zakk's guitars, the neck is made of hard maple for bright attack and glued into a solid mahogany body adding a touch of warmth and, of course, sustain.

The neck features a "D" profile, SlimTaper neck with a smooth, satin finish for fast and effortless lead work. Top it off with a bound, ebony fingerboard and medium-jumbo frets with easy access to all 22 frets and you've got a real performance guitar that's dying to be played.

Features include an original Floyd Rose tremolo and two EMG pickups (an EMG HZ-4A in the bridge and a EMG HZ-4 in the neck).

Added features include a multi-bound headstock with mother-of-pearl "cross" inlay, black hardware with premium 16:1 ratio Grover machine heads, mother-of-pearl topped metal knobs, Epiphone's non-rotating output jack and Zakk's signature silhouette on the back of the headstock.

With a guitar like this, you need to carry it in style and so it comes with a custom-made Coffin case featuring the Graveyard Disciple artwork. And for this limited-edition model, you also get a Certificate of Authenticity.

The suggested price for the Ephiphone Zakk Wylde Graveyard Disciple is $1,499.00 U.S.

Zakk Wylde's wife Barbaranne revealed in a recent online posting that Wylde is suffering from "a rare genetic clotting disorder" for which he is currently receiving treatment in California.

Zakk stated in a recent Twitter message that he "was given a CT scan where they found three clots. I was then told each one of the clots passed through my heart. . . My left leg has a clot above the side and behind my knee, my calf and running into my heel. My right leg has a clot in between my calf and ankle." Wylde also indicated that he has to get himself to a hospital emergency room "every 48 hours" to check his blood. He added that he is unable to sing at the moment "because pushing can cause an embolism."

An embolism occurs when an object migrates from one part of the body (through circulation) and causes a blockage (occlusion) of a blood vessel in another part of the body.

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY was forced to drop off the "Pedal To The Metal Tour" due to Zakk's condition. The rest of the bands on the trek — MUDVAYNE, STATIC-X, SUICIDE SILENCE and BURY YOUR DEAD — carried on with the remaining dates on the tour after BLS's departure.