Is it just me, or is Zakk Wylde really overrated?

[88keys]

Everytime there is a discussion about great guitar players and somebody mentions Zakk Wylde, it just pisses me off to no end. Does every other note really need to be a pinch harmonic? When I hear people do that shit, I always feel like they're just covering up sloppy guitar work by making it sound even sloppier.

Ozzy should have stuck with Jake E Lee IMO.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

You can find plenty of people that share your sentiment, especially on any music-centric forum (sans the inevitable Zakk Wylde fanclub forum that exists somewhere on the internet).

 

[Agent11]

In my estimation, yes.

He seems like a bit of an ass too.

 

[88keys]

You can find plenty of people that share your sentiment, especially on any music-centric forum (sans the inevitable Zakk Wylde fanclub forum that exists somewhere on the internet).

I've always suspected that Zakk Wylde is the Nickelback of Guitar Gurus.

I was just listening to some live Ozzy albums with a friend and I was hearing Zakk Wylde just butcher some of Randy Rhodes' songs to the point that they were nearly unrecognizable.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

He's obviously not THAT overrated or I would have already heard of him.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

He's good, but I don't judge him on his Ozzie Work. His riff's and song writing for Black Label Society are great.

His style really doesn't mesh with Ozzy's previous work so I can see why people don't like Zakk Wylde's writing.

He's an ass in that he's a funny guy. The few times I've met him after shows he's really nice. Always will to take pictures with people, and just hang.

 

[beachchica]

I don't care if he's old enough to be my dad... I'd let him tag me.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

I don't care if he's old enough to be my dad... I'd let him tag me.

Very noble. When I played the game as a kid, it was usually my dad that would let me tag him.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Very noble. When I played the game as a kid, it was usually my dad that would let me tag him.

I really, really hope to god that "tag" in this context doesn't mean what you think it means.

 

[beachchica]

I really, really hope to god that "tag" in this context doesn't mean what you think it means.

Me too. Yikes.

 

[CurseTheSky]

He's good, but it's not my choice of style. I prefer riffs and "solos" that blend in with the rest of the song, not dominate it. The guitar work should tell part of the story too, not rub your face in some tangent off to the left.

Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddWbfgzKtpU. Listen from roughly 4:24 to 6:20.

 

[leper84]

Everytime there is a discussion about great guitar players and somebody mentions Zakk Wylde, it just pisses me off to no end. Does every other note really need to be a pinch harmonic? When I hear people do that shit, I always feel like they're just covering up sloppy guitar work by making it sound even sloppier.

Ozzy should have stuck with Jake E Lee IMO.

Style ≠ talent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoB82C0cqdA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ4kb1NIE3A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7RsfZPwAis

Dude can shred and is a damn good song writer. Personally even if I don't enjoy listening to something I can still appreciate when there is honest talent involved.

You can find plenty of people that share your sentiment, especially on any music-centric forum (sans the inevitable Zakk Wylde fanclub forum that exists somewhere on the internet).

Seems to me most of the hate surrounds around the fact that he sticks to pentatonic scales or his 'biker' getup? Trust me I'll enjoy some Symphony X or DT as much as anyone but I guess I'm not elitist enough to stop from enjoying BLS.

In my estimation, yes.

He seems like a bit of an ass too.

Yep, hes a regular douchebag

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4stTWBLW_UI

 

[Mixolydian]

Who?

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Seems to me most of the hate surrounds around the fact that he sticks to pentatonic scales or his 'biker' getup? Trust me I'll enjoy some Symphony X or DT as much as anyone but I guess I'm not elitist enough to stop from enjoying BLS.

Probably. I don't listen to BLS, but I do like that Pride & Glory side-project and overall don't feel strongly enough either way to hate him. Regardless of the reason why, however, plenty of people do piss on him, contrary to the sentiment of the op. It's too easy for people to see the Southern themes and link a video of him playing the Star-Spangled Banner and go "lol he sucks".

 

[twinrider1]

Everytime there is a discussion about great guitar players and somebody mentions Zakk Wylde....

Stay out of Harmony Central and that will stop happening.

I like him well enough. He does go overboard with the pinch harmonics though. Great? Good enough, but not in the same neighborhood as people like DiMartini, Vito Bratta, Sykes, etc.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

I really, really hope to god that "tag" in this context doesn't mean what you think it means.

Oh, she was talking about spraying paint?

 

[DigDog]

nice guy actually, but yes, overrated.

(still better than me on guitar though)