BLACK LABEL SOCIETY (1999–PRESENT). Zakk Wylde aka Jeffrey Phillip Wielandt (vocals, guitar, bass, piano), Nick “Evil Twin” Cantanese (guitar), Steve “S.O.B.” Gibb (bass, replaced by Mike Inez, replaced by Robert Trujillo, replaced by James LoMenzo, replaced by John “JD” DeServio), Phil “Philth” Ondich (drums, replaced by Craig Nunenmacher).

Black Label Society is the brainchild of ace guitarist (and buddy of catcher Mike Piazza) Zakk Wylde. The band started in 1999 after Wylde left Ozzy Osbourne’s band and started out on his own. After several failed solo records, Wilde tried again, essentially still solo, but with drummer Phil Ondich, and Wylde on guitar, drums, and bass as well as lead vocals. Black Label Society differed from Wylde’s solo career by being less country-tinged and more balls to the walls metal. Wylde has also subsequently made up with Ozzy and has played on Ozzfest, as well as a tour in Japan.

Wylde also appeared in the Mark Wahlberg film Rock Star as a guitarist for the fictional band Steel Dragon based on Judas Priest. To many, Wylde is one of the definitive metal guitarists and part of a new generation of shredders. The acoustic Hangover Music record is just bizarre, but the others are worth buying for students of serious fretwork.

Discography: Sonic Brew (Spitfire, 1999); Stronger Than Death (Spitfire, 2000); Alcohol Fueled Brewtality Live! (Spitfire, 2001); 1919 Eternal (Spitfire, 2002); Blessed Hellride (Spitfire, 2003); Hangover Music, Vol. 6 (Spitfire, 2004); Kings of Damnation (Spitfire, 2005); Mafia (Artemis, 2005); Shot to Hell (Roadrunner, 2006).