FAR BEYOND DRIVEN

THE INIMITABLE ZAKK WYLDE DISCUSSES HIS THOUGHTS, HIS APPROACH AND HIS GEAR AS HE HONORS HIS MUCH-MISSED FRIEND WITH REVERENCE AND RESPECT

- Nick Bowcott

ZAKK WYLDE IS not only one of the finest metal guitarists to ever grace this planet; he's always been an open book when it comes to expressing his deep love, plus his profound reverence and respect for his dear friend, the late Dimebag Darrell. Yes sir, Zakk literally wears his heart on his sleeve. Which is why every Black Label Society show since 2005 has featured "In This River" the emotion-laden ballad Zakk wrote for Dime- complete with large, backline-covering images of his beloved friend. And, ever since Darrell's brother, Vinnie Paul, sadly passed away in 2018, his picture also graces the BLS set during said song. "Those are our buddies, man," Zakk says in an unusually soft but searingly sincere tone. "That song and their images will never, ever leave the Black Label set."

The heartfelt words Wylde wrote in his popular Guitar World column, "Brewtality," in early 2005 sum up his feelings for Darrell as a player and a person. "In my mind Dime was, without question, the best metal guitarist in the world - you've got Jimi Hendrix, you've got Eddie Van Halen, you've got Jimmy Page, you've got Randy Rhoads, you've got Tony Iommi, and you've got Dimebag Darrell. He belongs in those hallowed ranks without any shadow of a doubt.