Thursday night for Guitar World’s Rock & Roll Roast of legendary guitarist Zakk Wylde. The 45-year-old is best known as the former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and as founding member of metal outfit Black Label Society.
With the annual NAMM convention in town this week, several other recognizable faces from the genre mingled with the VIP crowd pre-show, including members of Judas Priest, Quiet Riot, Deep Purple, Slayer, Metallica, Five Finger Death Punch and Megadeth. The roasters – including WWE wrestler and Fozzy vocalist Chris Jericho, Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan, Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor and comics Brian Posehn, Jim Norton and Jim Florentine – all walked the red carpet and shared stories about what Wylde means to them.
Click here to see a photo slide show of all of the stars at the Rock & Roll Roast of Zakk Wylde.
“Zakk’s a Viking,” Anthrax guitarist and longtime friend Scott Ian pointed out. “Come on, if anyone’s got a thick skin, it’s him. He’s worked with Sharon Osbourne for over 20 years. There’s nothing we’re going to say tonight that’s going to hurt him.”
The man of the hour also walked the carpet, his giant frame towering over just about everybody. He shook hands, gave out hugs, kissed ladies on the cheek and smiled and laughed through all of his interviews.
“I’m just shocked,” he says of why his friends would want to roast him. “I’m a good Catholic boy, so I have no idea what they could possibly say bad about me because I’m a nice person.”
