BLACK LABEL SOCIETY was originally supposed to be titled HELL’S KITCHEN when the band first formed in 1998, so it’s no surprise that former OZZY guitarist Zakk Wylde was going to be cooking with some major heat in his quest to slap the much despised nu metal music scene upside its head with an ass kicking concoction of alcohol fueled hard rock and one no nonsense “Pedal To The Metal” attitude.
The riffs with BLS are always hellafied heavy with Wylde’s trademark roaring vocals that come off true grit, and are punctuated by his insane guitar solos nailed to a near machine-like lockdown with his rhythm section. Zakk sings on the hellion “Concrete Jungle”, off the Shot To Hell album in 2006: “The freaks in the streets, the nuns with the shotguns, the graves by your side, survival of the fittest, and there ain’t no pity, no one gets out alive.”
Let’s face it, Den Headz, with or without OZZY, Mr. Wylde and company are still gonna
rip your face off.
The Metal Den’s Randy “Rocket” Cody recently conducted an interview with
bassist John DeServio Of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY for his loyal army
of Den Headz worldwide.
Rocket: Where were you born and raised?
John: Cliffwood beach, New Jersey.
Rocket: Do you come from a big family, John?
John: Yes. I have three brothers and one sister.
Rocket: What bands first drew you to rock n roll music?
John: The Doors, Jethro Tull and Kiss.
Rocket: Do you recall your first rock concert?
John: Yep, Bob Seger. I saw him in 1980 at the Nassau Coliseum.
Rocket: When exactly did you first start playing the bass guitar?
John: Sixth grade. I was eleven years old.
Rocket: Did you ever take any formal bass playing lessons?
John: I took music theory in high school and then I went to Berklee College of Music.
Rocket: Who are some of your biggest playing influences of past and present?
John: Gene Simmons is the reason I play bass. Steve Harris was my first huge influence as well as Geezer (Butler), then came Jaco (Pastorius) and James Jamerson.
Rocket: Awesome. What kind of basses are you currently playing live and in the studio?
John: Schecter studio model.
Rocket: Those guys make great basses.
John: My signature bass is coming out in January.
Rocket: What kind of amp rigs?
John: Hartke Hydrive.
Rocket: What’s your opinion of playing the bass with your fingers versus using a pick?
John: Depends on what sound you’re looking for. Fingers are more personal!
Rocket: I have always felt playing bass with fingers was way better for tone too, although, yeah, if you need to play really fast stuff you’re gonna need a pick. How did you get the gig playing with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY?
John: I grew up with Zakk and nobody else wanted to!! LOL
Rocket: What’s the biggest misconception you think people have about Zakk Wylde?
John: That he’s mean!! He’s the sweetest guy I know!!!
Rocket: Is BLS working on writing tunes for a new album yet?
John: We’ll start recording in January.
Rocket: Awesome. You have a new project going with CYCLE OF PAIN as well. What’s going on with that?
John: We been on tour with BLS and SHINEDOWN. We’re gonna do some local gigs and try and get on another tour.
Rocket: What is your opinion of how ‘free downloading’ has drastically affected record sales in the 21st century?
John: It blows.
Rocket: I like to have fun with this next one. What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened
to you while performing on the stage?
John: Nothin really. My pants broke and my tech had to tape my pants up!! That’s about it!
Rocket: What are some of your favorite heavy metal albums released in 2009 so far?
John: Alice’s record rules.
Rocket: What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out on his or her
instrument for the first time with dreams of living the rock n roll dream?
John: Get ready to sacrifice your life for the journey!
Rocket: Where do you see yourself in ten years from now?
John: I never look that far ahead. Hopefully above ground somewhere!
Rocket: Ha! Thanks for rocking this out with me. Go ahead and give thanks out to any
of your biggest supporters.
John: Zakk, my family and my band and God of course!!!
http://www.myspace.com/johnjddeservio
http://www.myspace.com/blacklabelsociety
Great interview, Rocket!!! When will you do one with Zakk?