Black Label Society

Black Label Society is a heavy metal ^{Heavy metal music} band formed by Zakk Wylde, with seven studio albums released to date.

 
Formation and Sonic Brew (1998 / 1999)

In the early 1990s, Wylde had formed his own solo band Pride & Glory ^{Pride and Glory (band)} , playing a mixture of bluesy southern rock with heavy metal ^{heavy metal music} . However, after one album, they disbanded in December 1994. Wylde subsequently recorded an acoustic solo album, Book of Shadows ^{Book of Shadows (album)} (released 1996). In May 1998, after limited commercial success with Book of Shadows, Wylde and drummer Phil Ondich recorded what became Black Label Society's debut album Sonic Brew. It was decided, rather than the album being another solo album for Wylde, that they would form a long-lasting band. It was known from the get-go that Nick Catanese would be retained as the second guitarist in the band (Catanese previously toured as rhythm guitarist for the Book Of Shadows tour). John DeServio, who previously worked with Wylde as a temporary replacement in Pride & Glory, joined as the band's bassist for the album's tour.

Sonic Brew was released in Japan on 28 October 1998. Due to delays in signing with a record label (Spitfire Records), the album was not released in the rest of the world until 4 May 1999.


Line-up changes and subsequent releases (1999 / 2007)

The band's second album Stronger Than Death followed in 2000, with DeServio being replaced by Steve Gibb. Craig Nunenmacher replaced Ondich in July 2000, with his debut recording with the band being the live album Alcohol Fueled Brewtality Live +5 ^{Alcohol Fueled Brewtality} . This was followed by 1919 Eternal in 2002. Steve Gibb was temporarily replaced by Mike Inez during the Ozzfest 2001 tour, and then Robert Trujillo took over bass duties for the band the next year.

In 2003, Trujillo joined Metallica, leaving the bass position in Black Label Society open, which left room for Inez to rejoin the band for a short 2 week tour, supporting the band's album The Blessed Hellride. James LoMenzo joined the band in 2004 after the release of Hangover Music Vol. VI, which was the band's last release for Spitfire Records.

On the first four studio albums, Wylde played every instrument except for the drums, including vocals, guitars, piano, and bass guitar. However, starting with 2004's Hangover Music Vol. VI, Wylde decided to let the band's bassist perform on the album (though uniquely, three bassists - Mike Inez, John DeServio, and James LoMenzo perform on this album, as the band had no permanent bassist at the time, though LoMenzo became a member of the band soon after), preferring a bassist's interaction and feel to the sound of himself, a guitarist playing bass. Nick Catanese has not, to date, played on any of the studio albums, but, as of 2006, Wylde allows him to perform some of the songs' guitar solos live while he is playing piano.

In 2005, after the band signed with Artemis Records, the album Mafia ^{Mafia (album)} was released. In October, LoMenzo left the band (and joined Megadeth a few months later) and was replaced by the band's original bassist, John DeServio. In 2006, the band left Artemis Records and signed to Roadrunner Records, releasing the album Shot to Hell.

In June 2007, Black Label Society parted ways with Roadrunner Records.


Forming side bands and future (2007 / present)

As of July 2007, members of Black Label Society J.D. DeServio and Nick Catanese both signaled the start of new bands as Zakk Wylde toured with Ozzy Osbourne. DeServio's band, Cycle of Pain (or C.O.P), has been shopping to major labels and is believed to have inked a deal. Catanese's band, Speed X, includes Mike Stone from Queensrÿche and is currently recording. However, according to DeServio at a guitar clinic/autograph signing in Huntington, NY, Black Label Society was set to begin recording a new album in the fall of 2008, though this never happened.

Black Label Society released a compilation album, entitled Skullage on April 21, 2009. The compilation was a CD/DVD set, including a best-of CD, and a DVD of live performances and music videos.

According to an update on Zakk Wylde's Twitter account, he suggests that a new album is expected to be released Spring/Summer 2010. He also announced the construction of a new home recording studio which is expected to be completed by late February 2010. The recording studio was built and designed by Zack Fagan of , a Studio City, CA based company that specializes in the design and installation of commercial and private studio environments.

According to almost all Black Label Society newsthreads, in early February 2010, drummer Craig "Louisiana Lightning" Nunenmacher had quit Black Label Society. Will Hunt, the drummer of Evanescence, will be the drummer for the upcoming album.;Current members
*Zakk Wylde - lead vocals, lead & rhythm guitars, piano (1998 / present)>
*Nick Catanese - rhythm guitar (1998 / present)>
*John DeServio - bass (1999, 2005 / present)>
*Will Hunt - drums (2010 / present) >

;Previous members
*Phil Ondich - drums (1998 / 2000)>
*Steve Gibb - bass (2000 / 2001)>
*Mike Inez - bass (1999, 2001, 2003)>
*Robert Trujillo - bass (2002)>
*James LoMenzo - bass (2004 / 2005)>
*Craig Nunenmacher - drums (2000-2010)>

;Guest members
* Christian Werr - drums on several tracks on 1919 Eternal
* Frey Theiler - bass on several Ozzfest 2001 concert dates, filling in for Mike Inez
* Ozzy Osbourne - vocals on "Stillborn ^{Stillborn (Black Label Society song)} ".
* Mike Piazza - Low vocals on Stronger Than Death
Studio albums

*Sonic Brew - (1999) - Spitfire Records
*Stronger Than Death - (2000) - Spitfire Records
*1919 Eternal - (2002) - Spitfire Records
*The Blessed Hellride - (2003) - Spitfire Records
*Hangover Music Vol. VI - (2004) - Spitfire Records
*Mafia ^{Mafia (album)} - (2005) - Artemis Records
*Shot to Hell - (2006) - Roadrunner Records


Live albums and compilations

*Alcohol Fueled Brewtality - (2001) - Spitfire Records
*Kings of Damnation 98-04 - (2005) - Spitfire Records
*Skullage - (2009) - Armoury Records


Extended plays

*No More Tears (E.P.) - (1999) - Spitfire Records


Singles



Source: Allmusic*Boozed, Broozed, and Broken-Boned (Live DVD) (2003)
*The European Invasion - Doom Troopin' Live (Live DVD) (2006)
*Skullage (DVD) (2009)* Actor Mark Wahlberg appears in the band's video for "Counterfeit God," as their bass player, because they did not have a bassist at the time. Coincidentally, Steve Gibb, who was hired as their bass player after the video was filmed, also appears in the video with skull face makeup and holding chains. They asked Wahlberg to appear in the video because Zakk and Nick were his fellow cast members for the movie Rock Star ^{Rock Star (film)} which was filming at the same time.
* On June 29, 2006, "Concrete Jungle", the first single from Shot to Hell was released online via Blabbermouth.net, which is owned by the band's then record label Roadrunner Records. The single's video, directed by , was released in early September 2006.
* The band's name was originally supposed to be "Hell's Kitchen," but the band were unable to secure the trademark, and the name Black Label Society was chosen, due to Zakk's fondness of Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch whisky. The artwork inside of Sonic Brew's CD booklet is laid out like a kitchen menu, and any instance of the word "kitchen" was changed to Society.
* Harpo's in Detroit ^{Detroit, Michigan} , Michigan was left completely dry during the filming of "Boozed, Broozed, & Broken Boned." It was the first time in the concert hall's history that all of the alcohol had been consumed.
* The song "Low Down" was used in the Playstation game Cool Boarders 2001.
* The original title for 1919 Eternal was Deathcore Warmachine Eternal. Wylde decided to change it because of the events on September 11.
* The song "Fire It Up", from the 2005 album Mafia ^{Mafia (album)} , was featured as a bonus song in the PlayStation 2 game Guitar Hero ^{Guitar Hero (2005 video game)} .
* In the studio version of "Stronger Than Death", during the second solo (the last one) Mike Piazza says "bitch" and laughs.
* In 2006, Black Label Society played live on the first ever episode of Wrestling Society X.
* There is an entire Aqua Teen Hunger Force episode with Wylde in it. He and Shake wrote a brand new song to replace the traditional Happy Birthday song. Wylde arrives at their house on a chariot with stallions painted white.
* Wylde makes an appearance in Guitar Hero: World Tour, challenging the player to a solo duel. If the player passes, Wylde performs "Stillborn" with the player as lead guitarist.