Black Label Society Biography

Black Label Society is a heavy metal band formed by Zakk Wylde, with 8 albums released to date. The first, Sonic Brew, was released in 1999. The band's latest studio album "Shot To Hell" was released on the 11th (UK) and 12th (US) of September 2006, the first release under Roadrunner Records, and was produced by Michael Beinhorn (Soundgarden, Ozzy Osbourne, Red Hot Chili Peppers).

In 1992, Ozzy retired after the No More Tears tour, which left Zakk to form his own solo band Pride & Glory, blending potent bluesy southern rock with heavy metal. In 1994 Ozzy decided to come out of retirement, and the numerous recording sessions for Ozzmosis took place. Around this time, Zakk was also offered the open guitar slot in Guns N' Roses and had a hard time deciding whether to tour with Ozzy or join Guns N' Roses. Neither project panned out. This gave Wylde the opportunity to record his own acoustic solo album, "Book of Shadows." After limited commercial success with Book Of Shadows, in 1998, Zakk and drummer Phil Ondich formed Black Label Society and recorded their debut album "Sonic Brew." Nick Catanese has been Zakk's rhythm guitarist since the Book Of Shadows tour. Craig Nunenmacher has been drumming since 1919 Eternal (2001) following Phil's departure.

Black Label Society headlined the second stage at this year's Ozzfest (US). Tickets for fall dates in the US have gone on sale, and the band will tour Australia, New Zealand and the UK in late 2006 and early 2007.

The song "Fire It Up", from the 2005 album Mafia, featured as a bonus song in the PlayStation 2 game Guitar Hero.

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 new record label Roadrunner Records. The single's music video, directed by Aggressive, was released in early September 2006.