Justin Donnelly of Australia's The Metal Forge webzine recently conducted an interview with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY). A few excerpts from the chat follow:

On the new BLACK LABEL SOCIETY album, "Shot to Hell":

"As always, there's going to be some mellow stuff on it, along with the heavy stuff. My whole thing is like this — you could ask me which album is my favourite LED ZEPPELIN or BLACK SABBATH album, and the only way I can answer that is to say that I love them all. It just depends on what mood I'm in. If we're on a road trip, and we don't want to hear 'Led Zeppelin IV' any more, we'll put on'Physical Graffiti', 'Presence' or something that we haven't heard in a while. If we don't want to hear 'Iron Man' or 'Paranoid' any more, we'll put on 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' or 'Sabotage'. It's like THE ROLLING STONES, who are on the radio right now. Whatever comes out from the STONES these days, I'll buy it. Obviously you have the classic STONES, and then you have the new STONES. But it's always the STONES. It's all good in my mind. The way I always look at it, if you say your latest album is the best thing you have ever done, then you're only discrediting all the other albums that you've recorded in the past. I think BLACK LABEL SOCIETY albums work in much the same way. They're all different in some way, but you also know what you're getting yourself in for."

On working with producer Michael Beinhorn on "Shot to Hell":

"The last time I worked with Beinhorn was when I working with OZZY OSBOURNE on the 'Ozzmosis' album back in 1996. That was years ago man. And before that, the last time I saw Beinhorn was on my thirtieth birthday, which was nine years ago. But working with Beinhorn was great. He's a BLACK LABEL brother, and I love him to death. Beinhorn would just come down and ask me if I needed him on the day. More often than not, I said no. When you know where the fuck you're going, you don't need to ask for directions, right? Trust me, its like telling Jimmy Page to get a producer. If I want a producer, I'll get Beinhorn down here. I don't need to be babysat by a show-off! (Laughs) Making this album was exactly the same as when we were making 'Ozzmosis'. We had a great time. His job was more about helping me get the tones on the guitar. Beinhorn's not going to tell me how to write the songs. You don't tell anybody how to write songs. It's the same as if I was producing something for a band. I might be there for advice, or for my experience, but I certainly wouldn't be there to tell them how to write a fucking song! (Laughs)"

On the current status of the new OZZY OSBOURNE studio album:

"We have, like, twenty songs completed man, and I had everything to do with this album, including all the riffs and the mellow shit. I mean everything. That's the way it should be done. Not like last time around! (2001's 'Down To Earth', where Wylde was simply a session guitarist, with no songwriting contributions towards the album) My track record speaks for itself. Between 'No Rest For The Wicked' (1988) and 'No More Tears' (1992), I think it's fucking safe to say at this point that I know what the fuck I'm doing. I care about Osbourne. I mean, he's the godfather of my son. I just didn't want to see another situation like last time around where there were all these cock-sucking clowns who haven't written a fucking song for anybody coming around to the studio passing Ozzy songs. They're just a bunch of fucking bullshit artists, and it really pissed me the fuck off. They just want to get their head inside Ozzy's ass. I saw that coming, and I ain't got time for that bullshit this time. I see it all the time. They don't bleed this shit, and that's the reason why I care. Once you get the money involved, all they want is to get their grubby fucking paws all over it all. The bottom line is my job is to protect him. So while I have a bit of time up my sleeves before these upcoming rehearsals, I'm going to be working with Osbourne. I'll be there just to help him out on the melodies and all that stuff. Osbourne has got to get this album done. The music is done right now, it's just a matter of the boss singing his balls off, and then it's all good to go. The plan is to have the album released in February next year. By that time, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY will already be touring with the 'Shot to Hell' album. So Ozzy will be headlining, with BLACK LABEL supporting, with an opening act supporting the two of us."

Read the entire interview at www.themetalforge.com.