Zakk Wylde on Pantera, No More Tears and Berzerkus Fest

Zakk Wylde on Pantera, No More Tears and Berzerkus Fest

- By Matt Rushton

Zakk Wylde joins Joshua Toomey and Talk Toomey to discuss Berzerkus Fest and more. Zakk describes the Berzerkus Festival as a large-scale version of high school keg parties, bringing together friends and bands for a party.

He emphasizes reaching out to friends in various bands, including Cody Jinks, to participate. The festival features diverse activities like beer tasting, food trucks, a car show, and a battle of the bands. Zakk reflects on celebrating the legacy of Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul through Pantera's music, noting the emotional impact on fans and the importance of honoring past musicians. He shares his personal connections and experiences, expressing excitement for the festival and the camaraderie within the Pantera camp. Zakk speaks on learning Pantera songs on YouTube and how most of the time if he learns by ear, he will learn them more difficule than they really are. Zakk expresses admiration for Dimebag Darrell’s unique writing style and chord choices, comparing him to other greats like Jimi Hendrix and Randy Rhoads. They note the interesting and unconventional aspects of Dime's compositions, highlighting how his choices made the music distinctive. Zakk enjoys discovering the deeper nuances in Dime’s work, which puts him in the same league as other legendary guitarists. Zakk recalled his appearance on Aqua Teen Hunger Force, describing it as hilarious and the most ridiculous thing he had ever seen. He was asked to do a reading for the show, which he found hilarious despite not being very familiar with it beforehand. When discussing the riff from "No More Tears," Wylde credited its inspiration to Tony Iommi and detailed how it came together during rehearsals with bandmates contributing different parts. Reflecting on playing "in the round" on tour with Metallica and Pantera, he described the challenges of performing without stage monitors and adapting to various settings. Despite technical issues and the enormity of the shows, Wylde enjoyed the experience and emphasized the importance of entertaining the entire audience.
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