10 Greatest Guitarists From The '80s - The Guys Who Rewrote The Book

6. Zakk Wylde

Zakk Wylde only just made this list, not because of his technical ability but because his debut appearance with Ozzy came in 1988, right at the end of the '80s. He is one of three Ozzy axemeisters to appear on this list, and with some great names in the ranks before him he had some pretty big boots to fill, standing alongside the self-proclaimed 'Prince Of Darkness'.

Wylde has had an on-and-off relationship with Ozzy, but it seems like whenever Oz wants to get back to what he does best, he calls on the one person he can rely on to deliver the full-bore sonic assault that Wylde has made a trademark.

When not playing with Ozzy, Zakk fronts his own band, Black Label Society, with a sound not dissimilar from Oz, but a tad heavier. What Wylde has that is unique on this list, is the ability to sing! He can soar above a song or spit out lyrics with raw aggression, a great frontman in his own right. He also plays a mean piano - he may like to give the impression of being the 'berzerker biker', but underneath the guy's a sensitive dude - check out 'This River' for the proof.

Contributor

Lifelong music obsessive, regular contributor to US guitar magazines, sometime radio presenter, singer/guitarist in Star Studded Sham, true believer in the power of rock'n'roll and an amp turned up to 11, about to publish first novel, The Bulletproof Truth.