Jeff Wiedlandt, better known as Zakk Wylde is the lead guitarist in Ozzy Osbourne's band. He also plays lead in his own band, Black Label Society, who are typically part of Ozzy's Ozzfest tour, and has been featured on the debut album for Damageplan, as well as Derek Sherinan's album "Black Utopia" alongside Yngwie Malmsteen. He was a good friend of the deceased Dimebag Darrell and they even exchanged guitars. Dimebag had given Zakk a guitar with the same body as his but with the trademark bullseye design on it. After Dimebag's death, Wylde dedicated the song "In This River" to him. Wylde's film credits include Rock Star and the concert DVD Boozed, Broozed, and Broken Boned.
Zakk became a well-known guitarist after becoming lead guitarist and co-writer for Ozzy Osbourne. He sent Ozzy a demo tape in 1987 and was hired to replace the departed Jake E. Lee. Jake replaced the deceased Randy Rhoads, an idol of Zakk's. Wylde was hired at the age of 20 after only one audition. He first appeared in No Rest for the Wicked in 1989 with Ozzy Osbourne. In addition to Black Label Society, Zakk has been part of a Southern style blues band "Pride & Glory" that released one self titled album before disbanding.He has also released a solo project entitled "Book of Shadows" that contained a much different style of music than he had been accustomed to producing in the past.
Zakk Wylde's guitar-playing style is usually characterized by his use of pinch harmonics (often confused with Artificial Harmonics), and his guitar soloing technique is usually characterized by his use of the minor pentatonic scale, playing rapid box-pattern licks using strict alternate-picking, creating a very distinctive, choppy attack, compared to the more fluid playing styles of other rock guitarists. Another notable feature of Zakk's playing is his liberal use of "chicken pickin'", a technique which is usually associated with country music, and which is (comparatively) rarely seen in metal.
It is probable that he picked up this technique from Albert Lee, one of his influences. He is known for his use of Gibson Les Paul Custom model guitars with a unique "bulls-eye" graphic on them, a design he used to deliberately differentiate himself visually (despite having a similar hairdo) from Randy Rhoads - who was also frequently identified by his white Les Paul Custom.(Ironically, one of Zakk's favorite stage guitars of late is a replica of Rhoads' Flying V.) Gibson has released production models of Zakk's unique guitars, a testament to his commercial success and influence. Wylde has also appeared as a guest star on the TV show Aqua Teen Hunger Force. He has stated he hates the band Limp Bizkit and especially their frontman, Fred Durst. Wylde is also believed to be politically conservative, and shares beliefs with the Republican Party.