Zakk Wylde is a globally celebrated hard rock/heavy metal guitarist, songwriter, and producer. His professional reputation was established with between 1988 and 1995. Since then, he has led and recorded with the heavy metal band and released two largely acoustic, critically acclaimed solo albums. His original pentatonic, pinched blues shredding technique, deeply rooted in vintage Southern rock, 's influence, '70s hard rock, and classic metal have influenced a generation of guitarists. 's signature guitar is a Les Paul Custom painted with a bullseye. He calls it "The Grail. Zakk was born and raised in New Jersey. He began studying guitar at age eight but soon quit, practicing obsessively on his own. He didn't return to formal lessons until his mid-teens, then formed his first band, Stone Henge, in 1984, and played with several others along the Jersey Shore. In 1987, sent a demo tape. He was hired after a single audition. The guitarist made his recorded debut a year later on No Rest for the Wicked. The album went double platinum. He remained with through 1995's Ozzmosis (that also featured bassist ). A year earlier, had formed the power trio . After releasing a self-titled album in 1995, the group disbanded, and (after considering membership in ) mounted a solo career with the release of the now-classic, acoustically based Book of Shadows in 1996.
