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12-06-05

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY guitarist Nick Catanese recently spoke to Glam-Metal.com writer Deb Rao about the one-year anniversary of the death his close friend "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott. In this special tribute to Dimebag, Catanese remembers the first time he met Dime, the special BLACK LABEL SOCIETY Dimebag tribute that they performed on the "Mafia" tour, and how Dime's family is surviving through this terribile tragedy:

Glam-Metal.com: Nick, December 8 will mark the first anniversary of your brother Dimebag Darrell Abbott's tragic death. What was your reaction when you first heard the news?

Nick: "I know I was simply in shock when I turned on the TV that day and saw the news. It was was such a tragedy. I was in denial, then it hit home and I had all the emotions, crying, mad, asking 'Why him?' It just plain out sucks."

Glam-Metal.com: When did you first meet Dime? Do you have any special memories that you would like to share with us?

Nick: "I met him during the CROWBAR tour with us. He came out and hung. My best memory I have of Dime is the last time i saw him was when we opened for JUDAS PRIEST. Dime and Rita [Dimebag's longtime girlfriend] came out and we had a blast. After the show he put arm around me and complimented the show and said, 'Man, I watch you up there playin note for note with the boss. Don't you EVER quit and mark my words you will be one of the best.' That about had me in tears. Here is one of my idols telling me something like that. That was just the kinda person Dime was. Such a giving and caring person."

Glam-Metal.com: I know Dime loved BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. Did you ever perform live with him on stage together?

Nick: "No never did, but he watched us a bunch. That was always awesome for me, to have Zakk on one side and Dime there too."

Glam-Metal.com: What was it like playing in Texas at Ozzfest this summer? Did you receive one of Dime's special guitars? It must be a honor to play his guitar. You are keeping his memory alive every night when you perform.

Nick: "I got a guitar that was made for Dime by Washburn. It's one of one there will never be another one made, my black-and-red confederate. He would have had that. But I donated one of my ET guitars to the Dime Foundation and Washburn and Boogiestreet gave me that. And it is an honor playing it."

Glam-Metal.com: The BLACK LABEL "Mafia" tour had a special segment every night when BLACK LABEL SOCIETY would perform "In This River". What was it like playing lead while Zakk performed the song on the piano. The energy of the room was so intense in Boston. Everyone chanting Dime for twenty mintues. Was the response like that at every show? It was simply amazing, the love that the band and audience showed at all of the New England shows for Dime.

Nick: "Well, I guess by 'lead' you mean being the only guitarist onstage. I'm used to it. I wouldn't solo though, that's Zakk's area. And the Dimebag chants are always great. It doesn't matter where we are, they always happen. Dime is and always will be around."

Glam-Metal.com: Now Dime had such a big heart. How did he help get you your first Washburn signature guitar endorsement? How did Dime break the news to you? You must have been so excited?

Nick: "Dime helped. He gave his word, I guess, about me and my playing. I remember him calling and saying, 'Hey, Twin!! Welcome to the Washburn family.'"

Glam-Metal.com: Will BLACK LABEL SOCIETY be performing a special tribute show for Dime this week? Is there a special memorial planned? How is his family holding up?

Nick: "No, we won't be doing any shows. And everytime I see Rita, she is a ball of sunshine, just like Dime. I've seen Vinnie a few times. You can still see the pain in him. I can't even imagine what he is going and went through. December 8 will never be the same for anyone of us, let alone Vinnie or Rita."

Glam-Metal.com: Thank you so much for doing this special interview and Dimebag tribute with me for Glam-Metal. Our prayers and thoughts go out to you, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, and Dimebag's family. Dimebag memory will live on forever through his BLACK LABEL brothers.

Nick: "Every night we know he is watchin', doin' some double doubles, and blowing it up at gods tavern, as Zakk says, wearing his colors, his BLS hat and just throwin' down the way Dime only knew how. GETCHA PULL."

A special Dimebag Darrell Abbott tribute will be posted at Glam-Metal.com soon.

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12-05-05

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY/OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Zakk Wylde will be inducted into Guitar Center's Hollywood's RockWalk, located at 7425 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, CA, on Tuesday, January 27, 2006 at noon. This event is FREE and open to the public.

Wylde has played a significant role in the solo career of BLACK SABBATH frontman Ozzy Osbourne, who handpicked Wylde in 1987 at the age of 19 to be his new axe slinger. In addition to his responsibilities as Ozzy's guitarist, Wylde was responsible for co-writing many of Ozzy's best-selling multi-platinum albums, including "No Rest for the Wicked", "No More Tears" and "Ozzmosis". In 1998, Wylde formed his own band, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, while still maintaining his role as Osbourne's lead guitarist. To date, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY has released six albums and has sold in excess of one million units worldwide. Wylde's musical mastery has spawned numerous instrument product endorsements. His signature products include four custom Gibson guitars, a custom Epiphone guitar, a limited-run Marshall amplifier, EMG Picks-Ups, GHS Strings and Dunlop Pedals. Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne, Jim Ladd and more celebrity guests to be announced will be in attendance to congratulate Zakk as he is inducted into Hollywood's RockWalk.

Hollywood's RockWalk is the only sidewalk gallery dedicated to honoring those artists who have made a significant impact and lasting contribution to the growth and evolution rock 'n' roll, blues and R&B. Zakk Wylde's handprints and signatures will reside alongside other equally accomplished musicians and innovators such as ERIC CLAPTON, JIMI HENDRIX, LOU REED, JOHNNY CASH, AEROSMITH, IRON MAIDEN, B.B. KING, VAN HALEN, JAMES BROWN, GEORGE MARTIN, STEVE MILLER, SONIC YOUTH, BRIAN WILSON, CARLOS SANTANA, CARL PERKINS, JOHN LEE HOOKER, THE RAMONES, BONNIE RAITT and HOLLAND-DOZIER-HOLLAND, among others.

For more information, visit www.rockwalk.com.

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11-11-05

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY have have teamed up with Instant Live to offer high-quality CDs of three Californian dates (San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco) on their current tour. Instant Live will be recording the band's set at each of these dates, and the completed CDs will be available for pickup just minutes after the show ends. For fans that won't be able to make it to any of the Californian shows, copies are available for purchase at www.instantlive.com. All Instant Live albums are limited edition, so make sure you order yours today! The dates that are being recorded are as follows:

Nov. 17 - San Diego, CA - The House Of Blues
Nov. 19 - Los Angeles, CA - Wiltern Theatre
Nov. 20 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore

Instant Live, launched in February of 2003 in Boston and now owned by radio and concert promotion behemoth Clear Channel Communications, can reportedly print off dozens of discs selling for around $15 either at the venue or later in response to orders from concertgoers.

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Guitar Hero for Playstation 2: The game features Fire It Up from BLS, and a Chad Lee photo of Zakk on the packaging. Also features songs from the following other artists: Audiolave, Pantera, The Ramones, Ozzy, Jimi Hendrix and more.

Guitar Hero gives you all the excitement and thrill of being a rock star without leaving your home!! Guitar Hero features explosively addictive gameplay from the award-winning game developer Harmonix® (the creators of Karaoke Revolution and Anti-Grav).

Choose from multiple rock characters and jam at concert venues that grow in size as your rock career progresses! Youll start your rock career playing small clubs and bars, but if you play well youll work your way up to stadiums and arenas.

The songs in Guitar Hero are straight out of a rock fans CD or record collection. Over 30 incredible rock anthems fill every stage of the game. Jam to songs like Iron Man, Ziggy Stardust, Thunderkiss 65, More Than a Feeling, Take Me Out, and I Wanna Be Sedated!

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10-15-05

Aaron Beck of The Columbus Dispatch recently conducted
an interview with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY mainman Zakk
Wylde. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

On his children:

"My daughter, Ray Ray (Hayle Ray), is 13. (My)
drinkin' problem is definitely escalating.

"There's Jesse. Ozzy's the godfather of him. That was
a good day in Church.

"And (New York Mets catcher) Mike Piazza is godfather
of Hendrix Halen Michael Rhoads Wylde. With a name
like that, it has to work out, right?

"But I know hes going to be into basket-weaving and
crochet or ballet, or he's going to be a Chippendale's
dancer. I can see it comin'.

"The only thing I can do as a father is facilitate."

On his first guitar:

"I was 8, but I wanted to play football and hang out
My guitar teacher said: 'Let him be a kid right now.
If he wants to play, he'll play. It's the same thing
with my kids. Just 'cause I play, I can't force them."

On his serious turn toward the guitar:

"I was at my football coachs house, saying 'I dont
know if I want to play ball right now,' and they were
trying to talk me into it. There was a Les Paul in the
room. The coach, he could play some country, but in
walks his kid. He was the first dude I ever saw with
long hair, and he's got on a Harley hat and has a beer
in his hand. He starts whipping out 'Eruption' and
'Crazy Train'. I just go, 'This is what I wanted to do
with my life.' I took lessons from the kid, Leroy, for
two years."

On guitar solos:

"I always loved Randy [Rhoads] and Eddie [Van Halen].
You always want to stick some shredding solos in
there. But I love songs. I love ELTON JOHN. I love the
new COLDPLAY record. The song is the cake. The solos
are the icing."

On his first concert:

"[BLACK] SABBATH 'Mob Rules' tour in the Philadelphia
Spectrum. First arena I ever played was the Spectrum,
and, I'm 19, like, 'Holy shit, I'm onstage with the
old man, the boss (Osbourne)."

On BLACK LABEL SOCIETY:

"You know, after World War II, fighter pilots formed
the Hell's Angels. It's just keeping in touch with the
guys, your true friends, your brothers. It's
weekend-warrior type stuff."

On "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott:

"He was proof that God exists. All he did was want to
make people feel great. He really had a presence. With
Dime, you were either laughing or crying. It's time to
start laughing again."

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09-30-05
Check out the new e-card!

Kings of Damnation

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY fan site BlackLabelSociety.net has uploaded the artwork for the upcoming double-disc compilation from BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, entitled "Kings of Damnation - Era '98-'04". Check it out at this location.

Due on October 4 via Spitfire Records, "Kings of Damnation - Era '98-'04" is a look at the evolution of Zakk Wylde's progression as a musician, beginning from his solo venture with PRIDE & GLORY and BOOK OF SHADOWS, leading up to his final album for Spitfire, "Hangover Music Volume VI". Disc 2 features unique takes on a number of well-known songs, including PROCOL HARUM's "Whiter Shade of Pale", THE BEATLES' "Come Together", and NEIL YOUNG's "Heart of Gold".

"Kings of Damnation - Era '98-'04" revised track listing:

01. Losin' Your Mind
02. Horse Called War
03. Between Heaven And Hell
04. Sold My Soul
05. Bored To Tears (replaces "Spoke In The Wheel" live acoustic)
06. Bleed For Me
07. TAZ
08. Counterfeit God
09. Stronger Than Death
10. Speedball (replaces "Bridge To Cross" live acoustic)
11. Demise of Sanity
12. We Live No More
13. Stillborn (original version; replaces "Slightly Amped" version)
14. The Blessed Hellride (original version; replaces "Slightly Amped" version)
15. Crazy Or High
16. House of Doom
17. Takillya
18. Doomsday Inc. (unreleased)
19. SDMF (unreleased)

Bonus second disc:

01. No More Tears
02. Whiter Shade of Pale
03. Heart of Gold
04. Snowblind
05. The Wizard
06. In My Time of Dyin'
07. Come Together
08. Counterfeit God (video)
09. Stillborn (video)
10. Bleed For Me (video; from "Boozed Broozed And Broken-Boned")

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