Guitar Tricks Insider February/March Digital Edition | Page 9

RIFFING ZAKK WYLDE (OZZY, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) on “I Guess That’s Why they Call it the Blues” from Too Low for Zero, by Elton John This is a great song. It’s up there with everything else he’s done. His songs are timeless. I love the background vocals on this. He always has killer production. I think he is an amazing singer- songwriter – probably the best ever if you think about it. His track record ain’t too shabby, man. When he does a show, it’s just one hit after another. He is a living juke box. Put a quarter in him and let him go. “I started playing guitar and all I wanted to learn was Elton John songs.” What is his strength? His strength is his songs. His singing is amazing. I was into him before I was into guitar. I saw him on The Sonny and Cher Show. He was playing “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” and I thought that was his song. I didn’t even know it was a Beatles song. I was like, yeah, I like that Elton John song. That’s where I got into music – when I saw that. Yeah, that’s what I want to do. Play tunes. I started playing guitar and all I wanted to learn was Elton John songs. But I’m playing guitar. He plays piano, man. Then I found Sabbath. ■ FEB/MAR DIGITAL EDITION 9