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