Heavy metal guitarist and songwriter Zakk Wylde visited the School of Rock Burbank as a guest professor for a Q&A session, public meet and greet and a live jam on stage with aspiring rockers from the Burbank and Los Angeles area.
More than 50 kids, ages 10 to 17, attended the Saturday workshop. Several students in the school’s performance classes, who sing or play guitar, bass, guitar drums and keyboards were able to perform popular heavy metal classics with Wylde to close out the day.
“To be able to play with Zakk was a huge honor and a privilege I am grateful for,” commented Courtney Moody, who played drums on War Pigs for the jam. “I couldn’t help but to be speechless when he said that Bill Ward would’ve been proud of me. Hearing that from Zakk influenced me greatly and pushed me to become an even better performer!”
Wylde, perhaps best known as Ozzy Osbourne’s lead guitarist for 20 years, is widely celebrated for his virtuosic metal guitar style. Since 1998, he has released seven studio albums and toured extensively with his band, Black Label Society.
“Watching and learning how Zakk approaches the song was an amazing moment,” said Ani Hesse, who sang Crazy Train with Wylde. “He gave us the power to be real.”
Max Toth who played a guitar solo with Wylde, said, “Playing that solo with my hero was the highlight of my life.”
School of Rock Burbank focuses on performance-based music education, creating a space where kids and adults can get on stage and perform familiar rock and roll music. Well-known musicians visit the school periodically to offer workshops as guest professors. School of Rock sees this program as a way to inspire young rock musicians, allowing them the opportunity to learn from and play music with professional artists.
