Zakk Wylde believes that while artificial intelligence can be useful for experimenting with music, it will never replace the unique creativity of artists like Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, and Pantera. The Black Label Society frontman and longtime guitarist for Osbourne shared his thoughts during a Q&A session on January 28 at the HMV store on Oxford Street in London.
Wylde explained that AI can be likened to a brainstorming session where people ask, “Can you write a song that sounds like BLACK SABBATH?” He emphasized that this is not the same as the genuine creativity that comes from real artists. He pointed out that music from beloved artists carries a piece of their soul.
“You can’t replace what’s coming out of Elton John’s mind or what Bernie Taupin writes,” Wylde said. He also mentioned Pantera, noting that the band’s unique sound comes from its four individual members, each with their own creative process. While AI might create songs that resemble those of Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath, it can’t replicate the original inspiration behind the music. “You can never replace the real thing,” he added.
Wylde has been part of Osbourne’s band for nearly 40 years and has played on many of his solo albums, including No More Tears, Ozzmosis, and Black Rain.
Looking ahead, Black Label Society will release a new album titled Engines of Demolition on March 27 through MNRK Heavy. The album features 15 tracks, including “Ozzy’s Song,” a tribute to Osbourne, who passed away on July 22 last year. Wylde last performed with Osbourne just three weeks before his death at the Back to the Beginning concert.
