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Zakk Wylde: Riff Recognition, Iconic Influences & Legendary Mentors
Ozzy’s Ear for Riffs
Zakk Wylde, iconic Ozzy Osbourne guitarist for over two decades, attributes Ozzy with having an ear for great riffs. In a recent Guitar.com interview, Wylde explained how impromptu jams with Ozzy resulted in Grammy-winning songs.
“I was just messing around having a joke… but Ozzy heard something that clicked for him
He mentioned specifically the riff behind “I Don’t Wanna Change the World,” referring to Ozzy’s instinctive ability to know what works musically .
Wylde praised Ozzy’s exactness in melody, noting that the first vocal lines Ozzy comes up with—nine times out of ten—are “the keeper.” That kind of artistry, he contends, is a product of Ozzy’s “real gift” for knowing and playing riffs that resonate .
Tony Iommi: The Classical Architect of Metal
Wylde reserves his highest accolades for Black Sabbath riff-master Tony Iommi. With glowing praise, he likened Iommi to “the Bach, Mozart and Beethoven of metal guitar” and “the John Lennon and Paul McCartney of riff writing” .
He said that Iommi is the foundation stone: “All of us… working in this business… would not have jobs if it weren’t for Lord Tony Iommi” .
Making a clever comparison, Wylde compared Sabbath’s influence to the Model T Ford—innovative and pioneering, giving rise to every riff that followed .
The Power of Seat-of-the-Pants Riffs
Wylde attributes the power and simplicity of the greatest rock riffs. He cites Jimmy Page and Tony Iommi as quintessential riff-writers and says the greatest riffs often use just one or two strings to drive a song. He cited “Smoke On The Water,” “Iron Man,” “Whole Lotta Love” and “Heartbreaker” as riffs that achieve maximum impact through minimalism .
Jimmy Page & Beyond
While his admiration for Ozzy and Iommi is paramount, Wylde also speaks highly of other guitar legends. He credits Jimmy Page’s extensive work on Led Zeppelin IV—specifically solos on “No Quarter” and the epic “Stairway to Heaven”—as having a massive impact on his own playing style .
Moreover, in condemning the so-called “Modern Rushmore of riffs,” he places Page alongside Iommi and Ritchie Blackmore, hailing their collective contribution to the riff-based cosmos of rock .
Zakk’s Five Most Excellent Riffs
Though Wylde has not gone public with his “Top 5 riffs,” the proof is in his own success and playlist.
\t1.\tParanoid / Iron Man (Tony Iommi/Sabbath) – The primordial thunderbolts of heavy metal riffing 
2. Smoke On The Water (Deep Purple) – “the first heavy metal riff ever,” says Wylde 
3. Whole Lotta Love (Led Zeppelin) – Part of the evocative simplicity he adores 
4. Stairway to Heaven / No Quarter – Pointing out Page’s epic soloing ability that influenced Wylde ()
5. Maybe a post-Dio Sabbath riff like “Heaven and Hell” – Wylde confesses its enduring power .
In the Studio & Onstage
At the Studio & Onstage
Wylde offers an insight into his creative process: frequently working late at night under the influence of jazz—Pat Martino, Joe Pass—taking those influences blended with blues and hard rock and crafting unique riffs .
Live, he’s touring with the reunited Pantera lineup, taking the stage alongside Philip Anselmo and Rex Brown. With Ozzy again, he had the opportunity to work with the likes of Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Tony Iommi himself for Ozzy’s latest album—something he describes as a dream come true .
Final Take
From Ozzy’s riff intuition to Iommi’s architectural genius, to the epic solos of Page—Zakk Wylde weaves a deep, articulate tapestry of rock lineage. What unites these figures? An uncanny ability to create riffs that are memorable, simple, powerful—and forever influential.
