ZAKK WYLDE Says It Took 20 Days To Write New BLACK LABEL SOCIETY Album: 'We Don't Do Pre-Production Or Anything Crazy Like That'

La Grosse Télé conducted an interview with guitarist Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE) prior to BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's March 8 concert at The Bataclan in Paris, France. You can watch the entire chat below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's new "Grimmest Hits" studio album:

Zakk: "We recorded it at the Black Vatican, my home studio. I was on the road doing ZAKK SABBATH and then we were getting ready to go do the new album. I said, 'How much time do I have to write when I get home?' They said, 'You have about 20 days before the guys get out here.' I said, 'Okay, I have 20 days to write a record.' I start chipping away at the stone and start writing riffs every day. That's about it."

On the writing process for "Grimmest Hits":

Zakk: "Like I said, I wrote it in 20 days, then the guys came out, we just, if there was anything for the two weeks that the fellas were out and we were tracking everything, JD [John DeServio, bass] and Jeff [Fabb, drums], if I came up with 'Free Bird' or 'Stairway To Heaven' or 'White Christmas', we'd record it when the guys are there. That's about it. We don't do the pre-production or anything or crazy like that. It's a rock record we're writing, you know what I mean?"

On whether there were any disagreements while recording:

Zakk: "Just like every other record, we always have a good time. You're doing what you love. But no, like I said, we just went in there and just knocked it out [pretty quick]. People were, like, 'Did you do anything different on this album than you did on any other record?' I'm, like, 'No. Nothing.' Like every other BLACK LABEL album, you go in with nothing and you see what you got. Let's see what we can come up with. That's the fun of it."

On the meaning behind the "Grimmest Hits" album title:

Zakk: "Like it says, 'Grimmest Hits'. Obviously, we don't have any hit songs, so you just keep it that way. We prefer to have no hit songs, because this way, we never sell out. No one will ever think we'll have lost any of our integrity. We don't have any hit songs, so that's what we do."

On whether he's working on any additional projects outside of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY:

Zakk: "No, it's just going to be BLACK LABEL and then I wouldn't change my situation for anything, then rolling with 'The Boss' [Ozzy Osbourne] now, we're going to be doing that until 2020. Then, ZAKK SABBATH, then I do the EXPERIENCE HENDRIX thing and the 'Generation Axe' thing with the fellas. I love doing all of it. I love staying busy and I love touring. I'm blessed. I wouldn't change my situation for anything."

On whether he has a favorite album that he's played on:

Zakk: "It depends. As far as the records go and everything, even from down and starting with 'The Boss', starting with Ozzy with 'Miracle Man' [from 1988's 'No Rest For The Wicked'] to now, obviously there's cool memories from every album I've done. Just really cool memories. I don't know…I love all of them because you cherish [all the memories]. It took all of that to get where I'm at right now, just sitting in this chair. As far as songs go, when they ask certain people, 'What's your favorite?' It's the next one you write because music is limitless. Like I said, I'm truly blessed with everything I have. I wouldn't change it for anything."

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY will embark on the second leg of its North American tour with CORROSION OF CONFORMITY and EYEHATEGOD this summer. Set to commence July 14 in Cadott, Wisconsin, the trek will make its way through nearly two dozen cities, coming to a close on August 11 in Sayreville, New Jersey.

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's tenth full-length album, "Grimmest Hits", was released on January 19 via Entertainment One (eOne).