While his days slinging an ax with Ozzy are seemingly over, Zakk has been busy keeping the Les Paul flame alive.

He just returned from Amsterdam, where last Friday (11/21), he and Slash (along with some lucky local musicians), played a benefit show for virtuoso guitarist Jason Becker. Becker, a force in the "neo-classical shred" scene in the late '80s, suffers from Lou Gehrig's Disease, which leaves him confined to a wheelchair.

"That stuff kicks your ass," Zakk said, pondering the suffering that his friend deals with on a daily basis.

On a happier note, Zakk has also been playing clinics at music stores, wowing audiences with his prowess at a variety of "acoustic" styles of music. He recently played to a packed house at Thoroughbred Music in Florida. Afterwards, he took time to sign autographs for fans.

"For me it's not so much a clinic, it's more of an acoustic thing. I can sing, play harp and jam a little," Wylde said, adding that he does his jamming on a Chet Atkins SST. "I just do it for the sheer joy of playing."

Wylde enjoys the opportunity to play stuff he's not known for.

"It's more country-rock based. It's a different side of me," he said. "Artistically it keeps me from getting bored. If you eat cheeseburgers every day, sometimes it's nice to have a hot dog."

The "cheeseburger" of Zakk's playing is obviously his searing electric guitar work with Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy recently released a greatest hits record, which features the highlights of Zakk's tenure, alongside the work of legends such as Jake E. Lee and of course, Randy Rhoads.

"It's awesome, it's definitely an honor," Wylde said, referring to the chance to appear on an album alongside such influential guitarists. "These are the people I listened to when I was learning to play. It's definitely cool company to be in."