"3 years after being hit by traffic and ending up in a pawnshop, Zakk Wylde's legendary Ozzy Osbourne Les Paul guitar, known as 'The Grail,' was reunited with its owner."
Zakk Wylde, the acclaimed guitarist who made a name for himself as Ozzy Osbourne's long-time collaborator, is known for his iconic black and white bullseye Gibson Les Paul guitar, affectionately named "The Grail."
Originally owned by Wylde's friend Scott Quinn, the guitar came into Wylde's possession after he was endorsed by Gibson following his appointment as Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist. To set himself apart from the late Randy Rhoads, who played a cream Les Paul, Wylde sent the guitar for refinishing with the intention of creating a design inspired by the Vertigo movie poster. However, the guitar returned with the now-iconic bullseye pattern by mistake[1][2].
The Grail became a staple during Ozzy Osbourne’s No More Tears-era and remained Wylde’s reliable main guitar. Its distinctive bullseye finish, although unplanned, is now a defining visual trademark of Wylde’s style[2].
An interesting tale surrounds the guitar's history, as it is said to have fallen out of a gear trailer around the year 2000. After landing on the highway, the guitar was found in a pawn shop. However, the details of this incident and its eventual recovery remain unclear[1][2].
It was during his time with Ozzy Osbourne that Wylde truly made his mark. He ended Osbourne’s search for a guitarist who could "kick Eddie Van Halen's ass," and the Osbourne-Wylde partnership is now considered one of heavy metal's most heartwarming pairings.
Wylde discovered the power of active pickups after playing an EMG-laced Fender Jaguar belonging to one of his guitar students. This discovery played a significant role in creating the ear-blasting sound associated with Wylde’s music.
Despite the challenges that came with joining such a legendary act, Wylde has previously discussed Ozzy Osbourne’s specific gear rules. Osbourne expected his appointment of Wylde to be met with backlash from certain fans, but Wylde proved his worth and cemented his place in heavy metal history[1][2].
[1] [Source 1] [2] [Source 2]
- Zakk Wylde, who is known for his iconic black and white bullseye Gibson Les Paul guitar, named "The Grail," originally received it after being endorsed by Gibson.
- The distinctive bullseye finish of Zakk Wylde's Gibson Les Paul guitar, although unplanned, has become a defining visual trademark of his style.
- Wylde's bullseye Les Paul guitar, which is a staple of Ozzy Osbourne’s No More Tears-era, is said to have fallen off a gear trailer and then been found in a pawn shop, but the details of this incident remain unclear.
- Zakk Wylde, who is among heavy metal's most heartwarming pairings with Ozzy Osbourne, discovered the power of active pickups after playing an EMG-laced Fender Jaguar.
