VIKTOR PIVOVAROV/TIMES & TRANSCR
Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde signs autographs for fans at Musicstop yesterday. The Ozzy Osbourne show takes place at the Moncton Coliseum tonight.
Moncton goes wild over Ozzy guitarist
Long wait 'more than worth it' for diehard fans of Zakk Wylde
By Cole Hobson
Times & Transcript Staff Published Thursday January 24th, 2008
It was "all about the fans" as Ozzy Osbourne lead guitarist and music legend Zakk Wylde signed autographs in Moncton's Musicstop yesterday, giving fans young and old the chance to meet and greet with the musician who will take to the stage at the Coliseum for tonight's sold out concert.
"Anything and everything that he does is about the fans," said Matt Coburn, product specialist for Gibson Canada, the group that organized the signing with the local Musicstop. "He's quite the guy and is all about the fans. He beats himself up and then he comes here and signs."
Wylde's appreciation for his fans was quite obvious as he took time to high-five, hug, kiss and talk at length with autograph seekers as they made their way through the line that snaked its way throughout the store.
The atmosphere was truly infectious as music blared over the speakers and fan after fan came away from their signing with a smile and a story to tell.
"I've been a fan of Zakk Wylde's music since I was about 13. He also inspired me to actually pick up the guitar myself, so it was the chance to meet one of my childhood idols," said 31-year-old Tyler Godfrey.
In order to be sure to meet his idol, Godfrey arrived at Musicstop at 9 a.m. and was the second person in line. Despite a nine-hour wait, the Moncton man says it was "more than worth it."
The dubious honour of being first in line went to Rick Allen, who wasn't able to make it to the store until 10:30 a.m. but had his friend arrive early to hold his spot in line.
"He's not even a fan, he was just doing me a favour. He wouldn't know him (Wylde), he couldn't pick him out of a lineup," said Allen, 37.
Only 150 bracelets were handed out to those who would be guaranteed to get an autograph. Despite the limitation, dozens more showed up throughout the evening in hopes of getting an autograph.
Coburn says the limit was necessary because Wylde likes to take time to chat with each fan. "He's ragged at the end of these things. We go out and eat, and he goes to bed," Coburn said. "I wouldn't be surprised though if some people get 10 minutes of face time with him. It all depends if you ask him the right questions. If you get him going on a story, he'll be rocking."
One person who got Wylde's attention was Danielle LeBlanc, 14, who the guitarist got to lay down on the table as he signed her arm.
LeBlanc says the experience was worth her six-hour wait and that her impressions of Wylde were that he's "really cool" -- even though her autograph may not make complete sense.
"That's a good question -- I can't really read it," LeBlanc said when asked what Wylde had written on her arm.
Kyle Kobster, 19, was one fan who used the autograph signing for a good cause. The teen had one of Wylde's signature series Gibson guitars which was donated from Musicstop in Saint John, and was to be auctioned off for charity after it was signed.