lack Label Society is a hard working, hard playing and hard drinking band with an uncompromising and unapologetic sound. Zakk Wylde and his “doom crew” have been traveling around the world bringing a sonic assault to audiences and leaving carnage in there wake for over 12 years. Captivating fans with electric live shows, Black Label Society are a band of skilled musicians that brings showmanship and the element of danger back into rock that  have been absent for so long.  In August of 2010, Black Label Society released their 8^th studio album entitled Order Of the Black that brought a welcome sound that reflects the earlier works of Sonic Brew and Stronger then Death. Order of the Black also marks Black Label Society’s 5^th consecutive top 50 chart release and have been praised by critics and fans alike.

 While Nick the “Evil Twin” Catanese may be overshadowed by Zakk Wylde, Catanese can hold his own and is a rhythm and melodic force to be reckon with. Having came across Wylde’s email address in a magazine, Catanese enquired to and asked Wylde if he was in need of a second guitar player, and the rest is history. While on tour in support of Order Of the Black , we had a chance to speak with Nick. 

"Everyone is happy and healthy; the album is doing well"

SONIC EXCESS: How have the new songs from Order of the Black been going over live?

NICK CATANESE: Great! People are singing them. “Overlord” goes over really well.

SE: What are some of your favorite rhythms on Order Of the Black and was the recording process any different than the seven previous Black Label Society albums?

NICK: My favorite songs to play live are “Parade of the Dead” and ”Southern Dissolution”, because it has such a grinding riff, but there is something cool with all of them.

SE: Order of the Black brought in a new drummer. What did Will Hunt bring that Chad Nunemacher did not, and does recording with a new member mess with the chemistry?

NICK: No, I mean Craig was an intricate part, and he was with us for eight years. He (Craig) has a son and wanted to be at home with his family. So, we got Will (Hunt). He plays drums with Tommy Lee. Will actually sat in with Motley Crue for four shows. He has played with Evanescence, Stuck Mojo, and Static-X. He is such a high-energy drummer, and he puts on a show killing the drums. He definitely brought some energy. We are all just having a blast, laughing and joking, and people can see that.

SE: Why was there a four-year gap between Shot to Hell and Order of the Black?

NICK: We wanted to take some time. We were touring non-stop for a long time. Things came down with Zakk’s health, but everything is OK now, and I think it (Order of the Black) came out at the right time. Everyone is happy and healthy; the album is doing well, so why ask why?

SE: Why was Order of the Black released from Roadrunner Europe, but not Roadrunner US? Does Black Label Society have a better relationship with Roadrunner Europe?

NICK: I know nothing of that side of the business, my friend.

SE: With that end of it, the less you know, the better.

NICK: (Laughs) I play guitar. As far as that side, it’s all the big guy (Zakk Wylde) and management.

"Bands that ride on their own separate busses, with each member, it’s like, dude you’re supposed to be a band.

SE: Any filming or recording on this tour for a potential CD or DVD?

NICK: There hasn’t been yet, and I don’t really know of any talk about it. I’m sure there will be though. We need to get something with Will and J.D.(John DeServio-bass) Boozed, Bruised & Broken- Boned had Robert (Trujillo-bass), Doom Troopin’ had James(LoMenzo-bass), so we need to get J.D. and Will in there.

SE: With Zakk not drinking anymore, is their less insanity on the road, or has this brought in a whole new era of shenanigans?

NICK: (Laughs) Obviously, there is a difference, but Zakk is Zakk. None of that was an act. He is funny as hell, and I have been with him for fourteen years. So, we have seen the best and worst of each other, and I wouldn’t change anything. There is always funny stuff happening, on and offstage, cracking each other up and while doing the meet and greets. We dig hanging out with each other. Bands that ride on their own separate busses, with each member, it’s like, dude you’re supposed to be a band. I love hanging out with J.D., Will, and Zakk. At the end of the night, J.D. will come over and I will give him a hug, and it’s hockey time.  When everyone is asleep on the bus, me and J.D. are playing Xbox hockey. We play NHL 11 for hours, and that’s our serenity.

SE: I’m guessing that you are a Steelers’ fan and that Zakk and J.D. are Giant’s fans. Any rivalry between you guys?

SE: Black Label Society has some dates in the UK in February. Will you be adding more and playing a full European tour?

NICK: Yeah, we are done in the US on November 21^st and get home to have Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s at home. Then we start back up in February and tour the UK. I’m sure the dates will be released up on the site, once we get it all together.

SE: Our European friends will just have to keep checking to www.blacklabelsociety.com then.

NICK: Exactly. And for the record, people keep asking me, “Dude, when are you coming to Brazil?” or “Why don’t you guys come to…”, and I’m like, I only play guitar, I don’t book the band. Trust me, I wish we could go everywhere, but I go where the booking agent sends me. But, I hope we can go everywhere. That’s one of the great things about being where we are, playing music and seeing the world.  

SE: What is so appealing about the motorcycle club culture, and why has Black Label Society adopted the imagery?

SE: I have seen Hells Angels working security at the shows, but, on the other hand, there has been trouble in Europe.

NICK: We actually had to cancel a gig in Manchester UK because of it.

SE: Has there been an understanding or an alliance with…

NICK: No no, just that one incident. I mean it’s a vest. We are a band, and, over in England, they were full out threatening. People could have gotten hurt. We don’t want anything to happen to our fans. If we put ourselves into a dumb situation, whatever, but we don’t want anything to happen to our fans, because they were just wearing a shirt. We have to live with that. We don’t want to put anybody in danger, as far as wearing something that is going to make somebody mad or hurt them. This is about music.

SE: Especially when it’s just a misunderstanding like that.

NICK: Yeah. I mean we never would do anything out of disrespect or anything like that. Some people are like “Ohh they’re just wanna be bikers” and stuff like that. It’s like, no, we’re not. I don’t even own a bike, and I’m not saying I want to own a bike. I play guitar. It’s like saying Gene Simmons wants to be a bat (laughs), and that he actually wants to fly around, and Ace Frehley freely wants to be a spaceman well.. maybe Ace Frehley did want to be a spaceman, but it’s an image. Anytime you read like www.blabbermouth.net, or whatever, you see that wanna be biker bullshit. It’s like nobody in this band wants to be a biker. It’s an image that came up, and you can’t say that it’s not working. Any concert that you go to, you see Black Label merch. It looks cool, and, for people that wear it, it’s an instant conversation starter. I have seen people that don’t know each other from Adam have a Black Label shirt on, they are friends in 10 minutes. That’s the power of music, but people take it so seriously. It’s music, it’s not rocket science, and that’s it. There is no reason for people to get into fights about it. There is no reason for people to say they want to be this or that. It’s a band, and if you don’t dig the music, that’s one thing, but come on. Like everyone in KISS wanted to be what they were on stage, and Paul Stanley walked around like that all the time. It’s art, it’s music, and it’s a show. It’s what people want to see. Just come and have fun, and don’t make drama of it.

SE: That’s the whole point of going to a show, leave all the bullshit aside and have a good time.

NICK: Yeah. And the big thing too is, say you and I went to go and see KISS. I would say “Hey man, let’s go see KISS”, and see is the underlined word. Not “Hey man, let’s go hear KISS”. If you want to hear KISS, put on your IPOD. When you see a show, you don’t want to see guys that look like they got off a shift at the Sunoco, with no visuals. People want to be visually stimulated. You want people to walk away saying “Man, I’ve never seen anything like that”. Now we have this video screen that plays videos behind us. For example, KISS could go onstage without the boots and all that stuff, but when that curtain drops and Gene comes out in his destroyer outfit, I get goose bumps. If I walk down the street into a local bar and the band had a kick ass image or whatever, and I walk out thinking that took some thought, then you know they are in it for more than just being in a band and getting girls…blah, blah, blah.

SE: It’s a certain respect for the audience to.

NICK: Without a doubt. People are starved for entertainment. Look at some of the shows that are on TV. I mean traffic jams will be backed up for miles, because some guy is changing his tire. People will stare, because some guy is changing his lug nuts. It’s like, you have never seen this before? People want entertainment. People want to see something different. When you give them that, visually and sonically, that’s where you win.

SE: You were with Washburn guitars for years, and now you are endorsed with PRS guitars; do you have a signature model out yet?

NICK: Yeah, about a year now. It’s out now and it plays great! The model you buy is the one that I have. It’s an SE model. I wanted my signature guitar to be something that I play, and also something affordable. The economy sucks, and I wanted something that people can buy that I use live. I have some amazing PRS’s, and that thing smokes ‘em. It has the EMGs at 185 and jumbo frets. It has that Les Paul feel. It’s heavy and has great harmonics.

SE: Any last words?

NICK: I want to thank everyone who has been with us this long, and thank you for the support for BLS. Every band says that they have the best fans in the world. I have never seen so many people come in with BLS tattoos and be so devoted to this band. I got a place in Myrtle Beach. This sergeant came back, and he was home a week from Pakistan. He had a plaque that was made for me that said “Strength, Determination, Merciless Forever”; it was our motto and the Marine’s. I was like, what do you say to that? Our fans are just the best. We feed off of our fans as much as they feed off of us. When we get a crowd going, you’re going to get a slamming show. The fans make us breathe.