On Thursday, January 19th at The Grove in Anaheim, CA, guitar icon ZAKK WYLDE, surrounded by Roastmaster Sharon Osborne and a slew of metal luminaries, will hold the distinctive honor of being the inaugural honoree of Guitar World’s first ever Rock ‘n’ Roll Roast to benefit MusiCares, which provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need.

A “Wylde” roast… not a bad way to launch a new creative alliance between photographer Mark Weiss and artist David Banegas. Two months ago when they shared an idea to collaborate their passion for music, art and “giving back,” neither dreamed it would come together at such a high profile stage so quickly. As the guests arrive via the red carpet to the sold out event, attendees will pass by a portrait of Zakk Wylde by photographer Mark Weiss and the mirror image created by artist David Banegas. David will also be painting “live”, a Zakk’s Epiphone Signature Les Paul guitar on canvas to be auctioned off for MusiCares.

To Photographer Mark Weiss, there is a special connection with Zakk. In 1987, Weiss, who has been OZZY OSBOURNE’s photographer since 1981, was helping Ozzy in his search to find a new guitarist. Mark, Sharon and Ozzy had just returned “empty handed” from checking out a guitar player in Long Island. Mark’s last words to Ozzy and Sharon were, “I’ll keep my eyes open.” The next day, Weiss’ friend Dave Feld told Mark to give this kid he saw at a local club a listen. It was Zakk, a NJ teenager, still living at home with his parents. Mark sent the photo and cassette for Ozzy to check out. Sharon called Mark and told him to bring Zakk to LA to audition. And here we are, 25 years later, celebrating the incredible guitar work of the BLACK LABEL SOCIETY front man.

David Banegas grew up in Bolivia and has been painting since he was 6 years old. He explains his unique work as “something that happens at the moment, it flows, I can't explain it.” If there is a name for this method it would be 'Action Painting', it is done layer upon layer and is created with pure feeling.” Once he captures the eyes, he is “locked in place and the rest of the painting then follows.” “It comes from letting go of all fears and painting what is felt and so this is a transcendent moment.” The term 'Action Painting' is very appropriate because David likes to paint “live.”

Mark Weiss has been auctioning his iconic photographs to benefit Lunch Break, the soup kitchen in Red Bank, NJ. At a Lunch Break fundraiser, David painted live from a photo of Elvis. David’s unique execution of the image caught Mark’s eye. The two had an idea to have David paint Mark’s most iconic rock ‘n’ roll images. Both men, as artists who create visuals live, and in the moment, want their work to help bring focus and funds to charitable causes.

Says Zakk: "Not only is Father Weiss responsible for helping me get the gig with Ozzy, he’s also responsible for some of the most iconic rock photography of rock's mose legendary bands and artists of all time... Thanks Father Weiss! You rule!! Keep it iconic!!!"

Rick Florino from ARTISTdirect spoke with Wylde recently about a number of topics including the Rock & Roll Roast. Here are a few excerpts from the chat:

ARTISTdirect: When did Guitar World approach you with the idea of the Rock & Roll Roast?

Wylde; "I'm good buddies with all of the guys over at Guitar World, and I remember talking to Brad Tolinski (Editor-in-Chief) about it. I mentioned that I wanted to do a Black Label Roast. I was watching the Dean Martin Roasts one day, and I thought, 'I ought to start doing these Black Label Roasts where we take the piss out of all of our friends.' Dean Martin would have everybody on that thing, and they'd be getting destroyed. With cast of characters I know, I figured it'd be hysterical. Everybody knows everyone else too in rock. Brad came back to me and said they're going to do these Guitar World Rock & Roll Roasts, considering you were talking about doing those Black Label Roasts and it was your idea, you're the first one we're going to destroy! I said, "Awesome, sounds good!" That's how that came about. The more brutal it is, the funnier it is, dude."

ARTISTdirect: What could they possibly roast you about?

Wylde; "Exactly, I'm a good catholic boy. I have no idea (Laughs). After me, I could give you a list of guys off the top of my head who would be hilarious. This is going to be the first of these things."

ARTISTdirect: What's next for Black Label Society?

Wylde; "We're working on the setlist right now and figuring out how we're going to do the Un-Blackened DVD. We'll do a string section, have pedal steel, piano, backgrounds, and fit everything together. We're still trying to figure out what songs we want to put in there. I'm looking at the records right now. Mind you, we don't have as bad of a problem as The Rolling Stones, but we're trying to figure out which songs we want to put in there. No matter how much writing I've always done in the past, as soon as we get in there and round up the rest of the boys, we start jamming and getting inspired. Then, we start writing a ton of new stuff and the old material pales in comparison."

Read the entire interview here.