Reckless Weekend Part 2: Zakk Sabbath Turned Memphis Into a Moving Mosh Pit
Minglewood Hall, Memphis, TN — December 7, 2025
Sirens, Sweat, and a Bar That Became a Stage
Halfway through “War Pigs,” with the sirens screaming and the lights going full apocalypse, Zakk Wylde did the most Zakk Wylde thing possible. He left the stage, carved his way through the crowd, and finished the moment up on the bar like it was a perfectly reasonable place to hold court. Somewhere between that chaos and the grin on everyone’s faces, I kept thinking how wild it is to be writing a follow-up after our own correspondents Igor and Alyce already caught him in the act in their piece, “Transformer Trouble and Thunder Gods”.
This was a fun-filled day of travel. Carson, his mom Susan, and I all loaded up and hit the road for Memphis, TN, because Zakk Sabbath isn’t a “maybe” kind of show if you like your riffs heavy and your night loud.
The Road to the Riffs
The two-hour drive passed quick. Mostly laughs. Some shop talk about Leather Rose and all the stuff coming up for them. Plenty of “okay but what do you think they’ll play?” energy too. You know, that pre-show daydreaming where you’re already hearing the riffs in your head like they’re haunting the car speakers.
We rolled in just before 4 PM because we were doing VIP. Susan and Carson were both straight-up stoked to meet Zakk. For Carson, it’s one of those “guitar hero” moments that doesn’t feel corny. It feels earned. Like a kid meeting the wizard who taught him how thunder works.
VIP: Handshakes, Jokes, and a Very Real “Wait, That’s Him” Moment
We got in line and waited patiently until the moment hit.
Susan went first. Then Carson. Then me.
Zakk and the rest of the band — Jeff Fabb and JD DeServio — were absolutely wonderful to meet. They were personable, friendly, and full of jokes. No weird rockstar wall. No icy “next.” Just good vibes, like they actually enjoy being there and messing around with fans.
Photos, signings, the whole thing — then the entire VIP group posed for that big group shot with Zakk front and center, like the final boss of a very loud video game.
After that, we found our spot on the rail and settled into the long wait where time gets stretchy. You’re locked in. You’re standing still. But your brain is already sprinting.
Dark Chapel: New Band, Big Bite
Up first was Dark Chapel, led by Black Label Society guitarist Dario Lorina. Great set. First time seeing them — and it was one of those “cool, now I’ve got homework” openers where you walk away with a new band to follow.
They ripped through a bunch of strong tunes, and “Hollow Smile” was probably my favorite of the set. It just hit right. They also tossed in a couple classic covers: “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “In My Time of Dying,” with Dario sitting down on the keys for that one. That detail mattered. It wasn’t just “hey we can play a cover.” It was “hey, we can shift the whole room’s mood for a minute, then slam it back into gear.”
By the end of their set, the crowd was noticeably thicker. The night was building in layers. Like a storm deciding it’s done being polite.
Bonfire: The Bon Scott Era, Served Hot
Next up was Bonfire — an AC/DC Bon Scott-era tribute band — and they delivered. Straightforward, classic, and fun in that “you already know the words even if you didn’t plan to sing” kind of way.
They hit a stack of Bon-era staples: “Gone Shootin’,” “Riff Raff,” “Whole Lotta Rosie,” and of course “Highway to Hell.” It worked because they didn’t overthink it. They played it like it mattered. The crowd kept growing, and by the time they wrapped, the place felt packed and ready. That’s the job of a middle slot: leave the room hungry.
Bonfire did exactly that.
Zakk Sabbath: The Ritual, the Riffs, and the Bar-Top “War Pigs”
Then it was time. Ladies and gentlemen…
Zakk Sabbath.
A Zakk Sabbath show can’t start without the famous stage walk and the whole pre-show ritual: the warrior mask, the Ozzy doll, the growls and grunts like a madman. It’s ridiculous in the best way. Like a wrestling intro, but with actual doom riffs waiting behind the curtain. The crowd goes feral because everyone knows what’s coming, and it’s only a matter of minutes.
House lights down. Intro rolling. Then “Supernaut” kicks things into gear — an awesome start, and it set the tone fast, that this wasn’t going to be a polite “tribute band” night. This was going to be a full-contact sermon.
And the setlist? Killer. Not just the expected classics, either. They leaned into deep cuts Sabbath rarely played live. Stuff like “Under the Sun” and “Tomorrow’s Dream”, then swung back around and smashed the big ones where the whole room sings with their bodies instead of their mouths: “Fairies Wear Boots,” “Children of the Grave,” “Wicked World,” and more.
The end stretch was the kind of one-two-three that leaves your ears ringing and your brain smiling.
JD DeServio stepped up on “Bassically,” and he’s mastered his instrument perfectly — one of those moments where the band gives the spotlight to the low end and the entire room suddenly remembers that bass isn’t “support.” Bass is a weapon. That rolled right into “N.I.B.,” which is one of my all-time favorite Sabbath songs, so yeah… I was having a moment.
Then came “War Pigs.” Air raid sirens. Lights going crazy. The crowd was on fire — crowd surfing and a mosh pit both happening at once. The energy up front got rowdy enough a few times that security was clearly watching close, and honestly, I get it.
Mosh pits don’t bother me. What bothers me is when there’s no room for it. Don’t do it on top of people who are just trying to stand there and enjoy the show. Consider the others around you. We’re all there for a great time, not a surprise physics lesson.
Still… this is the part you can’t fake. Zakk’s guitar solo went monstrous, and then he entered the crowd and performed atop the bar. That’s the kind of thing that turns a “good concert” into a permanent memory. It’s so over-the-top that it circles back around into being perfect.
Afterglow
The afterglow was off the charts. Everyone left feeling elated and rocked out to the core, like the riffs didn’t stop at the exit, they just followed people out into the Memphis night and rode home with them.
The ride back was a wind-down. Carson napped. Susan and I talked about life in general, a little bit of everything, and somehow ended up on my IT background — which seemed to impress her somewhat. Funny how the loudest night can end with the calmest conversation.
And honestly, it was so cool doing this follow up article after our other correspondents Igor and Alyce were able to cover him before in “Transformer Trouble and Thunder Gods”.
Now the wait for next May, when we will see Zakk pull double duty with Zakk Sabbath and Black Label Society at the Mother Church in Nashville, The Ryman Auditorium!! Until then follow more on Zakk Sabbath on their website and all their socials, and keep up with Black Label Society.
