UPDATES from initial report are below.

We had been the hearing rumors for a few weeks now, but it was officially announced today that Black Label Society and their long time guitarist, Nick Catanese have amicably parted ways.

RockRevolt Magazine spoke with “Big Nick” Catanese (Manager) a short while ago regarding his son’s decision to leave the band, which he said, “Was a very hard decision to make; it was just time after 17 years. Nick just wants to do his own thing and that’s really difficult to do around BLS’ schedule. It was going to happen sooner or later, and it just happened to be the right time for everyone.”

Catanese, who is known as “The Evil Twin” because of his amazing shredding skills (a nickname that Wylde himself bestowed on the guitarist years ago), will be starting a new project almost immediately. According to Big Nick, “We have all of the pieces in place already; big management and PR out of New York are all set to go. All of the individual players will be coming in from all over in the next few days to start recording the new EP which will be released in the first few months of 2014. We’ve already got a few songs down, so it should be pretty smooth.”

Many fans were hoping (on Nick’s FB page) that Catanese’ leaving BLS would mean the return/resurrection of Speed X (a side-project with former Queensryche guitarist Mike Stone along with former BLS drummer Mike Froedge, Jason Fowler and Joshua Sattler of DoubleDrive ), but it is not to be. “No, this is a completely different venture from Speed X. I will tell you that this new band is going to blow everyone away hopefully. We sure are going to give it a try!”

Things were sure happening at the Evil Twin Headquarters today, with phones ringing off the hook in the background; Big Nick added, “Nick is extremely happy and really looking forward to the future. There’s no animosity or hard feelings at all. It is kind of akin to when Zakk parted ways with Ozzy (Osbourne) to start BLS. Nick just felt that he creatively wanted to be able to do his own thing without all of the obligations and commitments of being in another band.” Stay tuned to Nick’s Facebook, Twitter and website for future announcements on his upcoming project.

In a statement received from Black Label Society’s publicist stated that “the remaining members of BLS wish Nick the very best in his future musical endeavors,” adding that “a replacement axeman will be announced soon.”

In the meantime, Zakk Wylde and the rest of BLS are holed up in Wylde’s studio, aka The Black Vatican, working on their new album for a tentative April 2014 release via EOne Music.

UPDATE: January 2014 Dario Lorino is named as new rhythm guitarist for Black Label Society.

UPDATE 2/15/2014:

Steven Rosen of Ultimate-Guitar.com recently conducted an interview with Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: [BLACK LABEL SOCIETY] rhythm guitarist Nick Catanese has left and was replaced by Dario Lorina.

Zakk: Yes. It’s all good. We just spoke with Nick and he was like, “Man, Zakk, I want to put a thousand percent into this project I’m workin’ on. Whether it sinks or it swims, I just gotta do it, man. I don’t know if I’m gonna hold you up.” I said, “We spoil ya and whatever you want to do, brother. Go knock it out.” So that’s what he’s doing right now.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: How did you find Dario?

Zakk: Blasko (Ozzy‘s bass player) hooked it up. Blasko was like, “Well, let me see about Dario. He’s a young kid and he’s a killer player.” I’m at the point where I don’t need to sit here and we don’t have to do “American Idol” cattle call with 5,000 singers coming in to hear them sing. Either I know really good guitar players that are either lookin’ for a gig and it’s just like, “Dude, you wanna join the band?”

Ultimate-Guitar.com: You heard Dario Lorina play and knew he was the right guy?

Zakk: I just saw him playing. He sent a video in and he was just shredding. Then after that, we just flew him out to the Vatican (Zakk‘s studio) and met him. He did his Chippendales dance (famous club that features male dancers) and I said, “Is that a spray on tan or is that a real tan?” and he said, “No, it’s a real tan.” I said, “Obviously you’re committed to the project” and right then and there I knew he had the gig. Because you have to have passion.

Read the entire interview at Ultimate-Guitar.com.

~ Valerie King, Editor in Chief/Co-Founder

~ Photos of Nick Catanese by Chad Lee of RockConcertFotos.com

Tags: Big Nick