The heavy metal world continues to mourn the loss of Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary “Prince of Darkness,” who passed away on July 22, 2025, at age 76, just weeks after his final performance at Black Sabbath’s farewell concert in Birmingham. As fans reflect on his storied career, one era stands out as a defining chapter: the mid-1980s, when guitarist Jake E. Lee’s blistering riffs and unique style propelled Osbourne’s solo career to new heights. Fans on social media recently reignited the conversation, with one declaring, “That video was KILLER back then!!! Nothing looked like that except for a Hammer film. Absolutely no one sounded like Jake either!!”
The music videos for songs like “Bark at the Moon” and “Shot in the Dark,” with their gothic, cinematic flair reminiscent of classic Hammer horror films, captivated audiences in the early MTV era. Lee’s unorthodox guitar work—marked by wild stretches, searing solos, and a tone described as “God-tier” by fans on Reddit—set him apart from contemporaries like Eddie Van Halen and even Osbourne’s late, great guitarist Randy Rhoads. “Without him, where would Ozzy have ended up? But without Ozzy, where would we have found Jake?” one fan mused, encapsulating the symbiotic relationship that defined this pivotal period.
The Jake E. Lee Era: A Perfect Storm
When Jake E. Lee joined Osbourne’s band in 1982, he faced the daunting task of replacing Rhoads, who tragically died in a plane crash. Lee, a San Diego native with Welsh and Japanese ancestry, brought a fresh perspective. His work on Bark at the Moon (1983) and The Ultimate Sin (1986) showcased his compositional prowess and technical brilliance. The title track “Bark at the Moon,” with its iconic riff credited to Lee in later years by Osbourne himself, became a fan favorite, its video blending werewolf imagery with a theatricality rivaling Hammer Films’ horror aesthetic. The album sold three million copies in the U.S. alone, cementing Osbourne’s solo stardom.
Lee’s contributions extended beyond riffs. He co-wrote much of Bark at the Moon with bassist Bob Daisley, though he was initially denied writing credits due to a controversial contract dispute with Osbourne’s wife and manager, Sharon. “Sharon threatened to erase it all and find a new guitarist if he didn’t accept her terms,” a Reddit user recounted, echoing Lee’s own claims from a 2014 That Metal Show appearance. By the time The Ultimate Sin was recorded, Lee secured his writing credits, contributing to hits like “Shot in the Dark,” co-written with bassist Phil Soussan. The album achieved double-platinum status, with a 1986 Kansas City concert filmed for The Ultimate Ozzy VHS, showcasing Lee’s electrifying stage presence.
A Symbiotic Legacy
The question of where Osbourne and Lee would have been without each other is a compelling one. Osbourne, fresh from his 1979 dismissal from Black Sabbath due to substance abuse, was rebuilding his career in the early ’80s. Rhoads’ brilliance on Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman had set a high bar, but Lee’s arrival ensured Osbourne’s momentum didn’t falter. “Jake E. Lee was a f—ing great guitar player,” Osbourne told Stereogum in 2022, acknowledging Lee’s critical role in his success. Bark at the Moon and The Ultimate Sin kept Osbourne at the forefront of the ’80s metal surge, with Lee’s shredding earning praise as equal to Rhoads and later Zakk Wylde in fan circles.
Conversely, Osbourne’s platform catapulted Lee into the spotlight. Before joining Osbourne, Lee played in smaller acts like Ratt and Rough Cutt, but his tenure with the Prince of Darkness made him a household name among metal fans. “He changed everything for me,” Lee told Guitarist in 2025, reflecting on how Osbourne’s faith in him elevated his career. After his abrupt firing in 1987—allegedly influenced by drummer Randy Castillo and Soussan’s push for songwriting control—Lee formed Badlands and later Red Dragon Cartel, but his Ozzy era remains his defining legacy.
A Bittersweet Reunion
The mutual respect between Osbourne and Lee culminated in a poignant moment at Black Sabbath’s “Back to the Beginning” farewell show on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham. Despite battling arthritis and injuries from a random shooting in Las Vegas in October 2024, Lee performed alongside Osbourne, delivering a performance that Guitar World called “a testament to redemption.” Lee shared a heartfelt text from Osbourne post-show: “Hi, Jake, I’m so sorry I couldn’t spend more time with you on the weekend… I would really like to see you when I eventually get back to L.A.,” Osbourne wrote, expressing a desire to reconnect. Tragically, Osbourne’s passing weeks later made that impossible.
A Lasting Impact
The Jake E. Lee era, with its Hammer Film-inspired videos and groundbreaking guitar work, remains a high-water mark in heavy metal history. Fans on platforms like Reddit continue to celebrate tracks like “Killer of Giants” and “Lightning Strikes” for their raw energy and Lee’s distinctive style. “The two Jake albums are the best Ozzy solo records,” one user declared, while another praised the “glitzy hair, spandex, and fishnet” aesthetic of The Ultimate Ozzy as capturing “the true heyday for heavy metal.”
As the metal community honors Osbourne’s legacy, Lee’s contributions shine as a reminder of a time when their partnership pushed boundaries and redefined the genre. Without Ozzy, Jake E. Lee might have remained a hidden gem; without Jake, Ozzy’s solo career might not have soared to the same heights. Their collaboration, fraught with challenges but brimming with brilliance, remains a killer chapter in rock history.
