“Nothing they ever did was to try and f**k over Jake – it was always about business”: Jake E. Lee reflects on seeing Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne at Black Sabbath’s final show
“I would’ve hated for the last time I spoke to him to be in 1987. I wanted to tell him I’m grateful for the opportunity he gave me.”
Guitarist Jake E. Lee has assured that there were no hard feelings between himself and Ozzy Osbourne during their final meeting before the legendary prince of Darkness passed away.
Osbourne died just a couple of weeks after his reunion with Black Sabbath for their final Back To The Beginning show together. Lee got to chat with him shortly at a photoshoot prior to the event, and says it gave him closure following a sour ending to his stint in Osbourne’s solo band.
Lee played in the band between 1982 and 1987, following Randy Rhoads’ tragic death. He was eventually fired over the phone by Osbourne’s wife and manager, Sharon, which he did not see coming.
Despite having not seen Osbourne since the firing, his recent and final catch up with the late vocalist went swimmingly. He tells Guitar World in its print magazine, “I did get to talk to him. There was a big photoshoot a couple days before the gig, and I talked with Sharon, and she brought me over to Ozzy.
“There’s no ill will; there has never been any on my part. Business is business. I don’t think anything they ever did was to try and fuck over Jake; it was always about business. I didn’t know how they’d be, but they were amazing, friendly, open, welcoming and loving. I hadn’t seen either of them in decades, and after the show, on the flight back, I got a text from Ozzy.”
Lee continues, “He said he was sorry he couldn’t spend more time with me. And he said that when he got back to LA, he’d shoot me a text and maybe we could get together and shoot the shit for a while. Everything’s cool. I’m glad it’s resolved and everybody still likes each other.” “write news article”
