In a moment that transported fans straight back to the electrified haze of the Sunset Strip, two titans of ’80s hard rock guitar—Ratt’s Warren DeMartini and Ozzy Osbourne’s former axe-wielder Jake E. Lee—were spotted casually jamming at a guitar booth during a recent industry showcase. What started as a low-key hangout quickly turned into a heartfelt interview, with DeMartini dropping a bombshell praise that has shred enthusiasts buzzing: Lee was the era’s “most savage warrior” on the fretboard.
The encounter unfolded at the annual GearFest Expo in downtown L.A., where collectors and musicians flock to ogle vintage axes and prototype rigs. Eyewitnesses described the scene as “like old roommates crashing a party,” a nod to the duo’s real-life history. Back in 1982, Lee—fresh off his stint as Ratt’s original guitarist—recruited his buddy DeMartini to replace him when he bolted for Ozzy’s band following Randy Rhoads’ tragic death. The two shared a cramped L.A. apartment during those gritty pre-fame days, trading riffs and dreams amid the chaos of the hair metal scene.
Dressed in faded black tees and jeans—far from the spandex splendor of their heyday—DeMartini and Lee leaned over a display of Charvel signatures, the very brand that defined their signature tones. (Fun fact: Both have iconic models from the San Dimas factory, with Lee’s “Snake Nation” and DeMartini’s “Surfer” bows paying homage to their wild styles.) As booth staff hovered in awe, DeMartini grabbed a mic for an impromptu chat, diving into the cutthroat guitar battles of the Reagan era.
“Jake had the most nastier tone back in the day,” DeMartini said with a grin, his voice carrying that signature California drawl. “I mean, the guy was a beast—raw, unfiltered, like a chainsaw through butter. Everybody wanted to play like Eddie [Van Halen], sure, but Jake? He was the most savage warrior of the ’80s. No bullshit, just pure fire. We’d jam for hours in that shitty apartment, and I’d think, ‘How the hell do you get that sound?’ It wasn’t just speed; it was attitude. He owned the stage like no one else.”
Lee, ever the stoic counterpart, chuckled and waved it off, plucking a few bluesy bends on a nearby Strat copy. “Warren’s too kind. We were all just trying to survive the scene—dodging groupies, bad deals, and worse haircuts.” But the respect was mutual. Lee later added, “Replacing me in Ratt? That kid stepped up huge. His stuff on ‘Round and Round’—that’s the riff that broke the code.”
The praise hits especially hard given the duo’s intertwined paths. DeMartini joined Ratt just in time for their 1983 EP Out of the Cellar, which exploded with hits like “Back for More” and catapulted the band to MTV stardom. Meanwhile, Lee was unleashing fury on Ozzy’s Bark at the Moon (1983), his neoclassical shred on tracks like “Flying High Again” setting a new bar for metal guitar savagery. Fans have long debated their styles—Lee’s dark, octave-drenched fury versus DeMartini’s fluid, fusion-tinged precision—but this reunion underscores a brotherhood forged in amp stacks and ambition.
VH1 once dubbed DeMartini one of the decade’s most underrated “hair metal” shredders, a label he’d likely scoff at. Yet here he was, elevating Lee to mythic status, evoking memories of a time when guitar heroes ruled without Auto-Tune or algorithms. “The ’80s were war,” DeMartini reflected. “Competition made us better. Jake didn’t just play; he fought.”
As the booth crowd swelled—phones out, videos rolling—the pair wrapped with a quick jam on Van Halen’s “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” Lee’s snarl meshing perfectly with DeMartini’s punchy rhythm. No big production, no entourage; just two warriors chilling like it’s 1982.
In an industry that’s seen too many feuds and fade-outs, this slice of nostalgia reminds us: the fire from those glory days still burns. Ratt and Ozzy alums continue to tour sporadically, but moments like this? They’re the real platinum records.
