In a recent interview with Guitar World conducted by Andrew Daly, former Ozzy Osbourne and Badlands guitarist Jake E. Lee opened up about his time working with the legendary Black Sabbath frontman. Lee, who joined Osbourne’s solo band in 1982 as the permanent replacement for the late Randy Rhoads, contributed to two iconic albums, Bark At The Moon (1983) and The Ultimate Sin (1986). However, despite their professional collaboration, Lee revealed that he and Osbourne never developed a close personal bond.
Reflecting on their relationship, Lee explained that their dynamic was more professional than personal. “He wasn’t a father figure or a brother to me,” Lee said. “We never really got that close, and I’m not sure why. Our personalities didn’t mesh the way his did with Randy [Rhoads] or Zakk [Wylde].” While their onstage chemistry was undeniable, Lee described offstage interactions as “awkward,” noting that he viewed Osbourne primarily as a boss. “I liked him, and I assume he liked me, but it just didn’t click on a personal level,” he added. “It wasn’t anyone’s fault—it’s just how it was.”
Lee was fired from Osbourne’s band in 1987 and had little contact with the rock icon for nearly four decades. However, the two briefly reconnected at the Back To The Beginning event in Birmingham, UK, on July 5, 2025, which marked Osbourne’s final live performance before his passing on July 22, 2025. Lee shared that Osbourne sent him a heartfelt text after the event, expressing a desire to meet up in Los Angeles to catch up and talk. Sadly, that reunion never came to pass.
Lee’s candid reflections offer a glimpse into the complex dynamics of working with one of rock’s most iconic figures, highlighting both the professional highs and personal distance that defined their time together.
