Legendary guitarist Jake E. Lee, the axeman behind Ozzy Osbourne’s platinum albums Bark at the Moon (1983) and The Ultimate Sin (1986), has delivered a heartfelt and humble assessment of his successor, Zakk Wylde, while expressing a burning desire to hit the road together in 2025.
In a newly published interview with 247 Around the World, Lee stated:
“Zakk is an incredible guitar player. I think he ended up being a better fit with Ozzy than I ever was. He was the perfect guy after me.”
The 68-year-old virtuoso, who survived a near-fatal shooting in Las Vegas in October 2024, admitted that lingering health issues have slowed his recovery. Yet his passion remains undimmed.
“Despite my health, I’d still love to do a tour with Zakk in 2025—but he has a packed schedule,” Lee revealed, acknowledging Wylde’s commitments with Black Label Society, Pantera, and Ozzy’s ongoing farewell engagements.
Lee reflected on the stark contrast between their tenures: his own era delivered melodic, theatrical hard rock, while Wylde’s heavier, blues-drenched style propelled Ozzy into the 1990s and beyond. Fans have long debated the “Jake vs. Zakk” narrative, but Lee shut it down with grace:
“There’s no competition. We’re different animals, and Zakk took the throne at the exact moment Ozzy needed him.”
When asked if a co-headline “Guitar Kings” run could materialize, Lee laughed:
“If the stars align and my body cooperates, hell yes. Two hours of dueling solos? Sign me up.”
The full 22-minute interview—covering Lee’s Red Dragon Cartel plans, his thoughts on Ozzy’s retirement, and a track-by-track breakdown of Bark at the Moon—is streaming now.
