Former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee, known for his ice-cool demeanor on some of rock’s biggest stages, has revealed that one fellow shredder left him genuinely rattled during rehearsals for Ozzy’s epic farewell concert, Back to the Beginning.
The historic event, held at Villa Park in Birmingham on July 5, 2025, marked Ozzy Osbourne’s final live performance just weeks before his tragic passing at age 76. For Lee – who hadn’t shared a stage with the Prince of Darkness in over 35 years – the gig was an emotional reunion, made even more poignant by his own battles with arthritis and recovery from a 2024 shooting incident that left him with multiple gunshot wounds.
Appearing on Ozzy’s The Ultimate Sin and Shot in the Dark alongside an all-star backing band, Lee delivered flawless performances despite switching from his planned song due to hand issues. But backstage, nerves hit him hard – something he insists “is not in my nature.”
Speaking on Chris Jericho’s Talk Is Jericho podcast, Lee explained: “I never get nervous before shows. Whatever happens, happens – worrying changes nothing. But at that first rehearsal, watching Nuno Bettencourt and the other musicians run through their parts while I waited my turn… I actually started feeling really anxious. It was bizarre for me.”
Bettencourt, the Extreme guitarist renowned for his technical prowess and flamboyant style, shared the stage with Lee during the supergroup segments and even hyped the crowd to chant Lee’s name before his entrance – a gesture that overwhelmed the veteran axeman.
Lee was eventually steadied by some humorous encouragement from Anthrax bassist Frank Bello, who reminded him of his legacy with a blunt, “Dude, you’re Jake f***ing Lee!”
The admission highlights the mutual respect among guitar heroes at the star-studded tribute, which featured guests like Metallica, Slayer, Tom Morello, and members of Pantera and Guns N’ Roses. Since Ozzy’s death, Bettencourt has continued honoring his memory with powerful Extreme medleys of Osbourne classics.
Back to the Beginning raised millions for charity and cemented Ozzy’s enduring legacy as heavy metal’s godfather. For Lee, overcoming those rare jitters proved a fitting full-circle moment in a career defined by resilience.
