Former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee has opened up about the long-standing controversy surrounding songwriting credits on the 1983 classic album Bark at the Moon, revealing how he inadvertently violated an alleged contract that prohibited him from discussing his contributions.
In a recent interview with Chris Jericho, Lee explained that he assumed fans would see through the official credits listing Ozzy as the sole writer. “I figured it’s gonna say, ‘All songs written by Ozzy Osbourne.’ Nobody’s gonna believe that,” Lee said with a laugh. “Anybody familiar with Ozzy knows he didn’t do that. So I thought I’d still get some cred out of it.”
The contract, presented after recording was complete, reportedly included a clause barring Lee from publicly claiming any writing involvement. Despite this, in his very first post-album interview, Lee admitted his role. “Yeah, I wrote it!” he recalled saying, noting it was obvious and that the Osbournes wouldn’t fire him mid-tour over the revelation. They didn’t.
Lee has long alleged that Sharon Osbourne pressured him into signing the deal, threatening to replace his guitar tracks if he refused. He initially believed he’d receive proportional credits but signed under duress, lacking legal representation.
This echoes similar disputes involving earlier collaborators like bassist Bob Daisley, who also claimed uncredited contributions on Ozzy’s solo albums.
Years of estrangement followed Lee’s 1987 firing, which he viewed as a business decision rather than personal. However, closure came at Black Sabbath’s epic farewell concert, Back to the Beginning, on July 5, 2025, in Birmingham. Lee performed Ozzy-era tracks alongside an all-star lineup, marking his first onstage reunion with Osbourne in decades.
In a subsequent Guitar World interview, Lee expressed relief at reconciling. “I always wanted to tell him there weren’t any hard feelings and end things on a friendly note. I got to do that.” He emphasized no lingering grudges, praising Ozzy for pushing his guitar playing to new heights.
The Bark at the Moon saga remains a notable chapter in Ozzy’s storied career, highlighting the often contentious behind-the-scenes dynamics of ’80s heavy metal.
