In a revealing interview with Get on the Bus, veteran drummer Tommy Aldridge opened up about the intense period following the tragic death of guitarist Randy Rhoads in 1982, shedding light on the search for Ozzy Osbourne’s next guitarist and a misunderstanding that left George Lynch, of Dokken fame, upset with him.
Aldridge, who joined Ozzy Osbourne’s band in 1981 as the replacement for drummer Lee Kerslake, was a key figure during the turbulent transitional phase after Rhoads’ untimely passing in a plane crash in Leesburg, Florida. In the wake of the tragedy, Jet Records, managed by Ozzy’s father-in-law Don Arden, briefly brought in Bernie Tormé as a potential replacement, followed by Night Ranger’s Brad Gillis for the Speak of the Devil tour in 1982. However, when Gillis departed in 1983, the search for a permanent guitarist intensified, with George Lynch and Jake E. Lee emerging as top contenders.
Reflecting on the selection process, Aldridge recalled how Lynch, a groundbreaking guitarist known for his innovative style, believed the drummer had influenced the decision to choose Lee over him. “George came up to me at a party in Hollywood Hills one time, and he was upset with me,” Aldridge shared, as transcribed by Ultimate Guitar. “He was mad at me because he thought that I was responsible for Jake E. Lee becoming Ozzy’s guitar player rather than him. Well, that’s just not true, because I don’t make those kinds of choices.”
Aldridge clarified that his role was limited to assisting with auditions at the request of Sharon Osbourne. “I said, ‘I’ll do my level best.’ And I came to the table; we were blessed with finding Jake E. Lee,” he explained. The drummer praised Lee for striking a perfect balance between originality and reverence for Rhoads’ legacy. “What I liked most about Jake E. Lee’s playing is that he was capable of playing Randy’s parts. Moreover, he had a reverence for Randy that was just starting to build, which was really, really important,” Aldridge noted. “Jake’s style of playing was very aggressive, it was exuberant, and it was original, but he could still play Randy’s parts.”
While acknowledging Lynch’s immense talent, describing him as “an incredible, groundbreaking guitar player ahead of his time” and still “current, viable, and vital today,” Aldridge emphasized the importance of originality in the selection process. He drew a comparison to legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, stating, “You can be a really simple drummer, and still, if you’re original, you’ll work your whole career. You don’t have to be a total chops monster. John Bonham personifies that: a very real economy in notes, but crazy originality.”
Ultimately, Jake E. Lee secured the role and went on to contribute to iconic Ozzy albums like Bark at the Moon (1983) and The Ultimate Sin (1986), cementing his place in rock history. Meanwhile, George Lynch continued to carve out a legendary career with Dokken and later with Lynch Mob, proving his enduring influence in the world of heavy metal.
This behind-the-scenes glimpse into Ozzy Osbourne’s band dynamics highlights the challenges of replacing a figure as monumental as Randy Rhoads and the delicate balance of honoring a legacy while forging a new path. For Aldridge, the choice of Lee was a stroke of fortune, but for Lynch, it was a missed opportunity that left lingering tension.
