Jake E. Lee, Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist on the 1983 album Bark at the Moon and 1986’s The Ultimate Sin, has responded to ongoing comparisons with his predecessor, Randy Rhoads, emphasizing that differences in style come down to personal taste rather than objective superiority.
In a recent appearance on the Tone-Talk podcast, Lee acknowledged the persistence of fan debates. “There are still people who prefer my playing over Randy’s, and others who insist that’s ridiculous—as if it’s indisputable that Randy is simply better,” he said (transcribed via Ultimate Guitar). “We’re different. I’m not claiming to be better than Randy, nor do I think he’s better than me. It’s not wrong for someone to connect more with my style.”
Lee argued that technical difficulty and appeal are subjective at the elite level. “If anything, my material is a little bit harder to play,” he noted. “The idea that ‘Randy is better, period’ is misguided. It’s about preference—who resonates with you.”
The guitarist also praised Rhoads’ innovative fusion of classical elements into heavy metal. “What he did with classical influences in rock was unmatched. No one has surpassed it since. I have to give him full credit—the work was exceptional,” Lee said.
Rhoads, who tragically died in a 1982 plane crash, had defined Osbourne’s early solo era with Blizzard of Ozz (1980) and Diary of a Madman (1981).
Separately, Lee provided an update on his recovery after being shot multiple times in Las Vegas earlier this year while walking his dog. “Coco and I encountered two thieves dressed in dark clothing, hoodies, and masks, inspecting a neighbor’s motorcycle,” he recounted. “A verbal exchange led to an agreement to part ways, but that didn’t happen.”
Lee continues to recover from the incident.
