Former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee has opened up about the chaotic emotional landscape within the band following the death of Randy Rhoads, suggesting that Sharon Osbourne‘s controversial decision to keep the group on the road likely saved the singer’s life.
In a recent appearance on the “Talk is Jericho” podcast with Chris Jericho, Lee reflected on his tenure with the Prince of Darkness during the early 1980s. When asked if Ozzy was truly as unhinged as the tabloids suggested at the time, Lee noted a distinct shift in the singer’s behavior once the band crossed the Atlantic.
“He didn’t seem like he was [crazy] until we got to America. Oh, then he went crazy. There he went crazy. Or else, I was around more,” Lee recalled (as transcribed by Ultimate Guitar). “But yeah, that was probably the wildest time period for him. And who can blame him? You know, Randy dies tragically.”
Rhoads died in a plane crash in March 1982, a devastating event that left Ozzy grieving deeply. While many in the industry might have expected a cancellation of touring commitments, Lee revealed that Sharon recognized the danger of leaving Ozzy alone with his thoughts and vices.
“My understanding is that Sharon… They could have just canceled shows and said, ‘What are we gonna do?’ But Sharon said, ‘No, if we cancel the shows, he’s gonna end up killing himself, drink himself to death or something.’ So, she wisely kept the train moving.”
Beyond saving Ozzy, the high-pressure environment of the tour served as a crucible for Lee‘s own development. Stepping into the shoes of a guitar icon forced him to adapt quickly, with Sharon actively coaching him on how to maintain the visual energy of the show.
“Sharon came up to me and said, ‘You and Ozzy need to interact [on stage]. There was one point where Ozzy would chase Randy, and Randy would run. Can you do that?'” Lee shared. “My stage presence developed. It actually came right away, because I’ve been used to playing smaller stages, in Hollywood, and I kind of moved around a little bit, but not like I ended up in Ozzy.”
Looking back, Lee expressed a deep sense of gratitude for the experience, crediting the gig with elevating his musicianship to a professional level.
“Being in Ozzy‘s band made me maybe not better [as a player], but [I developed a] more active stage persona and guitar playing. Those two things, now that I wish I had told Ozzy. I planned on telling him, ‘Thank you for making me become a better guitar player.’ I mean, by leaps and bounds,” Lee admitted. “I was good, you know, in Hollywood, I was considered top tier. I was good once I joined Ozzy, and I got a lot better.”
