Guitarist Jake E. Lee Shot Multiple Times in Las Vegas
· Ultimate Classic RockJake E. Lee, the guitarist best known for playing on Ozzy Osbourne's Bark at the Moon album, was shot Tuesday morning in Las Vegas.
According to a press release issued by his publicist, the 67-year-old guitarist was shot "multiple times" and is now recovering in a Las Vegas hospital.
"As confirmed by management, legendary rock guitarist Jake E. Lee was shot multiple times early this morning in a Las Vegas street shooting," reads the statement. "Lee is fully conscious and doing well in an intensive care unit at a Las Vegas hospital. He is expected to fully recover.
READ MORE: When Jake E. Lee Joined Ozzy Osbourne's Band
"Las Vegas authorities believe the shooting was completely random and occurred while Lee took his dog out for a walk in the early morning hours. As the incident is under police investigation, no further comments will be forthcoming. Lee and his family appreciate respecting their privacy at this time."
What Records Has Jake E. Lee Played On?
Lee's career began in the early '80s when he was approached by singer Ronnie James Dio to join his solo band. The guitarist made some recordings while rehearsing with the group, but Dio shelved the project.
He was then asked by Osbourne to replace his departing guitar player Brad Gillis. Lee joined the former Black Sabbath singer's band in 1983, appearing on that year's Bark at the Moon album, as well as the follow-up, The Ultimate Sin, on which Lee shared songwriting credits with Osbourne.
Lee told UCR in 2018 that going on tour with Osbourne wasn't easy. "I had a lot of 'Randy Rhoads rules, you suck,'" he recalled. " That option is gone, you know? Randy’s gone, and it’s not like he’s gone to go play in some other band. So either you guys want Ozzy to hang up his coat and call it quits or cut me a little slack. But all the way through Ozzy, there was always a faction of 'You suck, Randy rules.' So, it gave me tough skin."
In 1988 Lee formed Badlands, followed by Wicked Alliance in the mid-'90s. He's also released three solo records since 1996. Since 2014 he's been a member of Red Dragon Cartel, whose latest album, Patina, came out in 2018.
13. 'Down to Earth' (2001)
Zakk Wylde is here as a guitarist, but – importantly – not as a songwriting partner. Instead, Ozzy turned to a series of outside collaborators, and Down to Earth suffered for it. The results are so unfocused and disjointed that even the presence of all-stars like Faith No More's Mike Bordin and Metallica's Robert Trujillo can't turn things around. (Nick DeRiso)
12. 'Under Cover' (2005)
While this set of covers has moments of campy fun (Leslie West nearly bowls over poor Osbourne on Mountain's "Mississippi Queen"), Under Cover ends up feeling more like a tie-in product than anything providing real insight into Ozzy's influences. And some of it (John Lennon's "Woman," the Moody Blues' "Go Now," Mott the Hoople's "All the Young Dudes") is just plain weird. (DeRiso)
11. 'Scream' (2010)
Osbourne again collaborates with Black Rain producer Kevin Churko, who co-wrote every track. What keeps this project from falling into easy continuity is the arrival of Gus G. The new guitarist, joined here by Tommy Clufetos and Adam Wakeman, adds a progressive bent that elevates even some of the more run-of-the-mill material. (DeRiso)
10. 'Ozzmosis' (1995)
Admittedly a touch too slick at times – the fault of one-off producer Michael Beinhorn – Ozzmosis overcomes those missteps with help from Osbourne's old Black Sabbath buddy Geezer Butler, and a set of songs that underscores Ozzy's more emotional side. (DeRiso)
9. 'Black Rain' (2007)
The songs are far from Osbourne's best, but Black Rain might just include his most furiously heavy music. Ozzy's last album with Zakk Wylde as sole guitarist, and first with producer Kevin Churko, is also rumored to be the first LP Osbourne ever recorded sober. (DeRiso)
8. 'Ordinary Man' (2020)
There was a chilling moment on Ordinary Man as Ozzy Osbourne, then recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, sang: "When I speak my final words, what will it feel like?" But this turned out to be an audacious return rather than the expected career summation. In fact, as he mixed now-traditional doom and gloom with some punky, even poppier fare, the re-energized Osbourne sounded like he was just getting started. (DeRiso)
7. 'Patient Number 9' (2022)
The star-studded Patient Number 9 is a more focused work than Ordinary Man, most likely a result of producer Andrew Watt's growing relationship with Osbourne. "Degradation Rules," one of two songs with Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, even achieves the nearly impossible: a close-to-great solo track four decades removed from the classic Blizzard of Ozz. There was initial speculation that Ordinary Man would be Osbourne's final LP. Patient Number 9 proves that theory wrong. Don't count him out just yet. (Michael Gallucci)
6. 'No Rest for the Wicked' (1988)
Zakk Wylde arrived with a bang, adding new guitar crunch and smart co-writing credits throughout this gritty double-platinum hit. Highlights include Osbourne's delicious jab at fallen televangelists, "Miracle Man," and Wylde's presence punches up even rote MTV hits like "Crazy Babies." (DeRiso)
5. 'Bark at the Moon' (1983)
Given the unenviable task of following Randy Rhoads, guitarist Jake E. Lee shows plenty of muscle, if far less panache. He joined bassist Bob Daisley as uncredited co-writers on an album that could never live up to the lofty standards of Ozzy's first two solo projects, but still provided its share of sturdy favorites. (DeRiso)
4. 'The Ultimate Sin' (1986)
Jake E. Lee saved the best for his finale, again collaborating extensively with Ozzy and bassist Bob Daisley. Together, they update Osbourne's sound for a sleek new age, but keep just enough danger to make things interesting. Daisley was ultimately replaced by Phil Soussan, who brought along the huge hit "Shot in the Dark." (DeRiso)
3. 'No More Tears' (1991)
Osbourne's last great album found him working on four tracks with Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister, but there was much more to this layered triumph. Ozzy blended contemporary metal with sharply involving ballads and incisive social commentary, while spinning off hit after hit after hit on this four-times platinum-selling smash. (DeRiso)
2. 'Diary of a Madman' (1981)
Criticizing this album became a lot tougher when the youthful genius of Randy Rhoads was extinguished in a plane crash while on tour. Still, Osbourne's second solo album – also featuring the initially uncredited Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake – can at times sound like the rush job it was. So, it falls to second, if only by a fraction. (DeRiso)
1. 'Blizzard of Ozz' (1980)
Osbourne's quintuple-platinum debut didn't just reestablish his legend, it helped jump-start modern metal. Credit typically goes to the remarkable guitar prowess of Randy Rhoads, a figure who – with Eddie Van Halen – redefined the instrument. Maybe just as importantly, however, were Rhoads' neo-classicist arrangements, which made a striking platform for Osbourne's doomy narratives. Together they did things that Black Sabbath never dared try and that Osbourne – after Rhoads' tragic death – unfortunately never matched again. (DeRiso)