🤘 Guitarist Jake E. Lee, a key figure in Ozzy Osbourne’s mid-80s success, has long felt a complex relationship with his tenure in the “Prince of Darkness'” band. Despite co-writing and performing on foundational albums like Bark at the Moon and The Ultimate Sin, Lee recently revealed that he viewed himself as a “forgotten footnote” in Ozzy’s massive legacy. However, that feeling was dramatically reversed in July 2025 during his unexpected and moving appearance at Ozzy’s and Black Sabbath’s final concert, “Back To The Beginning.”
A Long-Awaited Validation
Speaking candidly on the Talk Is Jericho podcast, the 68-year-old guitarist admitted that his invitation to join the all-star lineup initially felt like an afterthought. “I came in there feeling kind of like a footnote, maybe even an almost forgotten footnote: ‘Oh, yeah, we’ll throw him in there too,’” he confessed.
This feeling, he explained, was rooted in years of omissions—noting his absence from major retrospectives and official band history acknowledgments, such as the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. For a musician whose work significantly shaped an era of heavy metal, this lack of recognition can be deeply frustrating.
Feeling “Special” Among Legends
Lee’s emotional state quickly changed once he arrived at the event. He describes the entire week surrounding Ozzy’s swansong as potentially “one of the best weeks of my life.” The key difference was the treatment he received from everyone involved.
“Everybody treated me so respectfully and [there was] encouragement and support from everybody. It made me feel special,” Lee stated. This outpouring of respect—from road crew and organizers to his fellow musicians—was the profound validation he had long sought. It provided the necessary closure and acknowledgement that his contributions were valued, not forgotten.
The Architect of Inclusion: Tom Morello
Lee was genuinely surprised to receive the invitation at all. He credits the call to the event’s musical director, Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello. Lee remembers, “I’d never met him before, but when he called me he said, ‘I can’t imagine doing this without you.’”
This simple but powerful statement was enough to secure Lee’s enthusiastic participation. “Hmm, really? Cool! I’m in!” he recalled, underscoring that even if he hadn’t been slated to perform, he would have attended “just to be there for Black Sabbath: all original [members], final show.”
Who Else Was Happy to See Him?
Beyond the organizers and musical director Tom Morello, the text clearly highlights that the “everybody” involved with the show, including the crew and fellow performers, were happy and encouraging, offering him respect and support. Furthermore, the massive audience—who, by giving him a warm welcome, made him feel “special”—was undoubtedly thrilled to see him take the stage again with the Prince of Darkness, ensuring his place was cemented in the official farewell narrative.