🎸 Fans hoping to hear the iconic riffs of “Bark at the Moon” or “The Ultimate Sin” live from the man who created them might be out of luck. During a recent candid appearance on the Eddie Trunk Podcast, legendary guitarist Jake E. Lee, best known for his pivotal 1983–1987 tenure with Ozzy Osbourne, laid down a definitive new stance: he refuses to perform songs from his time in the Ozzy band during his live shows.
Lee, who now fronts the successful hard rock outfit Red Dragon Cartel, explained his reasoning, which stems from a desire to focus purely on the present and the material he genuinely owns and controls.
The Past Is the Past: Focusing on Red Dragon Cartel
For years, Lee has fielded requests from fans who long to hear the powerful guitar work he brought to Ozzy’s band, filling the monumental void left by the late Randy Rhoads. His time with the ‘Prince of Darkness’ yielded two multi-platinum albums—Bark at the Moon (1983) and The Ultimate Sin (1986)—and established Lee as one of the most underrated and technically proficient guitarists of the era.
However, Lee now feels that dipping back into the Ozzy catalogue detracts from his current work with Red Dragon Cartel.
> “People come to see Red Dragon Cartel, and they expect to hear the RDC stuff,” Lee told Trunk. “If I start playing the Ozzy songs, it turns into a nostalgia act. It takes the focus away from the band that’s on stage and the music we’re trying to make now.”
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This decision reflects a clear artistic priority: to ensure Red Dragon Cartel is judged on its own merit, rather than being overshadowed by the ghost of a past gig, no matter how famous. Lee’s commitment to new music is evident; Red Dragon Cartel’s latest album, Patina, showcases his signature blend of blues-tinged hard rock, maintaining the high standard of musicianship fans have come to expect.
The One Condition: A Massive Reunion Payday
While his refusal seems firm, Lee did throw out a fascinating hypothetical scenario—the one condition under which he would strap on his guitar to revisit those classic Ozzy tracks. The condition? A lucrative, high-profile reunion that would make the financial incentive impossible to ignore.
“I’ve always said, if there was a reunion with Ozzy, and it was a proper tour—not just a one-off thing—and the money was huge… then yeah, I’d do it,” Lee admitted.
He went on to clarify that this isn’t about artistic reconciliation or an emotional desire to play with the band again. It is purely a business decision, emphasizing the complex financial realities of the music industry. A Jake E. Lee Ozzy Osbourne reunion would undoubtedly be a massive international draw, commanding arena-level ticket prices and significant media attention, making the ‘huge’ payout a realistic expectation.
The Legacy of the Mid-’80s Ozzy Era
For many fans, the period Lee spent with Ozzy is critically important. Bark at the Moon was a darker, more theatrical offering than its predecessors, while The Ultimate Sin demonstrated Lee’s songwriting prowess, co-writing virtually all of the album’s material. The tracks from this era are essential hard rock classics, and not hearing them live from the source feels like a missed opportunity for many.
Lee’s current stance reinforces the often-rocky relationship he had with the Osbourne camp, particularly regarding songwriting credits and royalties, which have been a point of contention for decades. By focusing on Red Dragon Cartel, he ensures his artistic and financial future is squarely in his own hands.
In conclusion, while the door isn’t slammed shut—a massive, high-paying reunion could swing it open—fans should focus on the killer new music Jake E. Lee is creating. For now, the mid-’80s Ozzy classics will remain powerful studio artifacts, waiting for that one, multi-million dollar condition to be