😔 For years, despite his vital contributions to two classic albums, guitarist Jake E. Lee felt like a “footnote” in the sprawling, storied legacy of Ozzy Osbourne. That changed dramatically, however, with a single, symbolic performance at the metal icon’s final show.
Speaking recently on the Talk Is Jericho podcast, hosted by Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho, Lee opened up about the emotional impact of being included in Ozzy’s swansong event, “Back To The Beginning,” which featured a host of former band members and rock legends.
👻 The Feeling of Being “Forgotten”
Jake E. Lee’s tenure with The Prince of Darkness in the 1980s was highly successful, yielding platinum-selling albums like Bark at the Moon and The Ultimate Sin. Yet, following his departure in 1987, Lee often felt marginalized—a “forgotten” chapter in the Ozzy saga, sandwiched between the legendary Randy Rhoads and the long-tenured Zakk Wylde.
This feeling of being overlooked weighed on the guitarist. His era, while commercially successful, rarely seemed to garner the same level of reverence or recognition within the Osbourne camp as the periods that preceded and followed it. Lee felt his crucial work was being reduced to an asterisk in the historical narrative.
✨ The Moment That Made Him “Special”
All that self-doubt and feeling of being a “footnote” dissolved when Lee stepped onto the stage for the massive tribute show. Being invited back and performing alongside other pivotal figures in Ozzy’s career was the validation he needed.
Lee explained that participating in the “Back To The Beginning” event provided him with a profound sense of closure and appreciation. The performance didn’t just feel like a gig; it felt like an official welcome back into the family and a definitive acknowledgement of his importance to the Osbourne legacy. The overwhelmingly positive reception from the audience and his peers made him feel “special,” finally cementing his status as a key, foundational element of Ozzy’s career—not just a footnote.