In the summer of 1986, the landscape of heavy metal was shifting. Ozzy Osbourne was at the height of his solo career with The Ultimate Sin, while a young, hungry band named Metallica was beginning to set the world on fire with Master of Puppets. Decades later, former Ozzy guitarist Jake E. Lee—the man behind the iconic riffs of “Bark at the Moon” and “Shot in the Dark”—is looking back on that legendary tour and the rigid rules that governed the Prince of Darkness’s stage show.
In a recent conversation with Brave Words, Lee reminisced about the Damage, Inc. Tour, which saw Metallica opening for the Osbourne camp from March to August 1986. For Lee, seeing the classic Metallica lineup—featuring the late, legendary bassist Cliff Burton—was a revelation.
“Heavy as Sh*t”: Lars Ulrich’s Surprising Praise
While many purists at the time viewed Metallica’s thrash style as a departure from traditional heavy metal, Lee found himself an immediate fan of the band’s raw, unpolished energy. He recalled that the respect was mutual, sharing a specific moment involving Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich.
“After The Ultimate Sin came out, Lars came up to me and he said, ‘Thank you and congratulations. The Ultimate Sin is the heaviest song that Ozzy’s ever done, I love it,'” Lee recalled. Receiving such high praise from the architects of thrash metal was a significant validation for Lee’s work. “Shit, this coming from Metallica? So yeah, it was still heavy, it was still dark.”
Lee noted that there was a certain “magic” in the air during those shows, particularly with Cliff Burton on bass. He described the band as “angry” and “unpolished,” providing a stark contrast to the highly theatrical and glossy production of the main act.
Sharon’s Law: “You Can’t Dress Like the Punters”
While Metallica was tearing up stages in simple jeans and t-shirts, Jake E. Lee and the rest of Ozzy’s band were under strict orders from manager Sharon Osbourne regarding their onstage image. According to Lee, Sharon was adamant that the band maintained a “larger-than-life” rock star appearance that separated them from the audience.
“I remember one of Sharon’s things was, ‘You can’t dress like the punters. You can’t be on stage and look like you could also be in the front row,'” Lee explained. This directive led to some uncomfortable fashion choices for the guitarist. While Ozzy sported his famous gold glitter, big-shouldered outfits, Lee tried to negotiate his way into more muted attire.
“I remember seeing Ozzy’s outfit… and I was like, ‘Damn, if I have to wear this shit can you please just mute it down?'” Lee laughed. Despite his preference for simple black-and-white clothing without the glitter, he still felt out of place compared to the “punk attitude” of the opening act.
The Clash of Styles and the Legacy of 1986
The 1986 tour remains a pivotal moment in metal history, representing the bridge between the 1970s hard rock foundation and the 1980s thrash revolution. Lee’s admiration for Metallica’s refusal to follow the era’s glam-heavy fashion trends highlights the internal tension between rock’s theatrical roots and its grittier future.
Today, Jake E. Lee remains a beloved figure in the metal community, having recently reconnected with the Osbourne camp following his performance at the “Back to the Beginning” tribute. While he may have felt like a “forgotten footnote” at times, his contributions to the Prince of Darkness’s legacy and his eyewitness accounts of Metallica’s rise ensure his place in the hall of legends.