🤬 LOS ANGELES, CA — The Heavy Metal history books are filled with legends, but few comparisons are as fiercely debated as the rivalry between two of Ozzy Osbourne’s most iconic guitarists: the late, great Randy Rhoads and his successor, Jake E. Lee. In a recent conversation with Tone-Talk, Lee addressed the decades-long “Randy vs. Jake” argument, making it clear that while he respects Rhoads’ genius, he is thoroughly pissed off by fans who dismiss his own talent as categorically inferior.
Lee, who played on the essential Ozzy albums Bark at the Moon and The Ultimate Sin, stated that while Rhoads’ legacy is immense, the idea that one player is definitively superior to another at their level is “ridiculous” and fundamentally misunderstands musical preference.
The Frustration: An Unquestionable Hierarchy
Lee confirmed that he still encounters fans who insist that he is a poor substitute or, worse, dismiss the idea that anyone could genuinely prefer his playing style to Rhoads’ classical-infused approach.
“Still to this day, there’s people that like my playing and like it better than Randy’s,” Lee said. “And then there’s always the people that [say], ‘That’s ridiculous!’ Like it’s written somewhere that, ‘No, Randy is just better. Anybody who thinks differently is an idiot.’”
This mindset, where Heavy Metal guitarists are ranked in an unquestionable hierarchy, is what truly fuels Lee’s frustration. He argues that once two players reach an elite level, the comparison is no longer about technical skill, but entirely about subjective taste.
“I’m not saying I’m better than Randy, but I don’t think Randy’s better than me, either,” Lee asserted. “And I don’t think it’s wrong for certain people to like my style of playing better.”
Different Styles, Different Challenges
Lee pointed to the fundamental differences in their styles as evidence that the “better” debate is misplaced. While he readily acknowledged that Rhoads was unparalleled in integrating classical styles into rock music, Lee suggested his own compositions presented a different kind of challenge.
“If anything, my sh*t’s a little bit harder to play than Randy’s,” he noted, a comment sure to stoke the flames of the ongoing debate.
His larger point, however, is one of artistic perspective: “The whole, ‘Randy is better, period,’ is just wrong. You have a preference. Once you get to a certain level, it’s not that ‘this guy is better.’ It’s [about] who speaks to you.”
The veteran guitarist recalled the hostility he faced from the very beginning of his tenure with the Prince of Darkness, recounting that at early shows, fans would hold up Randy Rhoads T-shirts and flip him off, shouting “Number One.” That comparison has followed him throughout his career, often overshadowing his unique contributions to Hard Rock and the development of his own sound.
Lee’s powerful statement is less about asserting his superiority and more about demanding the respect due to a musician who left an indelible mark on one of the genre’s most important eras, proving there is more than one way to achieve Guitar Legend status in the Ozzy Osbourne legacy.