Jake E.Lee was one of the most prominent rock guitarists of the 1980s, known for his sharp playing and songwriting on some of the era’s biggest metal albums.

Yet, despite his undeniable talent and contributions, his career was marked by personal struggles, industry betrayals, and being unfairly sidelined by the powerful Osbourne family.

From enduring racism as a child to being cheated out of songwriting credits and royalties, Jake’s story is one of resilience, heartbreak, and the harsh realities of the music business.

 

Born Jakey Lou Williams in Norfolk, Virginia in 1957, Jake E. Lee is of mixed Welsh and Japanese ancestry.

His family moved to California when he was young, but growing up biracial exposed him to racism and bullying.

Despite these challenges, Jake described his childhood as reasonably happy.

He began piano lessons at age five and competed statewide but soon realized classical music wasn’t his passion.

 

His father’s love of jazz and his sister’s introduction to pop and rock shaped his musical tastes.

At 12, hearing Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” in his sister’s room inspired Jake to switch from piano to guitar.

Self-taught, he combined his music theory knowledge from piano with guitar method books and practice.

By his teens, Jake was playing in local bands in San Diego and quickly earned a reputation as one of the city’s best guitarists.

 

Jake moved to Los Angeles and briefly played with Mickey Rat (later called Rat).

Though he was the main guitarist, creative clashes with bandmate Robin Crosby and the group’s focus on “fashion rock” led to his departure.

He later played with Rough Cutt, a band managed by Ronnie James Dio’s wife and briefly worked with Dio himself.

 

In 1982, after a period of personal turmoil and heavy drinking following his firing from Dio’s band, Jake got a major break.

He auditioned for Ozzy Osbourne’s band after the tragic death of guitarist Randy Rhoads.

Despite rumors that George Lynch had the gig, Jake impressed Ozzy’s drummer, Randy Castillo, and was chosen as the new guitarist.

Jake’s time with Ozzy Osbourne from 1983 to 1987 marked the peak of his career.

He played on two multiplatinum albums, *Bark at the Moon* (1983) and *The Ultimate Sin* (1986), and toured extensively.

However, behind the scenes, things were far from ideal.

 

Initially, Jake was paid very little—starting at around $100 a week, gradually increasing as he proved himself.

More importantly, though, he was promised songwriting credits and publishing royalties for his contributions.

When the recording sessions wrapped up, Jake was shocked to be handed a contract stating Ozzy was the sole songwriter, denying Jake any publishing rights or credit.

 

When Jake confronted Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy’s wife and manager, she admitted the contract wasn’t what he was promised.

She bluntly warned him that refusing to sign would result in his parts being re-recorded by another guitarist, leaving him with nothing.

Faced with this threat and no legal support, Jake reluctantly signed the contract and went on tour.

 

Jake later revealed he was paid a total of $15,000 for his work on *Bark at the Moon*, including a $10,000 “make-up” payment for losing publishing rights.

He estimated that if he had received proper royalties, he could have earned around $250,000 just from the title track alone.

Adjusted for inflation, that figure would be over $600,000 today.

 

Despite the financial injustice, Jake praised Ozzy for his melodic contributions but was clear that he wrote nearly all the music on *Bark at the Moon*.

For the follow-up album, *The Ultimate Sin*, Jake insisted on a written agreement guaranteeing credit and royalties before continuing, a line he drew after being burned the first time.

After touring *The Ultimate Sin*, Jake was unexpectedly fired.

Sharon Osbourne invited him to dinner, only to break the news that he was being let go.

Jake learned through his guitar tech that rumors were already spreading that he had been fired.

Ozzy later claimed the dismissal was due to internal band dynamics and growing distance between him and Jake.

 

Jake blamed bassist Phil Soussan, who was pushing to become the band’s primary songwriter and influenced Ozzy to reject Jake’s material.

Jake was replaced by Zakk Wylde, who would go on to become Ozzy’s long-term guitarist.

 

Following his firing, Jake faced personal hardships, including a troubled marriage to a woman struggling with addiction.

He spent a year away from music before forming Badlands with former Black Sabbath singer Ray Gillen.

Jake led the band, which had a bluesy hard rock sound often compared to Led Zeppelin.

 

Badlands released two albums but faced setbacks, including Gillen’s undisclosed AIDS diagnosis and conflicts over the band’s musical direction.

Gillen was eventually fired, and the band was dropped by Atlantic Records.

Around this time, Jake’s ex-wife tragically died from an overdose.

 

After the early 1990s, Jake largely disappeared from the public eye.

He released a solo instrumental album in 1996 and contributed to tribute albums, but for about 15 years, he lived a quieter life.

He described this period as laid-back, supported by modest royalties and selling some gear to make ends meet.

During this time, rumors circulated about Jake being homeless or addicted, but these were untrue.

He also lost both his parents during this period.

Around 2009, Sharon Osbourne reached out about rejoining Ozzy’s band, but Jake demanded proper songwriting credit for his past work.

When Sharon never followed up, he took it as a no.

 

Jake’s attitude toward music shifted in 2011 after appearing in a music video for Beggars and Thieves.

He formed a new band, Red Dragon Cartel, in 2013, releasing two albums that received positive reviews.

 

In recent years, Jake has faced physical challenges, including a misdiagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome and the loss of cartilage in his right hand, requiring cortisone shots and physical therapy.

In 2024, Jake survived a shocking incident in Las Vegas where he was shot multiple times while confronting thieves attempting to steal his neighbor’s motorcycle.

Despite the random nature of the attack, none of his wounds were life-threatening.

 

Jake’s willingness to speak publicly about being cheated by Sharon Osbourne has come at a cost.

He revealed that he was uninvited from a Black Sabbath show in Las Vegas after appearing on a metal show and discussing his treatment.

Though hurtful, Jake remains proud of his work and determined to tell his story.

Jake E.Lee’s journey is a stark reminder of how talented musicians can be exploited in the music industry.

Despite writing iconic riffs and helping create classic albums, he was denied rightful credit and royalties.

His story highlights the darker side of fame and the challenges artists face fighting for recognition and fairness.

Yet through personal tragedy, industry betrayal, and physical hardship, Jake’s passion for music endures, proving his resilience and dedication to his craft.

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