Jake E. Lee

Jake E. Lee (born Jakey Lou Williams; February 15, 1957) is an American musician best known as lead guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne between 1982 and 1987 and later as a member of the heavy metal band Badlands with Ray Gillen.

In his early teens, he was introduced to the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, and Led Zeppelin by way of his older sister's record collection, and this music greatly influenced his guitar playing.

Not long after arriving in Los Angeles, Lee left Ratt to join a glam metal band called Sexist, reuniting with childhood friend and fellow guitarist Doug Pittam.

Approximately eight months later, Lee received an offer to join Rough Cutt after being recommended by drummer and former Ratt bandmate Dave Alford in late 1982.

Former Black Sabbath vocalist Ronnie James Dio was putting together a solo project with Jimmy Bain and Vinny Appice and was impressed with Lee after seeing a Rough Cutt show in Los Angeles, and invited the guitarist to join.

Though Lee had believed Rough Cutt's future was promising, he felt the offer to join Dio was too good to pass up, though his time in the band would ultimately be short-lived.

Lee claims that Dio wanted him to play "simple block chords that wouldn't trample on his vocals" and cited creative differences for the split.

When Ozzy Osbourne sought a replacement for guitarist Brad Gillis, Los Angeles bassist Dana Strum recommended Lee for the job.

[5] Lee and Osbourne once again toured extensively, this time with Phil Soussan on bass, John Sinclair on keyboards and Randy Castillo on drums.

Following the demise of Badlands, Lee opted for a radical musical departure and teamed with World War III vocalist Mandy Lion in a new band called Wicked Alliance.

The initial line-up also featured future Korn drummer Ray Luzier and bassist Jimmy Bain who was replaced with Brian Perry, formerly of Dirty Looks and Lizzy Borden, in time for the band's one and only U.S. tour in early 1994.

Lee also briefly joined Bourgeois Pigs with Shark Island vocalist Richard Black, guitarist Michael Guy, and bassist Tony Franklin.

In 2011, Jake appeared in the video, along with Ron Keel, Blas Elias, Sunset Thomas and Paul Shortino, for the song "We Come Undone" by the band Beggars & Thieves.

[10] However, in a later interview Lee stated that he was ultimately diagnosed with carpal tunnel by the surgeon, and that he was now receiving cortisone shots as he no longer had any cartilage remaining in his right hand.

[11] On October 15, 2024, Lee was shot multiple times while walking his dog early in the morning in Las Vegas and survived in an incident that authorities believe to be "completely random".

[12][13] In detailed social media updates made in late October through November, Lee explained that he confronted a group of masked men attempting to steal his neighbor's motorcycle.