Jake E. Lee has shared the final text message he received from Ozzy Osbourne before the legendary vocalist’s death. He revealed this personal exchange between the former bandmates on Facebook.
Lee posted about still processing the news of Ozzy’s passing. He shared the text message he received two weeks prior while sitting in an airport.
“Still processing [the news of Ozzy’s death],” Lee said. “The finality of it hits me in waves. This was a text I got from him as I was sitting in an airport headed back home two weeks ago.”
The text message from Ozzy revealed his desire to reconnect with his former guitarist. He apologized for their limited time together during a recent encounter.
“Hi, Jake. I’m so sorry I couldn’t spend more time with you on the weekend but it was really chaotic, I would really like to see you when I eventually get back TO LA just to shoot the shit its been so long since we saw each other, where have are you living these days, because the last thing I herd was you were living in Las Vegas,” Ozzy wrote. “How did the gig go for you on Saturday? I really hope you had fun anyway. I will text you when I eventually get back to LA and we must hook up much love and respect OZZY.”
The message provides insight into Ozzy’s final communications with former band members before his passing.
This heartfelt exchange between the two musicians reflects a relationship that spans decades. Their bond was rooted in their collaborative work during one of Ozzy’s most successful periods as a solo artist.
Wikipedia documented that Jake E. Lee served as Ozzy’s lead guitarist from 1982 to 1987. He played a significant role in creating the platinum-selling albums Bark at the Moon and The Ultimate Sin. During this period, Lee’s guitar work helped define Ozzy’s sound in the mid-1980s. His contributions shaped some of the vocalist’s most commercially successful material.
However, their professional relationship was not without complications. YouTube interviews revealed that Lee faced challenges with songwriting credits and royalties due to contractual pressures from Ozzy’s management at the time. Despite his significant contributions to the albums, Lee struggled to receive proper recognition and compensation for his work. This eventually contributed to tensions within the band.
After parting ways with Ozzy, Lee experienced personal hardships and career challenges before forming the band Badlands. Wikipedia noted that Badlands combined members from notable heavy metal backgrounds. The band produced a blues-tinged hard rock sound that showcased Lee’s evolving musical style beyond his work with Ozzy.
Lee later resurfaced in the music scene in 2013 with his band Red Dragon Cartel. This marked a comeback after a 15-year hiatus. Louder Sound reported that unlike his earlier arena-sized performances with Ozzy, Lee’s recent tours attract more intimate crowds. This reflects a different phase in his long career and a more personal approach to his music.
