Jake E. Lee Shot in Las Vegas: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About the Former Ozzy Guitarist 

Jake E. Lee, the iconic guitarist who jammed with Ozzy Osbourne and rocked out with Badlands, just had a rough time. On October 15, 2024, he got shot multiple times while walking his dog in Las Vegas.

Luckily, he’s expected to pull through and is awake in the ICU. But there’s way more to Lee than this incident. His journey in the rock scene has been filled with highs and lows, and he has some serious skills to show for it.

As fans buzz about his health, it’s a great time to dive into the man behind the music. From battling health issues to sneaky songwriting credits, his story is far more interesting than you might think.

5 Surprising Facts About Ozzy’s Former Guitarist

So, let’s crank up the amp and check out five facts you probably didn’t know about Jake E. Lee!

1. Jake E. Lee has Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Lee has been a bit MIA in the music scene lately, and there’s a reason for it. His right wrist is causing him major issues due to carpal tunnel syndrome. 

Greg Chaisson, his former bandmate, revealed the details during an interview with Border City Rock Talk. With Lee’s intense picking style, it’s no surprise his wrist is protesting. The guitarist has been waiting for his “insurance to kick in so” he can finally get the surgery he needs.

2. A Mix of Cultures

Did you know Lee has a fascinating background? Born Jakey Lou Williams in Virginia, he has Welsh and Japanese roots. His family moved to California when he was just a baby.

Growing up, the founder of Red Dragon Cartel faced some tough times at school—kids can be brutal! He was given some not-so-nice names, but instead of letting it bring him down, he turned that pain into music.

3. Piano Before Guitar

Lee actually started with piano, not guitar! His mom made him take lessons when he was just six, but he wasn’t into it at all. It wasn’t until the star picked up his sister’s guitar at 13 that he found his passion. Lee quickly dove into classic rock songs and began crafting his signature sound. The rest is history!

4. Influenced by Rock Legends

Lee didn’t just become a guitar god overnight. It was his sister’s record collection that introduced him to legends like Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. Those influences sparked his creativity and helped shape his unique style.

The first song he learned? No Time by The Guess Who. From there, he dove into music theory and used his piano background to elevate his guitar skills.

5. Behind Ozzy’s Bark at the Moon

Lee claimed on Eddie Trunk’s Trunk Nation show on SiriusXM’s Hair Nation (via Blabber Mouth) that he wrote most of the music for Ozzy’s Bark at the Moon. However, he didn’t receive any credit for it.

When the 67-year-old recorded the album, he was told he would get recognition, but Lee ended up getting the short end of the stick. Instead of his name being credited, it was all attributed to Ozzy.