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Ozzy Osbourne has issued a statement on the shooting of his former guitarist Jake E Lee, calling it “another senseless act of gun violence.”
Lee, 67, was shot multiple times yesterday (October 15) in Las Vegas, Nevada, while walking his dog in what authorities believe to be a random attack. He is expected to make a full recovery.
In a statement seen by The Independent, Osbourne said: “It’s been 37 years since I’ve seen Jake E Lee, but that still doesn’t take away from the shock of hearing what happened to him today.
“It’s just another senseless act of gun violence. I send my thoughts to him and his beautiful daughter, Jade. I just hope he’ll be ok.”
Lee, who has also played with bands such as Ratt, Badlands and Red Dragon Cartel, is best known for his time as Osbourne’s guitarist from 1982 to 1987.
In a statement to Fox News Digital yesterday, Lee’s representatives said: “As confirmed by management, legendary rock guitarist Jake E Lee (Ozzy Osbourne, Badlands, Red Dragon Cartel) was shot multiple times early this morning in a Las Vegas, NV street shooting.
“Lee is fully conscious and doing well in an intensive care unit at a Las Vegas hospital. He is expected to fully recover.”
“Las Vegas authorities believe the shooting was completely random and occurred while Lee took his dog out for a walk in the early morning hours.
“As the incident is under police investigation, no further comments will be forthcoming. Lee and his family appreciate respecting their privacy at this time.”
Lee was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on February 15, 1957. He grew up in San Diego, California, where he formed his first band Teaser.
In 1980, he joined a local heavy metal band named Mickey Ratt, who shortly afterward shortened their name to Ratt and relocated to the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles where they became a successful glam metal band.
Lee left Ratt to play in several other bands in the scene, including Sexist and Rough Cutt. He later joined former Black Sabbath singer Ronnie James Dio’s band, before being recruited by Ozzy Osbourne in 1982. He contributed several songs to Osbourne’s 1983 album Bark at the Moon and 1986’s The Ultimate Sin. Leetoured the world extensively as the band became one of the most renowned and celebrated acts in the history of metal.
Lee was abruptly fired from Osbourne’s band in 1987. The frontman would later maintain he had no personal issues with Lee, but that the guitarist had fallen out of favor with drummer Randy Castillo and bassist Phil Soussan.
In the aftermath of his departure from Osbourne’s band, Lee went on to form Badlands with singer Ray Gillen in 1988. After Gillen’s death in 1993, Lee formed a new group called Wicked Alliance.
Following a number of quiet years, Lee formed a new band Red Dragon Cartel in 2013. They released their self-titled debut album in 2014 and a second album, Patina, in 2018.
