Legendary guitarist Jake E. Lee has publicly lauded his successor, Zakk Wylde, as the ideal match for Ozzy Osbourne — and let slip a long-cherished dream of a joint 2025 tour, despite ongoing health struggles.
In a candid interview, Lee reflected on his own time with Osbourne and how things evolved after his departure. “Zakk is an incredible guitar player. I think he ended up being a better fit with Ozzy than I ever was. He was the perfect guy after me.” His tone conveyed admiration, humility and the acceptance that musical eras change.
Lee, now 68, has had to contend with serious health issues — notably surviving a near-fatal shooting in Las Vegas in October 2024. While he continues to recover, the experience has clearly deepened his perspective on his career, his role, and the musical legacy of Ozzy’s touring bands.
Despite this, Lee revealed that his excitement is very much alive. “Despite my health, I’d still love to do a tour with Zakk in 2025 — but he has a packed schedule,” he admitted, acknowledging Wylde’s commitments with his own band Black Label Society, the return of Pantera, and Ozzy’s farewell engagements.
Lee went on to address the ongoing “Jake vs Zakk” debate that has hovered in fans’ circles. “There’s no competition. We’re different animals, and Zakk took the throne at the exact moment Ozzy needed him.” He emphasised that their styles differ — his being more melodic, theatrical hard rock, and Wylde’s heavier, blues-tinged attack that drove Ozzy’s 1990s and beyond.
When asked about a hypothetical “Guitar Kings” tour — a co-headlined extravaganza featuring the two guitarists — Lee laughed and said: “If the stars align and my body cooperates, hell yes. Two hours of duelling solos? Sign me up.” It’s a moment of hope set against the realism of his recovery.
For fans of Ozzy’s world, Lee’s comments not only cast a fresh light on the transitional moment between his era and Wylde’s, but also offer an unexpected projection: the possibility of seeing two of the era’s most celebrated guitarists sharing the stage.
While nothing has been confirmed yet for 2025, Lee’s open-hearted praise for Wylde and expressed tour aspirations suggest that even after setbacks, his creative fire remains undiminished. For now, fans await whether the dream will become reality — and whether those “duelling solos” will one day light up arenas.
