One of Ozzy Osbourne’s most keyboard-forward phases was the early-to-mid 1980s, highlighted by the albums Bark at the Moon (1983) and The Ultimate Sin (1986). This era also introduced fans to one of Ozzy’s most notable guitarists, Jake E. Lee. In a recent interview with Tone-TalkLee candidly reflected on his experiences recording with Ozzy and shared his discontent with the final sound of Bark at the Moon.
Recalling his reaction to the album’s mix, Lee explained (transcribed by Ultimate Guitar): “I remember when I first heard it when they mixed it. And then Ozzy and Sharon asked me over to listen to it, and I listened to it, and he said, ‘What do you think?’ I said, ‘I hate it. Keyboards are loud. Guitars — they’re not driving the songs anymore. They’re too low. I said, ‘I hate it.'”
Lee’s critique didn’t go unnoticed by Ozzy, who suggested they remix the album: ‘That’s it! We need to remix it!’ But Sharon had other plans, telling Lee, “No. We’re already way too late giving them the album. We can’t remix it. We have to send this in now.” She also bluntly added, “And just get used to it.”
Years later, Lee revealed that he reluctantly signed away his rights to the writing and publishing of Bark at the Moon, after the album was recorded, fearing his guitar parts might be erased if he didn’t comply. It was only afterward that he realized Sharon’s threats may have been a bluff. Reflecting on the moment, he admitted, “And then later that night, I realized, not to bring this whole thing up again, I realized if they couldn’t spend another couple extra days to remix, they certainly couldn’t have brought in another guitar player, have him re-record all my tracks. So, that was a bluff. She was bluffing, when she told me that. Later that night, I realized I went, ‘Shit!’ But hey, is what it is.”
Despite briefly hesitating, Lee ultimately signed what he described as an “artist-unfriendly” agreement. “For a couple minutes, I was thinking, ‘I’m not signing, I’m not signing.’ And then I thought, ‘Oh shit, no, I have to. I can’t take the chance.'”
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