Blabbermouth reports that during an appearance on Tone Talk, ex-Ozzy guitarist Jake E. Lee claimed that Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee wanted him to replace Mick Mars back in the early ’80s.
According to Jake, the whole thing happened after his brief 1981 tenure in Ratt, which would be around two years before he joined Osbourne’s group.
The guitarist said:
“I quit Ratt [in 1981]. I had nothing going on. I was going to Motley’s f*c*ing gigs… Nikki and Tommy wanted me in the band. They actually wanted me to replace Mick – which you can understand that.
“[I was] f*c*ing better looking and f*c*ing better playing. They wanted me to replace Mick. Mick’s in-law or whatever was funding the band, so that didn’t happen.
“And there was [talk of Motley Crue] maybe [having] two guitar players, which even then, I was, like, ‘Motley Crue. Two guitar players. I don’t know about that.’
“So, anyway, it kind of started with that. ‘Cause there was that thing going. Whether somebody denies it or not, that’s what started the rift between me and Mick.”
Asked on what he thinks Crue would sound like had he replaced Mars, Lee replied:
“It’s an interesting [thought]. What would Motley Crue have been if I was the guitar player? I’m not even necessarily saying it would be better. Nothing against Mick.
“[He had] great tone, f*c*ing good rhythm. [He] probably was what they needed to be big. They wouldn’t have been as big with me. Musically, they might have been better.”
1 comment
True or not who cares. They stuck with Mick who had a unique style and sound . I don’t think Jake would have catapulted them to the fame they had with Mick …Jake was best with Ozzy and I truly believe Ozzy would have reached a higher level with the 6 slinger than others that came after him. Ultimate Sin was the best (aside from the production) with Jake on guitar .