In a recent conversation with Tone-Talk, Jake E. Lee discussed the long-standing ‘Randy vs. Jake’ debate that fans and guitarists have passionately argued since the 1980s. While acknowledging the admiration for Randy Rhoads, Lee expressed his frustration with the idea that Rhoads is unquestionably the better player. “Still to this day, there’s people that like my playing and like it better than Randy’s,” Lee said. “And then there’s always the people that [say], ‘That’s ridiculous!’ Like it’s written somewhere that, ‘No, Randy is just better. Anybody who thinks differently is an idiot.'”
Although Lee was careful not to outright claim superiority over Rhoads, he did assert his own unique strengths, stating, “And I’m not saying I’m better than Randy. But I don’t think Randy’s better than me. And I don’t think it’s wrong for certain people to like my style of playing better than Randy’s. If anything, my sh*t’s a little bit harder to play.”
Lee, who played on Ozzy Osbourne’s albums Bark at the Moon and The Ultimate Sin, which followed Rhoads’ own studio albums with Osbourne, emphasized the differences in their music and playing styles. “So the whole, ‘Randy is better, period,’ is just wrong. You have a preference. Once you get to a certain level, it’s not that ‘this guy is better.’ It’s [about] who speaks to you,” Lee explained. While he acknowledged Rhoads’ groundbreaking fusion of classical techniques with rock, Lee believes that music is ultimately subjective. “I’ve gotta take my hat off to him. The stuff he did was awesome,” Lee added.
Looking back, Lee previously stated in a 1986 Guitar World interview that Rhoads was “the best new guitar player after Eddie.” However, he also pointed out that the rivalry between them occasionally became exaggerated, reflecting the competitive nature of the guitar community at the time.
Lee also shared his initial reaction to Bark at the Moon, revealing that he was not initially a fan of the album. “I said, ‘I hate it. The keyboards are too loud. The guitars don’t drive the songs anymore. They’re too quiet,'” he admitted. Though Ozzy Osbourne was open to Lee’s feedback, Sharon Osbourne insisted they could not revisit the album. “Sharon said, ‘No. We’re already too late in giving them the album. We can’t remix it. We have to send it in now,'” Lee recalled. Despite his initial reservations, Bark at the Moon became a significant success, solidifying Lee’s place in Ozzy’s legacy.
