New Jake E Lee Interview - Confirms Badlands Music Cannot Be Re-Released Due to Ray

[FreddyFender]

Jake on a livestream talking gear and answering questions https://www.youtube.com/live/g4nWwi49Fs ... 6fl&t=5138

Says after they fired manager Paul O'Neil, O'Neil went to Atlantic Records' President and told him Ray was HIV positive and who knows what else to get Atlantic to drop them as revenge.

He doesn't know the details, but as a result of that meeting there's a standing mandate from the now-deceased founder of the label - Badlands material can never be re-released.

Long been the rumor, but never confirmed.

It's been said on many forums over the years that the back-catalog was deleted due to lawsuits from groupies Ray supposedly infected with AIDs as part of the agreement with Atlantic. I've never seen that shared from anyone actually involved on in-the-know. If that were true, I think there would have been an article in an actual Newspaper or Magazine either from back-in-the-day or recent times.

[Zabooka]

The best of both worlds would be to give Ray's share to the victims, or AIDS research.

[Anthrax442]

This would matter if anyone gave a shit about Badlands in 2024. Hell, no one gave a shit about them in 1994, much less now. I'd never even heard of them before joining this forum 20 years ago.

[BernieTaupson]

Accurate.

I’m not sure what Jake’s deal is. He was so good with Ozzy then just a load of crap. That Red Dragon thing was embarrassing.

[MetalSludgeCEO]

Jake has never been smart when it comes to "business" in this industry and I would doubt, or question much of what he says in regards to this stuff.

Being associated with Ozzy, is like being associated with Kiss. If you were in those bands, for any period, you are automatically given an Ace card at the poker table.

Go through a list of those guys, from those bands... and Jake from the Ozzy camp is only a notch or two above Vinnie Vincent from Kiss. Both seem out of their mind and lost.

In the big picture, there is very little interest, or money to be made off of a Badlands re-issue, re-union, or anything related.

Jake coming and going, popping up to do a record or two (RDC) after disappearing for 2+ decades, and then disappearing again is all the reason more for anyone (a label) not to put an ounce of effort into it.

He always sounds half loaded and is absolutely arrogant... meh!

$tEvil

[HottKarl777]

He always sounds half loaded and is absolutely arrogant... meh!

$tEvil

Your assessment of Jake was harsh but deserved. Jake made some weird comments about Randy back in the 80s in guitar mags that never sat well with me. Shit like "Randy was just following minor scales" and "when you die they make you a legend".

Jake got fired because he thought he was too cool to show up for band practice. He thought he was too cool for everything. It happens with lead guitarists.


To another poster: obviously a huge reason the Ozzy material with Jake sounds so much better than anything else he ever did was that he had Bob Daisley helping him with arrangements and riffs. Bob would make the songs more complex and progressive than they would have been otherwise. Jake himself has stated this.

I fucking love Jake btw. He was mindblowing.

[Michael Hotts Ghost]

Jake needs to play mainly songs from Bark and Ultimate and like one or two Badlands songs. Throw in one original per set. Thats where your bread will be buttered Jake. Get healthy, quit the booze, and brush/dye your wig. Oh yeah, find some decent players to support you.

[FreddyFender]

Honestly, Jake's personality is pretty similar to Eddie Van Halen's. Jake just didn't have the success to get away with it.

Insanely talented but condescending, weird, reclusive. Has no idea how to be cordial when it comes to other people and/or his opinions. Example both Ed and Jake saying dismissive stuff about Randy's talent when asked about his legacy.

Hell, in the above video Jake is asked about Dino Jelusick, whos covered Badlands - Jake shits on him. Says he sounds like an AI Ray Gillin, and even says his record label tried to get him to work with Dino but he didn't want to.

[Van Ailin']

Jake's drinking is the issue. Michael Schenker had to eventually get past it due to financial pressure and (ironically) two or three "rock bottoms." I think the Ozzy money may have been sufficient that, like John Sykes, Jakes doesn't have to do music. That's a loss for us. The two Badlands records are excellent. Good thing I have them on vinyl. The posthumous one is quite good, too.

[Bono Nettencourt]

Really? I thought he was down on his luck and selling old gear to stay afloat...

[veritas]

Yeah, Jake doesn't have any "Ozzy money."
He took lump sum payments for the albums he was on (as did Daisley on those ones too). Hence, the "all songs by Ozzy Osbourne nonsense" on Bark at the Moon.

Jake has been living in trailers and I think barely scraping by in Vegas for years?

[BernieTaupson]

They got bought out for songwriting on BATM. Jake said he wouldn’t come back for TUS unless he got credit, so he did. That’s direct from Jake.

[veritas]

They got bought out for songwriting on BATM. Jake said he wouldn’t come back for TUS unless he got credit, so he did. That’s direct from Jake.

Sorry my bad.

But I do wonder how much Ultimate Sin was kicked to Jake over the years, especially 30 plus years onward. Especially with the Sharon factor.

[BernieTaupson]

Less than it should have been because they made it go out of print 25 years ago.

[El Vampiro Blanco]

They got bought out for songwriting on BATM. Jake said he wouldn’t come back for TUS unless he got credit, so he did. That’s direct from Jake.

Yes, but it is also direct from Jake (YouTube) that after he was fired from Ozzy he sold all his Ultimate Sin publishing to Sharon/Ozzy because he 'didn't want the hassle of having to fight for his money all the time'.
So, yeah, there is no Ozzy money for Jake.

When he did the Red Dragon Cartel stuff he did a bunch of interviews on YouTube and I watched those. Jake is a weird guy. He truly doesn't seem to give a fuck, but not in an unpleasant way like Ace Frehley. But it is pretty clear from a business pov, he would be hard to work with....

[Tommy2Tone84]

Jake has never been smart when it comes to "business" in this industry and I would doubt, or question much of what he says in regards to this stuff.

Being associated with Ozzy, is like being associated with Kiss. If you were in those bands, for any period, you are automatically given an Ace card at the poker table.

Go through a list of those guys, from those bands... and Jake from the Ozzy camp is only a notch or two above Vinnie Vincent from Kiss. Both seem out of their mind and lost.

In the big picture, there is very little interest, or money to be made off of a Badlands re-issue, re-union, or anything related.

Jake coming and going, popping up to do a record or two (RDC) after disappearing for 2+ decades, and then disappearing again is all the reason more for anyone (a label) not to put an ounce of effort into it.

He always sounds half loaded and is absolutely arrogant... meh!

$tEvil

You’re way off base

Eddie Van Halen wasn’t very smart either when it came to the business. Sammy Hagar was,
I think that was at the crux of Eddie’s long standing resentment towards Sammy.

Dave really wasn’t all that smart either. Although in his book he tries to bs and make
it seem like he is. Typical Dave

Jake is a total f*ck up and addict. But I can’t blame him
for pulling a Vito Bratta all those years ago.

Your Vinnie Vincent comparison is a fooking joke.
Jake, even with a smack addiction, was light years better
than Vinnie ever was.

Ace, Vinnie and Mark were like the three stooges of KISS, and not in the good way.

Jake’s two Badlands albums bury any of those three’s solo “careers”

How did working for Ozzy work out for Bernie Torme
and Joe Holmes? That Ace card didn’t seem to help them much.

Brad already had a band, record deal and album when he filled in for Randy. He didn’t
need the gig.

There’s a demand for Lita Ford, Trixter, Mr Big, Winger and Warrant these days. If Ray was still
alive and not sexually assaulting chicks or giving them AIDS or whatever it was that that creep was doing, there would be a demand for Badlands.

Had Jake stayed clean and found another impressive singer, and maybe another bassist to replace old man Chaisson. Badlands
would be playing the cruises, casinos, Japan, Europe and South America too.

Jake is Warren DiMartini, John Sykes, Yngwie, Vito Bratta, George Lynch and Reb Beach level. Talent wise, he’s a cut
or two above some of those guys. He’s nowhere near those delusional, lucky losers Ace Frehley, Vinnie Vincent and Mark St John. Mark was just awful. Those three are absolute hacks.

If Jake had stayed clean, he could have easily played in Deep Purple for the last 30 years rather than Steve Morris.
As much as I respect Steve, I never felt was a very good fit. Jake would’ve been a much better fit than Steve.

Next to Randy, Jake is the best guitarist Ozzy ever had as a solo artist. I don’t care
what the Zakktards say. Jake was the absolute dude.

[HueyRamone]

How did working for Ozzy work out for... Joe Holmes?

Jake E Lee looks at Joe Holmes, and says "Man... that guy's a little lazy, dawg".

[BiggusDickus]

Both Badlands albums were rereleased in Brazil last year:

https://heavymetalmania.com.br/?s=Badla ... pe=product

[MetalSludgeCEO]

Yeah, Jake doesn't have any "Ozzy money."
He took lump sum payments for the albums he was on (as did Daisley on those ones too). Hence, the "all songs by Ozzy Osbourne nonsense" on Bark at the Moon.

Jake has been living in trailers and I think barely scraping by in Vegas for years?

"""""""""""""""Jake has been living in trailers and I think barely scraping by in Vegas for years?"""""""""""""


This sounds about right...

And his wife... works or has worked as a Bar-tender at various watering holes in Sin City...

If he had any 'real' money, his wife wouldn't have to serve beer to drunks to help keep the lights on.

$tEvil

[ParaDime77]

Shady shit happens to shady ex celebrities. Jake worked for Ozzy a billion years ago, quit defending a life long addict. Sure, he was a good guitar player at one time but seriously let it go. This is who he is.

[MetalSludgeCEO]

Jake has never been smart when it comes to "business" in this industry and I would doubt, or question much of what he says in regards to this stuff.

Being associated with Ozzy, is like being associated with Kiss. If you were in those bands, for any period, you are automatically given an Ace card at the poker table.

Go through a list of those guys, from those bands... and Jake from the Ozzy camp is only a notch or two above Vinnie Vincent from Kiss. Both seem out of their mind and lost.

In the big picture, there is very little interest, or money to be made off of a Badlands re-issue, re-union, or anything related.

Jake coming and going, popping up to do a record or two (RDC) after disappearing for 2+ decades, and then disappearing again is all the reason more for anyone (a label) not to put an ounce of effort into it.

He always sounds half loaded and is absolutely arrogant... meh!

$tEvil

You’re way off base

Eddie Van Halen wasn’t very smart either when it came to the business. Sammy Hagar was,
I think that was at the crux of Eddie’s long standing resentment towards Sammy.

Dave really wasn’t all that smart either. Although in his book he tries to bs and make
it seem like he is. Typical Dave

Jake is a total f*ck up and addict. But I can’t blame him
for pulling a Vito Bratta all those years ago.

Your Vinnie Vincent comparison is a fooking joke.
Jake, even with a smack addiction, was light years better
than Vinnie ever was.

Ace, Vinnie and Mark were like the three stooges of KISS, and not in the good way.

Jake’s two Badlands albums bury any of those three’s solo “careers”

How did working for Ozzy work out for Bernie Torme
and Joe Holmes? That Ace card didn’t seem to help them much.

Brad already had a band, record deal and album when he filled in for Randy. He didn’t
need the gig.

There’s a demand for Lita Ford, Trixter, Mr Big, Winger and Warrant these days. If Ray was still
alive and not sexually assaulting chicks or giving them AIDS or whatever it was that that creep was doing, there would be a demand for Badlands.

Had Jake stayed clean and found another impressive singer, and maybe another bassist to replace old man Chaisson. Badlands
would be playing the cruises, casinos, Japan, Europe and South America too.

Jake is Warren DiMartini, John Sykes, Yngwie, Vito Bratta, George Lynch and Reb Beach level. Talent wise, he’s a cut
or two above some of those guys. He’s nowhere near those delusional, lucky losers Ace Frehley, Vinnie Vincent and Mark St John. Mark was just awful. Those three are absolute hacks.

If Jake had stayed clean, he could have easily played in Deep Purple for the last 30 years rather than Steve Morris.
As much as I respect Steve, I never felt was a very good fit. Jake would’ve been a much better fit than Steve.

Next to Randy, Jake is the best guitarist Ozzy ever had as a solo artist. I don’t care
what the Zakktards say. Jake was the absolute dude.

I am "way off base"... as in free-base? Jake's favorite past time?

For someone defending Jake here, there are a lot of "ifs ands or buts" in your drivel.

I stand by my view... no hate, just truth and facts.

Jake E Lee for being part of 1 of the biggest artist's of all time, in the Heavy Metal world, he has done squat with his opportunities.

""""Jake is Warren DiMartini, John Sykes, Yngwie, Vito Bratta, George Lynch and Reb Beach level. """"

And all of those guys, have had many times over the success and career as Jake. With the exception of Vito disappearing (not because he was a junkie either) all of those mentioned, all have way more credits and the like than Jake.

"Jake is a total F#@k up and addict" your words.

"Had Jake stayed clean" also your words.

"If Jake had stayed clean" more of your words.

You said it, not me... so are you off base too?

$tEvil

[pieceofme]

He always sounds half loaded and is absolutely arrogant... meh!

$tEvil

Your assessment of Jake was harsh but deserved. Jake made some weird comments about Randy back in the 80s in guitar mags that never sat well with me. Shit like "Randy was just following minor scales" and "when you die they make you a legend".

Jake got fired because he thought he was too cool to show up for band practice. He thought he was too cool for everything. It happens with lead guitarists.


To another poster: obviously a huge reason the Ozzy material with Jake sounds so much better than anything else he ever did was that he had Bob Daisley helping him with arrangements and riffs. Bob would make the songs more complex and progressive than they would have been otherwise. Jake himself has stated this.

I fucking love Jake btw. He was mindblowing.

He was not wrong about the dying young part.

[Tommy2Tone84]

Jake has never been smart when it comes to "business" in this industry and I would doubt, or question much of what he says in regards to this stuff.

Being associated with Ozzy, is like being associated with Kiss. If you were in those bands, for any period, you are automatically given an Ace card at the poker table.

Go through a list of those guys, from those bands... and Jake from the Ozzy camp is only a notch or two above Vinnie Vincent from Kiss. Both seem out of their mind and lost.

In the big picture, there is very little interest, or money to be made off of a Badlands re-issue, re-union, or anything related.

Jake coming and going, popping up to do a record or two (RDC) after disappearing for 2+ decades, and then disappearing again is all the reason more for anyone (a label) not to put an ounce of effort into it.

He always sounds half loaded and is absolutely arrogant... meh!

$tEvil

You’re way off base

Eddie Van Halen wasn’t very smart either when it came to the business. Sammy Hagar was,
I think that was at the crux of Eddie’s long standing resentment towards Sammy.

Dave really wasn’t all that smart either. Although in his book he tries to bs and make
it seem like he is. Typical Dave

Jake is a total f*ck up and addict. But I can’t blame him
for pulling a Vito Bratta all those years ago.

Your Vinnie Vincent comparison is a fooking joke.
Jake, even with a smack addiction, was light years better
than Vinnie ever was.

Ace, Vinnie and Mark were like the three stooges of KISS, and not in the good way.

Jake’s two Badlands albums bury any of those three’s solo “careers”

How did working for Ozzy work out for Bernie Torme
and Joe Holmes? That Ace card didn’t seem to help them much.

Brad already had a band, record deal and album when he filled in for Randy. He didn’t
need the gig.

There’s a demand for Lita Ford, Trixter, Mr Big, Winger and Warrant these days. If Ray was still
alive and not sexually assaulting chicks or giving them AIDS or whatever it was that that creep was doing, there would be a demand for Badlands.

Had Jake stayed clean and found another impressive singer, and maybe another bassist to replace old man Chaisson. Badlands
would be playing the cruises, casinos, Japan, Europe and South America too.

Jake is Warren DiMartini, John Sykes, Yngwie, Vito Bratta, George Lynch and Reb Beach level. Talent wise, he’s a cut
or two above some of those guys. He’s nowhere near those delusional, lucky losers Ace Frehley, Vinnie Vincent and Mark St John. Mark was just awful. Those three are absolute hacks.

If Jake had stayed clean, he could have easily played in Deep Purple for the last 30 years rather than Steve Morris.
As much as I respect Steve, I never felt was a very good fit. Jake would’ve been a much better fit than Steve.

Next to Randy, Jake is the best guitarist Ozzy ever had as a solo artist. I don’t care
what the Zakktards say. Jake was the absolute dude.

I am "way off base"... as in free-base? Jake's favorite past time?

For someone defending Jake here, there are a lot of "ifs ands or buts" in your drivel.

I stand by my view... no hate, just truth and facts.

Jake E Lee for being part of 1 of the biggest artist's of all time, in the Heavy Metal world, he has done squat with his opportunities.

""""Jake is Warren DiMartini, John Sykes, Yngwie, Vito Bratta, George Lynch and Reb Beach level. """"

And all of those guys, have had many times over the success and career as Jake. With the exception of Vito disappearing (not because he was a junkie either) all of those mentioned, all have way more credits and the like than Jake.

"Jake is a total F#@k up and addict" your words.

"Had Jake stayed clean" also your words.

"If Jake had stayed clean" more of your words.

You said it, not me... so are you off base too?

$tEvil

What has John Sykes done recently? The last relevant thing he did was a show at the Galaxy in 1995.

I was talking skill wise. Guys like Jake and Vito were and are miles above those three clowns from KISS.

Jake most likely would have still disappeared just like Vito, Warren and John have even without the
monkey on his back.