In the wild world of rock and roll, unexpected moments often become legendary stories, and Jake E. Lee has a gem from his time with Ozzy Osbourne. The year was 1983, and Lee had just joined Ozzy’s band, feeling the weight of expectation and excitement. As they performed the iconic Black Sabbath track ‘War Pigs,’ an unplanned twist turned the night into a memorable anecdote that would be retold for years.
During a recent interview with Guitar World, Lee recounted the unforgettable moment. ‘We were doing ‘War Pigs’ and it’s the first verse, and Ozzy looks at me and mouths, ‘What are the words?’ Lee said. Despite knowing the lyrics, the unexpected question left him stumped. ‘I didn’t want to say the wrong words, so I just said, ‘I don’t know…’ he continued. In true Ozzy fashion, the Prince of Darkness didn’t miss a beat and started singing ‘Old MacDonald Had a Farm!’ complete with pig-related lyrics that left the audience both confused and entertained.
‘It worked perfectly! It was genius,’ Lee recalled, describing Ozzy’s impromptu ad-libbing. The sight of Ozzy singing about farm animals instead of the dark, heavy themes of ‘War Pigs’ was both surreal and hilarious. ‘Old MacDonald haaaad a faaarm, he had some pigs with an oink oink here, and an oink oink therrrrrre!’ Lee laughed, reminiscing about the puzzled expressions on the faces of fans in the front row.
Despite the onstage hiccup, Lee’s tenure with Ozzy Osbourne was a dream come true. Joining the band was a chance to play the riffs of his hero, Tony Iommi. ‘It was huge,’ Lee enthused. ‘I saved up my money to where I could finally buy a Gibson SG, and that was because of him. I wanted to sound like him. I thought he had the greatest tone.’ For Lee, playing ‘War Pigs’ was a measure of achieving the iconic sound that Iommi was known for.
Reflecting on his career, Lee emphasized the lasting influence of Tony Iommi, saying, ‘[T]o this day, Tony Iommi is my greatest inspiration. Every time I’m trying to set my stuff up to get the sound right, I play ‘War Pigs.’ If I can sound anything close to what he sounded like on that, I’m going with it.’ A blend of humor, admiration, and nostalgia, Lee’s story captures the essence of life on the road with Ozzy and the enduring legacy of Black Sabbath.
