Guitarist hasn’t been on stage in 5 years; since then he has dealt with a health problem that took a long time to be diagnosed and was shot near his home
Cited as one of the great guitarists of the 1980s, Jake E. Lee joined the band Ozzy Osbourne between 1982 and 1987. Afterwards, he formed the Badlandswhich only lasted until the beginning of the 1990s. Amid ups and downs in the music scene, he had once again resumed his career in the previous decade with the project Red Dragon Cartel.
His last show took place in April 2019. With the arrival of the pandemic, Lee disappeared again. Now for sad reasons.
Health problem
In July this year, the bassist Greg Chaissonwith whom Jake worked at Badlandstold the channel Border City Rock Talk that his former colleague was suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome in his right wrist, preventing him from playing the guitar. It didn’t take long for him to clarify, in an interview published in October in Tone-Talk (via website Igor Miranda) that his condition was different — and that it was being overcome.
Doctors said I had carpal tunnel syndrome. I made an appointment with a wrist surgeon, which took a while. She asked for some X-rays, which no one had done before. When the results came back, she said that wasn’t it. Apparently I no longer have cartilage in my right hand and very little in my left, although the second one doesn’t bother me. It’s bone on bone, rubbing together.”
At the time, Lee he said he was taking cortisone injections and undergoing physical therapy to strengthen the surrounding muscles, controlling the pain. There was another option — fusing the bones in surgery — but the doctor proposed a less invasive alternative at first.
Feeling better, the guitarist said he had returned to playing after four or five years away. The resumption was two months ago.
For four or five years I didn’t really play much unless I had an idea for a song, which always happens when you’re falling asleep. So I picked up the guitar and put the idea on paper. I have a lot of ideas. I have been playing. It doesn’t hurt that much. I feel like everything is getting better, so I’m not going to have surgery. I’m going to learn to play more on my elbow. But I still have that option with the wrist and dealing with the pain.”
Jake E. Lee shot
A few days after the release of this interview, in the early hours of October 15, Jake E. Lee was shot while walking his dog near his home in Las Vegas, United States. Fortunately, no fatal organs were damaged and the guitarist was discharged shortly afterwards, but recovery is slow and gradual — even more so for someone who is now 67 years old.
Through social networks (via website Igor Miranda), Lee revealed the context in which he was shot. The musician came across two hooded men who were in a neighbor’s garage, allegedly trying to steal a motorcycle.
There was a verbal confrontation that ended with an agreement that I would go one way and they would go the opposite. That didn’t work. I’ll probably talk about this in more detail later, but right now I can only do a little at a time comfortably.”
According to the artist, the police found 15 bullet casings near his body. Three of them reached Jakeon the chest, arm and foot. The lung was hit, but not enough to compromise it. None hit the dog.
In another demonstration on the networks, the guitarist also explained why he walked his pet in the early hours of the morning — more specifically, around two in the morning.
I’m an owl, always have been. My wife works at a casino in the early hours of the morning. 2-3 am is the middle of the day for us! And during the summer, with temperatures of 45°C during the day, walking Coco in the early morning can still mean over 35°C. So we hike when it’s cooler, and we’ve been doing that for the past two years without mishap, until recently.”
Obviously, Lee has not yet commented on the resumption of his musical career. The focus is on recovery. However, the October 15th episode will certainly delay a return to the stage, long awaited by fans.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
