The guitarist hasn’t been on stage for 5 years; He has since faced a health problem that took a long time to diagnose and was killed near his home
Cited as one of the greatest guitarists of the 80s, Jake E. Lee joined the band Ozzy Osbourne between 1982 and 1987. He later formed i Badlandswhich lasted only until the beginning of the 90s, between ups and downs in the music scene, he had 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 of this year, the bassist Greg Chaissonwith whom Jake worked at Badlandshe told the channel Border City rock talk that his former colleague suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome in his right wrist, which prevented him from playing the guitar. It didn’t take long for it to become clear, in an interview published in October of Tone-Talk (via website Igor Miranda) that his condition was different and that he was in the process of overcoming it.
The doctors said I had carpal tunnel syndrome. I made an appointment with a wrist surgeon, which took a while. He asked for x-rays, which no one had done before. When the results came back, he said that wasn’t the case. Apparently I have no cartilage left in my right hand and very little cartilage in my left hand, although the latter doesn’t bother me. It’s bone on bone, rubbing together.”
At the moment, Lee he said he was getting cortisone injections and undergoing physical therapy to strengthen the surrounding muscles, controlling the pain. There was another option – fusing the bones through surgery – but the doctor initially proposed a less invasive alternative.
Feeling better, the guitarist said he returned to playing after four or five years of absence. The recovery took place two months ago.
For four or five years I didn’t play much unless I had an idea for a song, which always happens when you fall asleep. So I took the guitar and put the idea on paper. I have many ideas. I played. It doesn’t hurt that much. I feel like everything is getting better, so I won’t have surgery. I will learn to play more on the elbow. But I still have that option with my wrist and with pain management.”
Jake E. Lee shot
A few days after the publication of this interview, in the early hours of October 15, Jake E. Lee was hit by a bullet while walking his dog near his home in Las Vegas, United States. Fortunately, no fatal organs were damaged and the guitarist was discharged shortly after, but recovery is slow and gradual, especially 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 the agreement that I would go one way and they would go the other way. It didn’t work. I’ll probably talk about this in more detail later, but for now I can only comfortably do a little at a time.”
According to the artist, the police found 15 bullet casings near his body. Three of them have arrived Jakeon the chest, arm and foot. The lung was affected, but not enough to compromise it. Nobody hit the dog.
In another demonstration broadcast online, the guitarist also explained why he walked his pet in the early hours of the morning, more precisely 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. For us, 2-3 am is the middle of the day! And during the summer, with temperatures of 45°C during the day, walking in Coco in the early morning can mean even more than 35°C. So we hike when it’s cooler, and we’ve done so for the last two years without incident, until recently.”
Obviously, Lee he has not yet commented on the resumption of his musical career. The focus is on recovery. However, the October 15th episode will certainly delay the return to the stage long awaited by fans.
+++READ MORE: Read Ozzy Osbourne’s humble speech at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Source: Terra
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.
