BOB & LEE, BOB & LEE!!!!!!!

[Bongo Christ]

I read an interview recently where Bob claimed that he was the first to join Ozzy and even tried to allude that Ozzy wasn't sure about Randy by claiming that English guitarists were auditioned after he had already been offered the job in LA (if I have misinterpreted Bob on this I'll hold my hands up but that's certainly how it came across to me). However, having listened to the Randy seminar again thanks to a recent post, Randy himself states that he was first to join and that Bob was added later.
Also, in Garry Sharpe-Young's book it's clear that every single band member through the years only have extremely kind words for Ozzy and Sharon, Bob being the only exception. Surely no coincidence?

[whoopiecat]

That's how it seems to have come across in the Sharpe-Young book to me as well. Dana set up the audition with Randy, he got the gig, Ozzy went back to the UK, (how much time passed between Randy being hired in L.A. and being flown across the pond I'm uncertain of.), it seems Ozzy was playing with some locals, had met Bob, Ozzy then sacked the two locals, discovering he had found in Bob someone he wanted to work with, then Ozzy had said he knew of an American guitarist that they could work with, the two of them then convinced David Arden, (who was the manager at the time, not Sharon), to have Randy flown over.
I guess Bob would be the third man in, as Ozzy hired Randy first, but it would almost seem though Randy had the gig, Ozzy could have easily found, say John Sykes, then told RAndy: "Sorry, I've hired someone else".
As of recent, the tale seems to be that Ozzy brought Randy back to the UK with him, they began writing, then found Bob, then of course, Lee.
I recall reading an interview somewhere how Delores recalled Randy getting the call from Jet's offices, informing him they were sending tickets, he would need a passport, she had taken him shopping for winter clothes, (which wasn't an easy task in southern California), and so on.
Perhaps in Bob's eyes, Ozzy was just kicking around with local talent, saw that Bob had writing skills, was a player and road/concert stage experience to boot and said hey this could work, wanna start a band? I know of a good guitar player from America...
The Sharpe-Young book is an excellent resource and yes, those who worked with Oz had nice things to say...those who were interviewed anyway, but it also shows how quickly people were hired, fired and sometimes rehired from the band.
Ozzy just had to have Tommy Aldridge...but once they got in the studio and recorded BATM, Tommy was out and Carmine Appice was in...then in again. It is astonishing, the amount of personnel that have moved through that band in thrree decades!
On the flipside of all of this, in Bob's long career, with all of the folks he's recorded, toured and played with...the only people I've ever read a bad word from regarding him was the Osbournes.

[zennman]

Also, in Garry Sharpe-Young's book it's clear that every single band member through the years only have extremely kind words for Ozzy and Sharon, Bob being the only exception. Surely no coincidence?

I'd have to disagree with this statement. Let's not rewrite history here. I know Phil Soussan personally. He not only got "Shot in the Dark" stolen away from him. $haron kicked him at a Randy Castillo's funeral. I seriously doubt that many others have great things to say about the O's. Zakk considers himself family with the O's, and that probably works because he doesn't bust balls about money with them (her).

Great takes by Whoop, Halo, and Guitar!!!! Well said!!!! Bob and Lee were wronged BIG TIME with their dealings with the O's. Thankfully, these two studio albums have been restored for future generations. This is a BIG win for future RR fans. Bob has been very consistent with his story over the years. The O's change their story to suit their needs (Coffee Table Book anyone?). Bob's upcoming book will shed new light on some of these matters. I'll believe what Bob has to say over anything the O's say.

Bongo, it feels like you want to like $haron and what she's done over the years. But I've gotta tell ya, $haron is all ready taken! TITO has first dibs.....

[Bongo Christ]

Dont mind sloppy seconds...............Regardless of how it comes across I don't dislike Bob, I just take some of what he says with a pinch of salt as he (maybe quite rightly) comes across as having too much of an agenda against the Osbourne's.
I do refuse to believe though that Sharon is the evil witch that most on here portray her to be. Sure, she's a hard business woman, and there's nothing wrong with that particularly in a male dominated industry, she is Don's daughter after all but I really do have a lot of time for her.

[NicDots]

I definitely agree with the whole 2 sides to every story. I find it mystifying that if Ozzy fucked Bob over so many times, why the hell was he still gonna play on the Ozzmosis album??? Sure, he says that it was (or at least he thought it was) Don Arden being the prick, but SERIOUSLY. How many times does Ozzy have to treat Bob like shit before Bob realizes that he needs to get out of the band and never look back? Battered wife syndrome, it looks like.

[halo8th]

as far as what ex-band members have had to say, i've clearly seen 2 sides...
1 - i've actually heard a number of ex-members who've had negative things to say (Soussan, Jake, J.Holmes, C. Appice....and thats just the ones i can think of in 3 seconds...)
2 - and ones that tend to "kiss-a** no matter what....as for the Osbournes have big influence in the hard music business and they're playing it safe

[tedeeoo]

as far as what ex-band members have had to say, i've clearly seen 2 sides...
1 - i've actually heard a number of ex-members who've had negative things to say (Soussan, Jake, J.Holmes, C. Appice....and thats just the ones i can think of in 3 seconds...)
2 - and ones that tend to "kiss-a** no matter what....as for the Osbournes have big influence in the hard music business and they're playing it safe

I think you are dead on, on point #2, in recent years Phil has been as much of a kiss-a$$ as the others, Joe I think honestly does not like Sharon at all. I've never seen but one interview where Jake really went in depth about things and I would not say it was so much negative as honest and he genuinely seemed surprised and hurt by his dismissal, he did say at one time that he really didn't plan to say anything until Sharon and Ozzy spoke out about him. Admittedly, you have probably seen some things I haven't.

Carmine, to me has the most interesting take on the Osbournes (Sharon esp.), the only thing I've ever heard Carmine say, and this is in every interview not just one, when asked about his time with Ozzy, is that Sharon could not handle that Carmine had a "name", and that she was pushing he and Jake to get out of the band and do something else. It's really obvious that she wants no competition onstage for Ozzy. I guess in a way that's understandable but I always had the feeling that Ozzy never gave a crap about it, maybe he was just oblivious who knows. Can't dispute his taste in guitar players though, what I've seen and heard of the box-set is Great!!!

As far as Bob goes, I always figured the reason he kept coming back was the fact that he had a lot to gain monetarily if he could have somehow settled things with Ozz and Sharon. I'm sure he stood to gain a huge amount in royalties if that had happened. No denying Ozzy's best years and records by far are the ones with Bob's input, shame it all went the way it did. Interesting stuff, I'd love to see Jake write a book, probably never happen though.

[axeman_12656]

Cracks me up. Now lets all paint Jake (who's playing i love) to be a saint. last i saw of jake he hardly had any teeth from his years of drug abuse. nuff said.


I have never seen anything negative from Joe Holmes. what did he have to say about them?

[halo8th]

hmmmm....i got to meet Jake in late 2009 and he had ALL his teeth from what i could see.

[Tito]

maybe fake choppers halo?

[axeman_12656]

there was 2 vids that come up of Jake recently 1 of him performing with his new band I think Bob even mentioned that video in his interview. But there was another that they spoke with him and he was missing all kinds of teeth on his right side. I recall this discussion with Cableguy maybe he can help refresh my memory.


On a side night.. I feel bad for ragging on Jake. One of my all time favorite players. Huge Fan

[sytharnia]

I have heard the stuff about jake and drugs but am yet to see any evidence....losing your teeth doesn't count as evidence

[whoopiecat]

Exactly, I've heard the 'living in a trailer outside Vegas doing crystal meth' story, but also that he had been spending his time recording anonomously with J-Pop artists in Japan.
His was a Cinderella story that must have seemed like an endurance test. Going from the club circuit in San Diego and Los Angeles to arenas and stadiums globally.
Not only having to stand stage left in a spot occupied by someone that had just died tragically, and was a hero to the fans who in turn, expected note-perfect renditions of the songs and solos, then touring with, auditioning and recording with a revolving-door cast of players, (4 bass, 3 drum, 3 keys).
All the while dealing with a world famous frontman who was at the apex of his drug and alcohol abuse...not to mention a frigged up mental state and under the gun from politicians, evangelists, the courts and media.
All of this in the span of about five years.
Lee had a reputation for being arrogant and lazy, whether it's true or hearsay, I don't know. I'm not going to paint the guy as a saint, but I do feel for him.
I think it's lousy that the Osbournes chose to tamper with his excellent work on BATM in 2002, and have gone on to treat Ulitimate Sin like some bastard child, deleting it from the catalog. Why? because they owe people money and this time it has nothing to do with Lee and very little to do with Bob.
Some will say these are Ozzy's albums, he can do what he wants with them...while that may be true, I think it odd to modify or bury the part of your career that is actually important. If you want to bury something, I'll dig a grave for Black Rain right now, pal!
If you can believe it, I actually disagree with Bob's opinion of US, I liked it just fine, and still do. I wish the bass playing were a little more adventerous, but Phil still did a great job...they all did.
Jake pulled Ozzy through some dark days and gave the man continued success with two studio efforts, plus after Zakk, had the longest tenure of any guitarist in the band, but seems to be remembered by his bosses as a brat who was hard to deal with...like Ozzy or Sharon were any easier?

~T.

[tedeeoo]

Cracks me up. Now lets all paint Jake (who's playing i love) to be a saint. last i saw of jake he hardly had any teeth from his years of drug abuse. nuff said.


I have never seen anything negative from Joe Holmes. what did he have to say about them?

Forgive me if this quote was not directed at my post but, where did I say Jake was a saint? It was merely my recollection of the things I read after he was dismissed from Ozzy's band, and I stated in my post that there were probably things I did not know. As far as Joe goes, that is my impression of the situation from things I have read from people who were/are supposedly close to that situation. I have never seen or heard any interview with Joe about Ozzy or anything else for that matter so I guess I should have mentioned that in my post. I am not passing moral judgement on Jake, Joe, Ozzy or anyone else, my post was just my thoughts on what is being said here, nothing more, nothing less.

[halo8th]

Some will say these are Ozzy's albums, he can do what he wants with them...while that may be true, I think it odd to modify or bury the part of your career that is actually important. If you want to bury something, I'll dig a grave for Black Rain right now, pal!



Thats true. My problem with all of that is this : Without Bob writing those songs on Blizzard and Diary.....there is no mansions, no big cars, no millions in the bank, no TV shows, and on and on and on. No way this machine gets going without those 1st 2 albums. I was young, but remember when they came out and it was Suicide Solution, Crazy Train, Flying High Again played over and over all the time on radio's and tape decks everywhere. Those tunes built the foundation for that "image". Could Ozzy have wrote and done these songs alone and just with his "talent"? Not a snowball's chance in hell....
Same goes with some other players along the way that did MORE than their fare share. Deleting Bob from most everything? Lying about some of the past? Acting like Jake doesn't even exist? Unreal.
For the most part (well, ALL the part, actually), the Osbournes have hogged all the money and riches for themselves when they, in fact, should be kissing major ass for a few that helped them get there.