Ex-OZZY OSBOURNE Guitarist JAKE E. LEE Talks About Upcoming 'Covers' Album

Former OZZY OSBOURNE/BADLANDS guitarist Jake E. Lee recently gave a rare interview to JakeELee.com about his upcoming album of cover songs from the 1970s. Asked why he decided to go ahead with the project, Jake said, "When Mike [Varney of Shrapnel Records] first approached me about this project, I asked myself, 'What for?' I've always felt it a waste of time to cover a well known song unless you could add something to it, approach it differently, give it your own unique twist, or at the very least introduce it to a new audience. To do a full album of 'copy songs' seemed pointless. Besides, I hadn't actually played a guitar for over a year. The one guitar I had brought out to Vegas with me was still in its case, in the back of the closet. But, the more I thought about it, the more appealing it became. I started to make out a list of songs I used to play. Eventually I brought out the guitar to see if I could even remember how to play them. I focused on the tunes I'd first learned, as a teenager, before I started playing in clubs. Some I had forgotten. Some, I now realized, I'd learned incorrectly. And some came back to me as if I'd never stopped playing them. I began searching for the songs I'd forgotten, and the ones that didn't sound like I was playing the 'right' parts. It had become a quest. I remembered the countless hours I spent in my bedroom, playing the SG I'd spent a year delivering newspapers to pay for. I wondered if my parents regretted buying me the Kasino 4x10 combo I played through, which only sounded good if I cranked it up LOUD! I recalled my band, a trio (no singer),playing my sister's 16th birthday party. And how I'd cut part of the tip of my left index finger off the night before, showing off how sharp my switchblade was after a couple of beers. I ended up playing with a slide on that finger, and fretting with the other three!

"This album is dedicated to the memory of those times, and to the loving memory of my sister and parents.

Regarding the players on the album, Jake said, "What cinched me doing this album, was when Mike called and told me that Aynsley Dunbar and Tim Bogert would be available to record, if I wanted. Yeah, I wanted. I'd dreamed about playing with Aynsley ever since wearing out BOWIE's 'Pinups' album back in 9th grade, and Tim, after attempting to play songs off the BECK, BOGERT & APPICE record with my band, and realizing I was gonna have to find a monster bass player, and drummer, to get anywhere close to being able to pull it off. It couldn't be my abilities at question!

"Anyway, this would give me the opportunity to find out. They both played amazingly well, and I'm grateful for the immense pleasure it gave me to be able to play with these two musicians I've admired for years.

"Thank you Tim. Thank you Aynsley."

Check out new promotional photos of Jake at this location.

Jake E. Lee's upcoming "covers" album is scheduled for release this spring via Shrapnel Records. The CD, which is being engineered by Michael Lardie (formerly of GREAT WHITE),will feature the following lineup of musicians:

Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE, BADLANDS): guitars
Chris Logan (MSG): Vocals
Tim Bogert (VANILLA FUDGE, BECK, BOGERT & APPICE): Bass
Aynsley Dunbar (WHITESNAKE, MSG, UFO): Drums

All the songs are being recorded in a "power trio" format ala BADLANDS and the tracks for the project are cover songs along that style (bluesy power rock). At this time, the track listing is shaping up as follows:

01. Way Back to the Bone (TRAPEZE)
02. I'll be Creepin' (FREE)
03. Love Is Worth Blues (LESLIE WEST)
04. Evil (CACTUS)
05. I'll Come Tumblin' (GRAND FUNK)
06. Hard Way to Go (SAVOY BROWN)
07. Woman (JAMES GANG)
08. Rock Candy (MONTROSE)
09. Guess I'll Go Away (JOHNNY WINTER)
10. Whiskey Train (PROCOL HAREM)
11. I Can't Stand It (ROBIN TROWER)