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Poll

POLL: WHO WAS OZZY’S BEST GUITAR PLAYER?

 Monday, February 15th, 2010 at 4:45pm by

An impassioned email from a reader reacting to my post about Shadows Fall covering “Bark at the Moon” the other day got me thinking that this would be a fun poll to conduct. The reader, David H., vehemently believes that Jake E. Lee was Ozzy’s best guitarist and thinks everything Zakk Wylde has done has been mediocre at best. If you’re a regular reader of this site you should know how we feel on the matter, but we want to know what YOU feel! So tell us.

For the sake of this poll, only guitarists who actually appeared on Ozzy recordings count. So no Joe Holmes, and sorry, no Gus G. (yet) either.

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  • http://thenumberoftheblog.wordpress.com/ groverXIII

    I don’t think there’s really any question here.

    • Honeynutzz

      Cause the one dude died, so he wins by default.

      • http://thenumberoftheblog.wordpress.com/ groverXIII

        Not because he died… because he was the most talented. The fact that he died at such a young age when he had only begun to show just how much talent and potential he had simply magnifies things.

        • Honeynutzz

          That’s what I said.

          • Matthew Grant Anson

            Not really.

          • Satch Armstrong

            Not at all.

          • http://www.theatomicbombaudition.com Aleezy

            Regardless of how tragic or premature his death was, Rhoads innovated more with his 2 albums (3 if you count ‘Tribute’) of guitar compositions than any Ozzy guitarist since. He set a high bar that every subsequent Ozzy guitarist had to contend with. Like Tony Iommi, he was WAY ahead of his time taking metal guitar to new levels and he although he had more in him, he delivered heftily before he died.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jason-John-Crispen/100000169530540 Jason John Crispen

          i don’t think he was the most talented, he was very good though. he did bring a classically trained sense of melody and structure that made ozzy’s first 2 albums so awesome. when someone’s cut down in their prime it’s a win/lose situation. on one hand, he never had the chance to put out something bad. but at the same time, the 2 albums are all that he got to play on.

    • Zoker

      As I already said, you sir, are the smart one.

  • Brian \m/(-_-)\m/

    i think these first 55 votes are an accurate prediction of what the end results will look like. rhoads reigns supreme

  • Cryzthormagnusian

    If you wanted a more accurate poll between Wylde and Lee you should have left Rhoads off.

    • stu1

      This. Actually, I put Wylde above Lee.

  • fester

    my vote’s for brad gillis from night ranger.

    • Dwarfskeet

      BRAD GILLIS KICKS ASS!!!

      • Kuranes

        Right – Speak of the Devil. He should have been a choice (even if nobody would really pick him).

        • Dwarfskeet

          I woulda voted for him. Love me some Night Ranger.

  • Who

    1- Rhoads for sure.
    2 – Jack E Lee sure could play.
    3 – Zakk sure could spit.

    • Salutations

      + 1

      • narcopolypse

        i feel like a retard but i think it depends on what you mean by ‘best’.

        if it’s the most productive riff-/songwriter, then the best is Zakk.
        If it’s the contributor to Ozzy’s best songs, it’s Randy.
        If it’s the best player, it’s Jake.
        If it’s the most fun player, it’s Randy.
        If we measure by their Ozzy work, it’s Randy.
        If we measure by their entire career, it’s probably Zakk.
        If we put each one’s best songs head-to-head, it’s Jake (“Bark at the Moon”)
        If we put their solos head-to-head, it’s Zakk (“No More Tears”)
        If we put their best riffs head-to-head, it’s Zakk (“Miracle Man,” “Crazy Babies”)

        overall, the best era was Randy’s, but that has a bit to do with Bob Daisley and Carmine Appice, too. And Ozzy himself was great at that time. just think of how awesome randy would’ve been by 1990. fuck.

        • The Overmatt

          The nail has been hit. Well done sir.

        • http://www.theatomicbombaudition.com Aleezy

          Kudos. I would’ve switched up a couple but that’s kinda how you have to approach this. That said, I can stand by picking RR.

        • http://reaper-x.deviantart.com/ Reaper-X

          This

        • Facebook User

          good points. i dont know if i agree with Zakk prevailing if measured by their career. Randy didnt have bad resume prior to Ozzy.

  • Gaia

    Though a big fan of Zakk, I think Rhoads came up with Ozzy’s most iconic music.

  • Lordassenfroth

    i may be delusional from taking 8+ massive dumps today that have chapped my asshole to the point that instead of walking, i waddle, but my breakdown of the oz guitarist has always been that randy rhodes always wrote the most amazing music and has insane killer chops which gives him the win, but jake e. lee was the most technically proficient player and zakk wylde was just a monster of his own right.

    its hard to compare three guitarists who are so completely different, each seeming like they were trying to accomplish something different with their playing.

  • Frampler

    Pointless poll.

    • SP420

      Yup.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jason-John-Crispen/100000169530540 Jason John Crispen

    jake e. lee is my favorite. hard to say what randy rhoads would have done. though he was looking to move away from ozzy. he had lots of classical influence. but for pure metal ozzy, jake e. lee is where it’s at for me. and anything post “no more tears” zakk wylde-era ozzy is unlistenable.

  • kelfro

    Randy’s guitar playing on Blizzard of Oz is one of the greatest recordings of any style of music. He fuckin’ nailed it with by combining good melodic song crafting with clasically-trained technical wizadry.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Anthony-Showalter/100000592087843 Anthony Showalter

      Just listen to fucking Mr. Crowley. I was shocked when I heard that as a little kid. I’m 17 now, but that’s still one of, if not my favorite solo.

  • Who

    I voted Randy Rhoads because the records on which he played are the best but maybe Jack E. Lee actually played better.

    Those who vote for Zakk never heard Randy and Jack played /or don’t know shit about fuck.

    • Deven

      His names Jake E. Lee, not Jack

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mathew-James-Saunders/1153389571 Mathew James Saunders

      *cough* Jake

      • Who

        That’s ’cause I don’t know shit neither.

    • Dwarfskeet

      “don’t know shit about fuck.”

      That is the single greatest line I’ve ever heard/read. Man… I applaud you!

      • Discipleofthewatch

        It was said before by Jess Margera of cky.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mathew-James-Saunders/1153389571 Mathew James Saunders

    I’m a full believer in understanding that all opinions are subjective when dealing with any form of art, but with this topic you’d have to be deaf in both ears to not KNOW that Rhoads was by far the most talented of those mentioned above; and chances are you don’t play guitar if you’d think otherwise. This should have only been between Lee and Wylde

    • Erek

      I voted for Zakk. I’ve been playing guitar for fourteen years.

      As someone stated previously, the term “best” is relative–best creatively? Best technically? Best sales? Best handjobs?

      I think Zakk is a better guitar player than both Lee and Rhoads–he can play both of their styles. He plays their riffs. He plays their solos. He adds in his own shit to the mix. Does that mean he was better from a creative standpoint? No, it doesn’t. However, being a guitar player myself, I automatically assumed “best guitar player” meant best GUITAR PLAYER. Maybe the poll should have been “Who was Ozzy’s best songwriter, or riffmaster, or foil, or whipping boy?”

      Zakk is a considerably better guitar player than he lets on, or even puts on tape. If you have ever seen or heard any of his warmup videos then you would know what I mean. It is clear, however, that you haven’t.

      As a side note, “Over the Mountain” was Ozzy’s best song with Rhoads; not Crazy Train or Mr. Crowley–although both are magnificent in their own right.

  • B-dizzle

    ANNOUNCE THE WINNER OF THE UNREADABLE LOGO CONTEST

  • MSalonen

    This poll is rendered pointless due to the fact that it’s obvious who is going to be the clear winner, regardless of whether or not it’s deserved.

    Redo it with only Jake E. Lee and Zakk Wylde for more interesting results.

  • Facebook User

    Why not that Japanese kid who played with him at Blizzcon — you can’t forget him. He was at least as talented as Wylde.

  • Sly

    I voted for Jake E. Lee.
    I like Randy’s playing, but it just never impacted me as hard as JEL’ stuff.
    Zakk is a great player, kind of a douchebag. His playing on No Rest For The Wicked and No More Tears was great. After that, it just seems like he’s never tried to get any better.

  • Austin

    Call me crazy, but I always preferred No More Tears to Blizzard. I haven’t heard too much from Ozzy’s other albums beyond the big hits, but of the two, I just find No More Tears way better and I barely listen to Blizzard.

    Question: Does anyone else really hate the key change in Crazy Train after the first riff? I always thought that riff was poorly situated next to the verse riff and the transition was too abrupt and jarring for me to truly love the song. The solo is undeniably amazing though.

    • Jesus

      god, I fucking hate that song… Actually everything that Randy Roads played on was shitty, yeah I said it

  • gnarlk

    tony iommi….

    • Austin

      Iommi was never Ozzy’s guitarist. Ozzy was Iommi’s singer.

      • stu1

        ding ding ding, we have a winner!

        • rickyslate

          FINALLY!!!!! Tony Iommi > everyone else who ever played with Ozzy. What a stupid question.

  • fuckman

    Tony is ozzys best

    • Satch Armstrong

      Tony is SABBATH’S best.

      How could you not see that? I mean… FUCK man!

      • Kuranes

        Watch the Ozzy “Live and Loud” video – Zakk sounds pretty good the whole way through it until they have the Sabbath reunion at the end. Tony Iommi’s solo to “Black Sabbath” demolishes everything that Zakk just played.

  • Gideon

    GODDAMMIT! i was ONE vote from being the 666th voter!

    • Kuranes

      You are the neighbor of the Beast (well, you live across the street from him at any rate).

  • americanfckinghatred

    if you voted for anyone else besides rhandy rhoads you are an ignorant moron and know nothing about music. i wonder how many bls fans voted for zakk… these stupid kids today need to be taught some respect.

    • KilledByDeath

      Because you’re the voice of the ultimate musical judgement.

      • americanfckinghatred

        guess you think jake or zakk is better than rhandy. your opinion means nothing,

  • Discipleofthewatch

    I was just watching some videos of Ozzy and Randy Rhoades over the weekend. He was amazing. My friends want to go out to his gravesite and pay respects on the anniversary of his death soon, March 20th, I believe it is. Again, he really was amazing, and it was a shame that he died.

    • Discipleofthewatch

      Oops, Rhoads, apparently. My mistake.

  • Facebook User

    anyone who votes lee obviously doesnt know

  • DustintheWind

    If Rhodes had written only the Crazy Train riff and then nothing else, i would still vote for him

  • CCJ

    Rhoads win by default for owning a polka-dot Flying V.

    • Seamus McFayden

      Never made the connection before but the plane he died in was a Bonanza V-tail. Trippy…

      • zeflows

        And there is a V in the alphabet! Its a fuckin conspiracy man.

        • Seamus McFayden

          GTFO!! The poor guy didn’t stand a chance!

          • Tonberry

            Randy Rhoads was an inside job. Learn the facts!

  • Igottawocket

    I think anyone would pick Rhodes and they did), you can’t touch him. But I do love Zakk, so I would pick him next behind Rhodes.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dustin-Saulsbury/1422197225 Dustin Saulsbury

    I think Rhodes is the hands-down winner, although I personally prefer Lee’s stuff.

  • :f pete

    randy’s the only guy ive ever heard that put neo classical into the mainstream. thats worth a vote for me. and his song writing was amazing

    • KilledByDeath

      And what about Malmsteen?

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Sterner/1335958279 Andrew Sterner

        No. Just no.

      • RobotScythe

        Well, Randy is listenable.

        • :f pete

          well malmsteen was listenable too, and amaaaazing but rhoads really brought it into the mainstream. he sold tons of records and created some of the most memorable music of all time. on lee bark at the moon is the most awesome video of all time and that whole album rules, but if you ask a kid to name an ozzy(ozzy not sabbath you iron man kids) song most kids are gonna say crazy train before they say bark at the moon. wylde is fast but you can keep that rehashed and over used blues shit for someone else. randy rhoads used a technical style of music and made some of the most memorable riffs in metal and allowed the oz man to really touch his dark side all at a young age. ozzy gave metal a face, but rhoads opened up a more musical style for metal kids. he created ‘progressive’ music(not the sound, i mean music that progresses) and very well might have opened the door to a technical guitarist like lee to join ozzy after rhoads’s death.

  • KilledByDeath

    I like Zakk’s music best, so i picked him. Rhoads was neo-classical, so what? Zakk was fierce! :P
    If only there was no “Down to Earth” shitstain… Cause ‘mosis and the last one I sometimes can even slightly enjoy (select songs).

  • large jockstrap

    Have you ever listened to Ozzy’s albums with Jake E Lee? that motherfucker can play incredibly, whilst making it super melodic. my votes for him, even though i love the shit out of randy.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Gabsung-Lim/568375471 Gabsung Lim

    JAKE E LEE, the dude is soooooo underrated as you can see just by the polls.
    randy is like symbolism of that style, but jake takes it to a whole ‘nother LEVEL!!

  • http://devenofmirkwood.tumblr.com/ deven

    Glad to see 1077% know what’s up.

  • Uncooperative Lard Ass

    Better riffs, better solos, the winner is Rhoads.

  • Who Gives A Damn

    R. Rhoads & Jake E. Lee, both have diff styles from eachother to really judge and both are fuckin’ great as hell, esp for the solo stuff they created bein’ that it wasn’t even near similar at all. Randy sure knew how to do his shit and Jake was a mad-shredder w/ his own style. That’s that.

    Zakk, is like a R. Rhoads clone mixed w/ a Million Low E String Harmonics and a boring style. Really his good stuff was on No Rest / More Tears.

    I’d still take Rhoads over all of them, Jake 2nd place and Zakk as just the next guy to take on other guitar player’s stuff.

  • RobotScythe

    “Bark At The Moon” is my fave Ozzy song ever, but overall the best guy was, by far, Rhoads.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jason-John-Crispen/100000169530540 Jason John Crispen

    i’d probably like randy rhoads’ era stuff more if i wasn’t bombarded by “crazy train” or “flying high again” a million times a day on classic rock radio. that said “goodbye to romance” and “diary of a madman” are in the top 10 of my favorite ozzy songs.

  • BeTheBar

    Why are you missing Bernie Torme and Brad Gillis? Speak of the Devil was an incredible recording that he had 2 weeks to prepare for. Bernie Torme is incredible in his own right as well.

  • Biff_Tannen

    My vote went to Jake E. Lee. Of course, I love Randy’s stuff also, but I think Jake was the better guitarist. Also, to answer the question earlier in the thread, YES, I too hate the fucking key change at the beginning of Crazy Train. One of the best/most evil riffs EVER, then Randy ruins it with a gay ass happy riff !

    Also, anyone who voted for Zakk Wylde should shoot themselves right through the roof of their mouths. That man is a TERRIBLE songwriter, and can’t play a riff without a pinch harmonic every 4 seconds. On top of that, he’s a major redneck pantera fan ball bag.

    • KilledByDeath

      Why the fuck everyone here thinks they have the best taste in everything?

    • KilledByDeath

      Then we’ll have to agree to disagree.

  • DecrystallizingReason

    well, duh.

  • Brooklynite

    They’re all great! While Randy was the most innovative. I’ll take Jake E. Lee’s playing any day. Also, Badlands (his later band) made some serious jams. He’s just the better guitarist..

  • Facebook User

    I voted Jake E. Lee. Granted, The Ultimate Sin wasn’t a good album, but his work on Bark At The Moon was the best.

  • Greg

    All three are good. Ozzie was my favorite as far as Rock. I grew up listening to Ozzie with Jake as his axman, and I remember the first time I saw Jake was on an mtv special concert during the Bark at the Moon tour. He has been my favorite ever since. Not because I think he is better, smoother, or faster than the other two, but he could play and his style seemed to fit what an Ozzie axman should be like and play like. Also, to me his riff on Crazy Train is much smoother and rockin’ than Zack, and no one plays Bark at the Moon like Jake. Zack was a good replacement, but not in the same mold as Jake. I think Ozzie and Sharon made a mistake by letting Jake go. Too bad Ozzie isn’t persuing him again now that Zack has left. Randy Rhodes was great also, as his music on the first two albums defined Ozzie Osbourne. Classical style integrated into rock the way Randy did it is awesome, but I think Jake fit right in to that style, and Jake’s smoothness playing the riffs that Rhodes created, while adding his own only added to the music.

  • Humb Azz

    It’s hard, man … Randy vs Jake vs Zakk vs … I like them all … They’re all different things, and they’re all world class rock guitarists …

  • Lolwutpear

    Randy is the man. The other 2 are great guitar players (altought i hate zakks tone but thats not the question) but all they did with ozzy was try to mimic Randy.
    Randy was responsible for the real thing!