In the world of guitars, few instruments carry as much mystique as “Greeny,” the 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard originally owned by Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green and later by Thin Lizzy’s Gary Moore. Today, it belongs to Metallica’s Kirk Hammet, who has carried its legacy into a new era. To many players, Greeny is almost mythical—an instrument with a voice and presence that forever changes those who play it.
Former **Ozzy Osbourne** guitarist **Jake E. Lee** recently discovered this firsthand. At Black Sabbath’s farewell show in Birmingham on July 5, Hammett graciously let Lee play the fabled Les Paul backstage while he was rehearsing for his guest appearance. The experience, Lee admits, left a permanent mark.
“A Magical Piece of Wood”
In a new interview with *Guitar World*, Lee described the moment with wide-eyed reverence.
“I can confirm that it’s a magical piece of wood,” he said. “I didn’t want to put it down—didn’t want to leave it. I’ve missed it ever since! It’s so resonant; it just sings. I almost wish I’d never played it! \[laughs] Nah—I’m glad I got to bask in its magic, if for just a while.”
For Lee, who has played some of rock’s most iconic riffs with Osbourne, it takes a lot to be truly impressed by an instrument. Yet Greeny’s reputation proved well-earned, reminding him of the rare times a guitar feels alive in a player’s hands.
Hammett’s Generosity With Greeny
Despite its near-mythical status, Hammett has never been overly protective of Greeny. Earlier this year, he recalled lending it to **Jack White**, who used it onstage for several songs. Hammett understands that part of Greeny’s legend comes not only from who has owned it, but also from the magic it passes on to whoever is lucky enough to play it.
“People say a lot of things have changed about me since I got that guitar,” Hammett said last year. “My playing has changed, my attitude has changed, my tone has changed, my approach has changed. All those things have changed over the last five or six years because of this guitar. I’m really happy about it.”
That generosity—and the guitar’s transformative effect—were clear when Lee got his turn.
Backstage Surprises and Onstage Magic
The Sabbath farewell event was already an emotional occasion for Lee, who was invited to join a lineup of guitar heroes paying tribute to Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s final bow. But even before he set foot onstage, surprises awaited him.
“I was backstage, and I knew my guitar needed tuning,” Lee recalled. “And I kept saying, ‘Where’s the rest of the band? Shouldn’t I be out there?’ But they said, ‘No, we’re not ready for you.’ I was like, ‘Okay… can I go out now?’ They said, ‘Okay, you can go.’ Then they led me to stage right, and I said, ‘Shouldn’t I be stage left? I’m playing over there…’ But they said, ‘No, you’ve got to go this way…’”
What happened next caught him completely off guard.
“I came out, and I hadn’t heard anything, but Nuno Bettencourt had the crowd chanting my name. And I walked out and **Lzzy Hale** and Nuno are doing little bows to me. \[Laughs] Then Nuno grabbed me and gave me a kiss on the cheek! The crowd was chanting my name. It was overwhelming. I’m surprised I didn’t trip and fall down!”
Imperfections That Didn’t Matter
When it came time to perform “Shot in the Dark,” things didn’t go exactly as planned.
“We rehearsed it a certain way, but I think David got a little excited and jumped ahead,” Lee laughed. “So I didn’t get to do my cool harmony at the beginning, but that’s okay! Did I play my best? Maybe not. Was I in tune? Maybe not. Was it fantastic and amazing? Absolutely.”
A Night to Remember
Between the surreal experience of playing Greeny and the unforgettable energy of Sabbath’s final show, Lee described the night as a career highlight—an experience that reaffirmed his connection to music, his fans, and the instruments that make it all possible.
For Lee, Greeny was more than just a guitar that night—it was a reminder of music’s living spirit. And for the fans in Birmingham, it was proof that even at a farewell, rock and roll has a way of creating new memories that will last forever.
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