For decades, Jake E. Lee has been celebrated as one of hard rock’s most inventive guitarists, known for his fiery riffs with Ozzy Osbourne and his own band Badlands. But now, the 67-year-old guitar hero is facing a new challenge offstage: arthritis. In a revealing new interview with *Guitar World*, Lee admitted that the condition has forced him to completely rethink the way he plays guitar—essentially “relearning” the instrument he has mastered for over 40 years.
“I Can’t Feel It. It’s Bone on Bone.”
Lee explained that the cartilage in his wrist is almost entirely gone, leaving him with constant pain and limited mobility.
“The cartilage is basically gone. I can’t feel it; it’s bone on bone,” he said. “The only operation they had available was to fuse the bones together. My wrist would be pretty much locked in. I didn’t want that.”
Instead of choosing surgery, Lee is adapting. To minimize strain, he has shifted his right-hand technique, relying less on his wrist and more on his elbow.
> “I’ve had to adjust my playing style to where I’m using mostly the elbow on the right hand, trying to use as much elbow movement as I can,” he explained.
Relearning the Guitar
The adjustment has not been easy, but Lee insists it has also been strangely refreshing—like starting from scratch on an instrument he already knows so well.
> “It’s made it interesting,” he said. “In a way, it’s like learning to play guitar again, even though I know how to play it. I’m having fun. Mentally – and as far as theory – I know exactly what to do, but I have to teach my left and right hands to accommodate me.”
To make playing easier, Lee has also switched to lighter equipment. He now uses softer picks and ultra-light gauge seven strings—a setup favored by legends like **Billy Gibbons**, **Tony Iommi**, and **Brian May**.
> “I usually use a heavy pick, but I went to a lighter one,” he explained. “It forced me to have a lighter touch with my right hand… My left hand is also a little bit weak, so lately I’ve been playing with sevens to force myself to have a lighter touch.”
Challenges on Stage
Arthritis has, however, limited what Lee can do live. At **Black Sabbath’s “Back To The Beginning” farewell show** in Birmingham on July 5, fans expected him to perform his signature hit, *Bark at the Moon*. But the physical demands of the song proved too much. Instead, Lee handed the spotlight to a star-studded lineup of players including **Travis Barker**, **Nuno Bettencourt**, **Vernon Reid**, **Rudy Sarzo**, and **Adam Wakeman**, with **Tobias Forge** on vocals.
> “I know people are expecting *Bark at the Moon*, but right now, with my wrist, the arthritis and everything, that would be very challenging,” Lee admitted. “I’ll practice it just in case, but it’s going to be pretty challenging for me physically.”
Fighting Through the Pain
Despite the obstacles, Lee refuses to let arthritis define him. He is undergoing physical therapy, strengthening exercises, stretching, and steroid injections to keep his hands functional.
And in perspective, he insists this is far from the worst pain he’s ever endured. Last year, Lee was **shot three times in the arm while walking his dog**, and he has dealt with chronic back issues for decades.
“Wrist pain isn’t anything compared to that,” he shrugged.
A Guitarist Who Won’t Quit
For Jake E. Lee, quitting is simply not an option. Though arthritis has changed his style, it hasn’t dampened his love for the guitar—or his determination to keep playing for as long as he can.
> “It’s challenging, but I’m not giving up,” he said. “If I have to relearn guitar at this stage of my life, then that’s what I’ll do.”
For fans, it’s a testament to the resilience of a true rock survivor. Even when it’s “bone on bone,” Jake E. Lee still finds a way to make the guitar sing.
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