Looking Back At The Life And Career Of Iconic Guitarist Randy Rhoads
It’s been over 40 years since world-renowned guitarist Randy Rhoads died tragically in a plane crash. He was only 25 years old at the time of his passing, but he had already accomplished more than most musicians could hope to achieve in a lifetime.
Randys’ unique style of playing guitar coupled with his impressive discography have made him an influential figure in the music industry that is remembered fondly, and with absolute reverence. He sits among the likes of such iconic players as Eddie Van Halen, Zakk Wylde, Leslie West and others who are considered to be of that certain level of excellence in their craft. Known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne and donning countless covers of guitar world magazine, Randy Rhoads was so much more than simply one of the band members for the former BLACK SABBATH singer. He was a musician’s musician in every sense of the word. Something that was very apparent and prevalent at an early age.
In The Beginning…
Randy Rhoads picked up a guitar at the age of twelve and immediately developed a passion for music. At the age of seven, Randy would begin attending his mother’s music school in California and began his musical journey playing folk and classical guitar.
A few years later, the young Randy became interested in rock guitar and started taking lessons from a gentleman by the name of Scott Shelly at Musonia. Shelly would soon after approach Randy‘s mother to inform her that he could no longer teach the young student, as Rhoads‘ rapidly expanding knowledge of the electric guitar had exceeded his own.
In addition to receiving guitar lessons, Randy also took piano lessons from his mother to help him build a foundation of understanding music theory. This would prove to be beneficial later on, as it helped him lay the foundations for the unique, yet technical style that he would become associated with.
First Band
At age 16, Randy formed his first band called LITTLE WOMEN with his best friend and bassist Kelly Garni, which saw the young Rhoads teaching guitar at his mother’s school during the day while playing gigs at night.
He eventually graduated from Burbank High School, participating in a special program that allowed him to condense his studies and graduate early so he could teach guitar and pursue music full-time.
Quiet Riot
After recruiting singer Kevin DuBrow and drummer Drew Forsyth, the band soon changed its name to QUIET RIOT and begin gigging in numerous small clubs in the Los Angeles area, all the while gaining a steadily growing fan base.
In order to capitalize on their growing success, QUIET RIOT quickly recorded their debut album, “Quiet Riot I“, in 1977. The album, although only released in Japan, achieved some commercial success, as did the follow-up, “Quiet Riot II” in 1978.
At this time however, the relationship between QUIET RIOT vocalist Kevin DuBrow and bassist Kelly Garni was strained, to say the least. After drunkenly firing a handgun through the ceiling and engaging in a fistfight with Rhoads, Garni came up with the brilliant idea to shoot and kill DuBrow at The Record Plant studio while recording their second album. He was unsuccessful however this incident would be the catalyst to the dissolving of Randy‘s relationship with Garni and his eventual time within the band.
Yet something much bigger awaited on the metal horizon.
Auditioning For Ozzy Osbourne
Randy met Ozzy Osbourne for the first time at his audition for the former BLACK SABBATH singer’s new solo band.
After much prodding from his friend and fellow musician Dana Strum , Randy decided to try out for Ozzy‘s band and entered a Los Angeles studio in the fall of 1979 unaware of the forthcoming opportunities’ significance.
Osbourne, in a completely inebriated state within the studio’s control room, was immediately impressed with Rhoads‘ playing, later saying “I knew within fifteen minutes that he was the guitar player I wanted in my band.” Randy was hired on the spot with Osbourne recalling: “I thought he was amazing. We clicked immediately.”
Randy joined Ozzy‘s band in November of 1979 and would go on to record two solo albums with the legendary heavy metal singer. Along with drummer Lee Kerslake (URIAH HEEP) and bassist Bob Daisly (RAINBOW), this lineup would be forever known as the “Blizzard Of Ozz” era of the legendary frontman’s career. And with Randy playing guitar for his new band, the former BLACK SABBATH singer’s future was beginning to look up.
Blizzard Of Ozz
“Blizzard of Ozz” was released on September 20, 1980, and quickly became a crushing, commercial success, reaching No. 23 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album would even go on to become certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). “Blizzard of Ozz” is widely considered one of the greatest debut rock albums of all time.
The opening track, “I Don’t Know“, is a fine example of Randy‘s guitar work with the solo of that song often being cited as one of the young guitarist’s best. Other notable tracks on the album include such recognizable hits as “Crazy Train”, “Suicide Solution” and “Mr. Crowley“. (“Crazy Train” is another fine example of Rhoads‘ pure technical abilities coupled with pure guitar driven groove)
Randy‘s guitar playing was a major factor in the album’s success. His solos were technical yet melodic, and his riffs were catchy and memorable. His playing style immediately went on to influence countless future guitarists, including the likes of Slash from GUNS N’ ROSES and George Lynch of DOKKEN.
The album remains one of Ozzy Osbourne‘s best-selling LPs, and is a must-have for any fan of hard rock or heavy metal.
Rhoads‘ style of playing was unlike anything that had been heard before. He blended elements of classical music with heavy metal to create a sound that was truly unique. His solos were fast and complex, yet somehow still accessible to mainstream audiences. In short, Randy was quickly becoming a guitar god.
Following the release of “Blizzard Of Ozz”, the band embarked on a world tour to promote the record, performing 83 shows in 41 cities across North America, Europe, and Japan from February to September 1980. The tour was a commercial success, with many concerts selling out completely. Despite these accomplishments, Daisley and Kerslake grew frustrated with Osbourne’s chaotic behaviour and drug abuse.
Following a tour of the United Kingdom, the band recorded their second album, “Diary of a Madman.”
Diary Of A Madman
“Diary Of A Madman” is one of those albums that just oozes with heavy metal awesomness.
The record was released in 1981, and it immediately cemented Randy as one of the greatest guitarists of his generation. His playing style was so unique and fresh, with his pummeling solos on songs like “Flying High Again” and “Over The Mountain” are nothing short of legendary.
Randy was truly a one of a kind guitarist, and his work on “Diary Of A Madman” is some of the best heavy metal guitar ever recorded. His riffs are heavy and catchy, while his solos are absolutely shredding. Even if you’re not normally a fan of heavy metal music, you can’t help but appreciate the skill and talent on display within this LP.
Both Lee Kerslake and Bob Daisley were suddenly fired from the band by Sharon Arden, the band’s manager and Osbourne‘s future wife just before their US tour in support of “Diary Of A Madman“. They would be replaced by drummer Tommy Aldridge and bassist Rudy Sarzo – who had briefly been Rhoads‘ bandmate in QUIET RIOT. (when “Diary of a Madman” hit record store shelves in the October of 1981, Aldridge and Sarzo‘s names and photos actually appeared on the album sleeve, despite not appearing on a single track).
Kerslake would claim that Rhoads was on the verge of leaving Osbourne‘s band in late 1981 due to his growing indignation with the termination of Lee and Daisley. Kerslake would recall: “He didn’t want to go [on tour with Osbourne]. We told him we were thrown out. He said he was going to leave the band as he did not want to leave us behind. I told him not to be stupid but thanks for the sentiment.”
Changing Feelings
In the December of 1981, Rhoads would be voted “Best New Talent” by Guitar Player magazine readers and “Best Heavy Metal Guitarist” by Sounds readers in the United Kingdom.
Around this time Randy had begun thinking about moving in a more classical music direction with his guitar playing, going as far as to work with private tutors while on the road to enhance his abilities.
Although still believing he was a lovely guy, Ozzy‘s drunken antics were also starting to wear on Randy who had already begun voicing his desire to move on from Ozzy after fulfilling his contractual obligations to Jet Records so he could continue studying classical guitar and grow his own musical abilities.
When Did Randy Rhoads Die?
On March 19, 1982, Ozzy was scheduled to perform two concerts in Florida. The first show was at the KNRQ studios in Orlando for a radio broadcast with the second show taking place at the Rock Superbowl XXII concert in Jacksonville.
After the Orlando show, the band stopped at Flying Baron Estates in Leesburg, Florida, to fix a malfunctioning air conditioning unit on the tour bus while Osbourne remained asleep.
On the property, which was owned by Calhoun Brothers tour bus firm, there was an airstrip which contained a number of helicopters and planes. Tour bus driver Andrew Aycock, who also happened to be a private pilot, saw the opportunity to take a single-engine Beechcraft F35 plane to the skies and commenced to do just that.
Keyboardist Don Airey and tour manager Jake Duncan were among the passengers. During this flight, Duncan stated that Aycock “buzzed” the tour bus in an effort to wake up drummer Tommy Aldridge. After landing, another flight occured, this time featuring Randy Rhoads and makeup artist Rachel Youngblood.
Though Randy was terrified of flying, he wanted to take some aerial photographs of the countryside for his mother. He had attempted unsuccessfully to persuade bassist Rudy Sarzo to join him on the excursion, but Sarzo chose to sleep instead.
During this second flight, more efforts were made to “buzz” the tour bus.
At approximately 10am, the plane descended rapidly in an attempt to “buzz” the tour bus once again, however this time one of the airplane’s wings clipped the top of the bus, severing it into two pieces and causing the aircraft to spiral out of control.
The out of control aircraft proceeded to sever the top of a nearby pine tree and then went crashing into into the garage of a nearby house where it quickly burst into flames. Randy Rhoads was killed instantly, as were Aycock and Youngblood.
Randy Rhoads was just 25 years old at the time of his death. He had only been playing guitar for about a decade, but in that short amount of time he would make a massive impact on the world of rock music. His unique style and virtuosic technique still influences generations of guitarists. Randy Rhoads may be gone, but his legacy will endure.
Despite appearing on just the two Ozzy albums, those two releases remain so important to those who admire and love the rock and heavy metal musical genres. Other great guitarists would go on to record and take the stage with Osbourne, with names like Zakk Wylde and Jake E. Lee providing their own significance to Ozzy‘s sound, however it will always be Randy Rhoads who stands out as one who defined a significant part of a genre.
