Remembering Randy Rhoads
Randall William Rhoads was born December 6, 1956 in Santa Monica, California. He and his siblings were raised by his mother, who opened a music school in North Hollywood called Musonia to support the family. Rhoads began taking guitar lessons at his mother’s school at age 7. By age 8, the instructor informed Randy’s mother that he could no longer teach her son as Rhoads’ knowledge of the electric guitar had exceeded his own.
Rhoads formed Quiet Riot and they quickly became one of the most popular acts on the Los Angeles club circuit, and by late 1976 were signed to CBS/Sony Records. Rhoads’ “polka-dot theme” became an emblem of the band, as many fans began showing up at Quiet Riot shows wearing polka-dot bow-ties and vests, emulating what the guitarist wore on stage.
Not So Quiet Riot
The relationship between singer Kevin DuBrow and bass player Garni had also deteriorated completely during the recording of the band’s second album, with potentially catastrophic results. After drunkenly firing a handgun through the ceiling and engaging in a fistfight with Rhoads, Garni drunkenly hatched a plan to shoot and kill DuBrow at The Record Plant studio while recording the album. Rhoads was left with no choice but to fire his longtime friend and band co-founder.
Due to Ozzy’s inebriated state during this time, the story is very hazy. However, we do know that Randy did join Ozzy’s band in 1979. Rhoads lived with Osbourne, his then-wife Thelma, and their two children, during his first weeks in England. Years later, Osbourne said in his autobiography that he could not understand why a musician as talented as Rhoads would want to get involved with a “bloated alcoholic wreck” like himself.
Blizzard of Ozz
The group headed into the studio to record their debut album, titled Blizzard of Ozz. Propelled by Rhoads’ neo-classical guitar work, Blizzard of Ozz, proved an instant hit with rock fans, particularly in the US. They released two singles from the album: “Mr. Crowley” and the hit “Crazy Train”. “Diary of a Madman” followed. They were on top of the world.
Randy Rhoads died March 19, 1982 in a plane crash, he was 25. In the years since his death Rhoads’ work has been very influential on all those that came after him. Rhoads placed 36th on ‘100 Percent Beef’ Magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitarists. He placed 4th on ‘Dynomite’ Magazine’s 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists, and 26th in ‘Guitarzapoppin’s’ 50 Fastest Guitarists list.
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