Rock and roll history has been painted with too many shooting star lives that tease us with their brilliant light for the briefest of moments and then disappear into the heavens. We are left with only a small hint of what could have been accomplished.
Randy Rhoads, the incredibly talented guitarist of Ozzy Osbourne's band, was one such shooting star. Wednesday, March 19 will mark the 21st anniversary of his tragic passing at the age of 25.
To those unfamiliar with his work, the name Randy Rhoads may not mean much. Within a broad circle of musicians and guitar players, however, the name is legendary. As a member of Osbourne's backing group from 1979-1982, Rhoads revolutionizing the way rock guitar could be played. His classically-inspired approach was highly influential among aspiring guitarists both then and now.
Born Dec. 6, 1956 in Santa Monica, California, Rhoads was immediately drawn to the guitar and learned it very quickly. By the time he was in his teens, he was already giving guitar lessons. After wallowing through the raunchy L.A. music scene with bands like Quiet Riot (soon to be regulars on "Where Are They Now"), Rhoads joined Osbourne in 1979. Rhoads became good friends and song-writing collaborators with the former Black Sabbath frontman. When Osbourne's first solo album, "Blizzard of Oz," was released in 1980, the buzz surrounding it had more to do with the song-writing collaboration of Rhoads than with the comeback of Ozzy. He would go on to be voted Best New Guitarist by "Guitar Player" magazine.
His playing was groundbreaking in almost every way, taking the dazzling technique that Eddie Van Halen had introduced to a new level. He blended the attitude, style and technique of rock guitar (including rock guitar techniques like fret-tapping, hammer-ons and pick-offs, etc...) with a beautifully fluid and intricate classical technique. He moved away from the use of delta blues-based pentatonic scales, which was the standard for most rock guitarists, and instead focused on using classical scales and modes, which Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore had also briefly dipped into years earlier. Rhoads brought the rock guitar solo closer to the spirit of the classical cadenza (a set piece specifically designed to showcase technical virtuosity). The accomplished harmonic understanding and precise execution he brought to his playing had not been heard before in the world of rock guitar at that time.
Randy's classically-influenced playing was a key sparkplug for the surge of neoclassical guitar shredders like Yngwie Malmsteen and Vinnie Moore, who crowded onto the scene in the eighties. Most of these players were simply clones of each other. All were able to play at blinding speeds, but none had substance or heart. Some players, however, like Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Kirk Hammett, took the influence of Rhoads and found a way to develop it into their own style.
The Rhoads-Osbourne team produced some great music on "Blizzard of Oz" and 1981's "Diary of a Madman." Rhoads' interest in classical guitar playing began to completely overtake him around 1981 as well. He was dedicated to his craft and was always looking for ways to get better. Each time he would arrive in a new town, he would look through the yellow pages to find out where he could receive a classical guitar lesson. He was aspiring to leave Osbourne's band and pursue a degree in classical music at UCLA.
As a person, Rhoads was a quiet soul who did his best not to succumb to the pressures or temptations of the road. Music and his girlfriend always came first. The excesses of rock and roll did not interest him. Everyone who knew him described him as a very polite and kind-hearted man who had a constant smile planted on his face.
On the morning of March 19, 1982, Randy was enticed to take a joy ride in a Beechcraft Bonanza while the group's tour bus was on an early morning pit stop. The bus driver (who piloted the plane) and one of Randy's good friends, Rachel Youngblood, were also aboard as it circled a private airport in Leesburg, Florida three times. On the third time, the plane dropped to close to the ground, clipped its wing on the bus, splintered a tree and crashed into a house, exploding and killing all on board. Very little is known about the cause of the accident.
Like the loss before of Jimi Hendrix and the later loss of Stevie Ray Vaughn, the loss of Randy Rhoads was devastating for guitar players and the music world in general. Some consider him the greatest guitarist who ever lived. And at 25, he was only going to get better. There were no limits to how far he could have taken his extraordinary gifts, especially if he did go into classical studies at UCLA. Like the other shooting stars of the music world, we have to let our imaginations tell us what he could have done and appreciate what he did give to us. March 19 should be a day of remembrance for music lovers everywhere. Anyone who is into rock or metal (or even classical guitar) and has never heard Randy's playing should definitely check out his music. Go out and pick up any of the mentioned albums or the live showcase, "Tribute."
Information from Allmusic and the official Randy Rhoads website were used for this article.
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