Growing up as a boy in 1970's surburbia USA, I think there was a blood oath obligation that you go through some form of heavy metal stage before you hit 18.

While I never got into much super hard stuff, I did get into Sabbath, Rush, Ozzy, Dio and a few others for a two to three year spell.

While hard rock really isn't my flavor of music anymore, I always go back once every two to three years and pull some of that stuff out again. It's fun to look back and see if/how your tastes have changed. Most of it has dated horribly for me personally. It just doesn't have any soul to it. (And my personal definition of music with soul could range anywhere from Stevie to Bob Dylan).

Any way, all this to say I just relistened to the first two Ozzy Osbourne solo albums recently, and I was absolutely blown away by how brilliant and relevant they still are today. I actually listened to his other albums - Bark at the Moon - Ultimate Sin etc. and was equally blown away by how horrible they were to my ears. I was literally laughing out loud at songs that I used to worship. Ahhh the days of youth.

But the common denominator on Ozzy's first two albums was Randy Rhoads. Both records are filled with totally original, beautifully played songs. After listening to them and the live Tribute album , it really bummed me out that he was only around for that short a time. He had such a diverse approach to his instrument. It is a truly amazing testament to Randy's ability, (for me personally) that I have absolutely nothing to do with that genre of music today, but listen to those albums and know I am listening to some downright brilliant music.

Any other Randy fans out here?

Great thread. I'm a Randy fan too.

He was indeed a great guitarist.

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His death was tragic. Without him, lots of Ozzy's early solo classics wouldn't be what they became.

Timmy84 said:

He was indeed a great guitarist.

His death was tragic. Without him, lots of Ozzy's early solo classics wouldn't be what they became.

Thanks Trueiopian.

Truer words have never been spoken Tim. It may be sacrilege to some to say he WAS Ozzy's solo career, but for me, that original band (Lee Kerslake and Bob Daisley included) were what made Ozzy relevant again.

I don't think it was a coincidence that his next album was laughably bad.

I think I read in the liner notes to one of his CDs or on Wiki that it took Randy three days to write the guitar solo to the Diary of a Madman track. And when you hear it, it is so flipping perfect. Not this over notey mess of flash. Gritty chords interspersed with individual notes. A true thing of beauty.

Anyway, glad to find a few Randy fans on the Org.

Fenwick said:

Timmy84 said:

He was indeed a great guitarist.

His death was tragic. Without him, lots of Ozzy's early solo classics wouldn't be what they became.

Thanks Trueiopian.

Truer words have never been spoken Tim. It may be sacrilege to some to say he WAS Ozzy's solo career, but for me, that original band (Lee Kerslake and Bob Daisley included) were what made Ozzy relevant again.

I don't think it was a coincidence that his next album was laughably bad.

I think I read in the liner notes to one of his CDs or on Wiki that it took Randy three days to write the guitar solo to the Diary of a Madman track. And when you hear it, it is so flipping perfect. Not this over notey mess of flash. Gritty chords interspersed with individual notes. A true thing of beauty.

Anyway, glad to find a few Randy fans on the Org.

True, Ozzy's original band was something else. His albums afterwards didn't recapture that magic.

Randy was one of the reasons me, and many people i know started playing guitar. His classical means of playing where just fantastic & Blizzard Of Oz/Diary Of A Madman are 2 fine albums

My favorite Randy/Ozzy song is Revelation[Mother Earth] the solo in it is incredible!

Randy was an amazing guitar player.

I bought the original "Ozzy Randy Rhoads tribute" transcribed notes for guitar back in school days - of course I got the ozzy years records too. This was one of the reasons I started playing guitar. I tried to play it with my electric guitar, but I don´t got 1000000 years to practice. Although "suicide solution" is playable - of course without the solo (Cadenza) of the tribute .

Randy of course is a guitar god

The question is though...........

Do you think Randy Rhodes could have schooled Prince on guitar?

sexyfunkystrange said:

The question is though...........

Do you think Randy Rhodes could have schooled Prince on guitar?

Who?

sexyfunkystrange said:

The question is though...........

Do you think Randy Rhodes could have schooled Prince on guitar?

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Randy Rhoads = Genius

Randy was a great player and one of my favorites.