Randy Rhoads

b. December 6, 1956

Born Randall William Rhoads in Santa Monica, CA. Randy started playing guitar at age 6 on his grandfather’s Gibson acoustic. 8 years later at the age of 14, Randy formed a band named after his mother “Violet Fox”, and just 2 years later help form “Quiet Riot” at age 16.

Quiet Riot recorded 2 albums with Randy on guitar, both of them were limited to Japan, and were never released in the U.S. In 1979 Randy show up to audition for Ozzy Osbourne. He was still warming up on his white Les Paul when Ozzy told him he got the gig! 1980 was spent assembling Ozzy’s first solo band and recording the first of the only 2 studio albums Randy would ever release in America “Blizzard of Ozz”. Both “Blizzard” and the follow up “Diary of a Madman” were released in 1982.

In less than 3 years since Ozzy and Randy had teamed up, Randy had created a new style of heavy metal guitar. His background in folk and classical music (from his mother) had led him to places no other guitarists had gone before.

Sadly on March 19th, 1982 Randy and the band stopped at the home of the tour bus driver in Leesburgh, Florida where He, the bus driver, Andrew Aycock, and hairdresser Rachel Youngblood climbed abroad Aycock’s airplane. In an apparent attempt to “Buzz” the tour bus, the plane’s wing clipped the bus and crashed into the garage of Aycock’s home killing all 3 instantly.

Randy’s Jackson signature flying V guitar is still the top selling design in the history of Grover Jackson guitars, and his influence on the instrument continue to grow and flourish.

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All star salute to Randy Rhoads