in memory of OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Randy Rhoads (1956-1982)

Randall William Rhoads (December 6, 1956 - March 19, 1982)

The first episode of the series "Into the Void: Life, Death & Heavy Metal" (Hulu/ Disney+ 2025) is about Randy Rhoads. The footage shows Ozzy's induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. On October 19, 2024, during his induction speech for Ozzy at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio, the comedian Jack Black said, "It is my great honor to officially induct the greatest to ever lace them up in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame... The one, the only, Ozzy Osbourne!"

Ozzy explains: "I've been fortunate over the years to play with some of the world greatest guitar players, but I've got one thing for a guy by the name of Randy Rhoads. If hadn't met Randy Rhoads, I don't think I'd be sitting here now."

Sharon adds, "It's true. Randy came along at at time when Ozzy was so low, so depressed. His hope had gone."

Randy Rhoads’ sister, Kathy Rhoads D’Argenzio, says that, "... Randy was very serious and focused, and I think that's why he started taking the classical lessons." Drummer Tommy Aldridge confirms this sentiment, "We would be on the road and Rany would have his itinerary, he would be phoning ahead, trying to book time with a classical teacher, and mostly in major markets, like Chicago and New York or bigger cities, 'cause that where the really good teachers [were], 'cause it was hard for Randy to find a teacher that knew more than he knew. It wasn't 'till I heard him playing his classical in his hotel room, just jamming around on his classical. It was transformational, that was just like what God put him on the planet to do."

Sharon also observes, "There's not that many people that I know that would have done that. Actually call up a guitar teacher when you're in a hit rock band. It's just not very common."

Bassist Rudy Sarzo adds, "I don't think he ever saw himself as a rock star at all, you know. He himself as a musician, and he was deeply devoted to the band, there's no question about that. He knew that there was so much more that he coud do as a musician, but first he needed to be educated."

Ozzy confirms that Randy was planning to learn more about guitar, "On that last bus journey from Knoxville, Tennessee to Orlando, Florida, he turned onto to me and said he wanted to quit rock and roll, and wanted to go to UCLA and get a degree in classical guitar. And I said to him, 'Dude, you got the rest of your life to do that.' And he wasn't a guy that was into being a mega, really, rock star. He tried it, he was a success of it, and you know, he wanted to move on."

The point of this portion of the documentary is not to suggest that Randy was totally done with rock music, but that rather that he was often frustrated by the cutthroat business side of music, with the fighting about money, control, backstabbing, record executives, lawyers, tours, managers, so on and so forth. In that setting, often the last thing anyone is thinking about is the actual music and making honest music.

This bothered Randy Rhoads. Because what he loved to do is play guitar, learn the guitar and make music. Randy was only 25 years old. He had been a rock star only for about two and a half years.

(photos from The Randy Rhoads Society on Facebook.)