Ozzy Osbourne with Randy Rhoads 1981.06.27 Long Beach Arena, California 1981 USA Blizzard of Ozz Tour Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads Rudy Sarzo Tommy Aldridge Linday Bridgewater Remaster Notes The music world lost one of its most promising talents on March 19, 1982, when Randy Rhoads, the lead guitarist in Ozzy Osbourne’s band, was killed in a horrific plane crash at 25 years old. Ozzy Osbourne was the godfather of heavy metal. Relive the defining moments in his career that made him one of rock music’s all-time greats. Given Ozzy Osbourne's stature, – even after his departure from the pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath – and the fact that it was the early '80s, high-quality videos of Ozzy performing with his first electric guitar sideman, the legendary Randy Rhoads, are surprisingly hard to come by. Randy Rhoads Randy Rhoads joined Ozzy Osbourne in 1979, a move that would irrevocably alter the landscape of heavy metal guitar. Recruited from the Hollywood band Quiet Riot, with whom he had recorded two albums released only in Japan, Rhoads brought a revolutionary fusion of European classical theory and aggressive rock technique. His tenure, lasting from 1979 until his tragic death in a the only professional video of Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads performing together was taped at NBC Studios in Burbank, California. Ozzy Osbourne's Crazy Train live with Randy Rhoads in 1981. Wolfgang Van Halen's MAMMOTH (formerly known as MAMMOTH WVH) performed a cover of Ozzy Osbourne's classic ballad "Mama, I'm Coming Home" during MAMMOTH's concert last night (Tuesday, July 22) in TMD has obtained several unpublished photos of late great guitarist Randy Rhoads performing with OZZY OSBOURNE in Rochester, NY on April 29, 1981. This coming December 6 is Randy’s birthday, and had he lived the ‘forever young’ pioneer of neo-classical metal would be staring down 54 years of age. Osbourne would be surrounded by great guitarists for the rest of his career, and made some players household names. Bernie Tormé and Brad Gillis had the impossible task of following Rhoads on subsequent tours, but Jake E. Lee became Osbourne’s next breakout guitar star, performing on Bark at the Moon (1983) and The Ultimate Sin (1986). On April 28 1981, Randy Rhoads took to the stage at 31 Studios in Ogden, New York (just outside Rochester) to film a live performance, which would be broadcast on the After Hours TV Show in support of Ozzy Osbourne's debut solo album, Blizzard of Ozz. In the video clips below, see Randy (armed with his Karl Sandoval "Polka Dot" Flying V and Gibson Les Paul Custom) perform Word of Osbourne’s demise came weeks after the ailing front man reunited with his original Black Sabbath bandmates. Asked to name his favorite guitar player who played with Ozzy Osbourne — a list that includes SABBATH legend Tony Iommi and Randy Rhoads — Wolfgang said: "I'm really bad at picking, 'cause February 8th 1982 and May 19th 1981 The only real quality video of The legendary Ozzy osbourne band With Randy Rhoads the guitar god as the main focus playing at their best in a Live setting. Randy Rhoads Biography: Early Career and Quiet Riot Years Before joining Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads had already carved out a name for himself in the Los Angeles rock scene. Born in 1956, Rhoads was classically trained and developed a distinctive neoclassical style that would later define his work in heavy metal. After Ozzy Osbourne was dismissed from Black Sabbath in 1979, his future in music was uncertain until he met Randy Rhoads through Sharon Arden, who would later become his wife and manager. Osbourne described Rhoads’s audition as “a bolt of lightning” that reignited his passion for performing. Ozzy Osbourne honored the 43rd anniversary of the death of his guitarist Randy Rhoads with a moving tribute on social media. The Prince of Darkness shared a series of photos of him and Rhoads performing together. He included a caption that began, "Randy Rhoads was quite possibly the best composer & musician that I have ever met in my life. From rock and roll moments to rubbing shoulders with royalty, Sky News looks back at Ozzy Osbourne's life in pictures. Randy Rhoads's tragic death is remembered as Ozzy Osbourne reflects on the guitarist's legacy and how he shaped his solo career. Randy Rhoads’ time in the spotlight as Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist was oh so brief, but in the two records he recorded with the former Black Sabbath frontman, Rhoads left an indelible impact thanks to his phenomenal, neo-classical guitar style.
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