CFNN Reporter Dana Murray

43 years ago today, on March 19th, 1982, Randy Rhoads tragically passed away in a plane crash in Leesburg, Florida at age 25. He was the original guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, a co-founder of the band Quiet Riot, and a Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inductee (Class of 2021). He was a huge part of the success of Ozzy’s first two solo albums, Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman. The riff from “Crazy Train” is one of the most recognizable riffs of all time. His impact can be heard in countless songs from across the 80’s.

In terms of playing style, he’s a lot like Eddie Van Halen. They’re both very technical and include a lot of tapping in their solos, as well as the use of a whammy bar for a variety of effects. In addition to his use of technique, Randy has a very recognizable tone. He uses a lot of distortion and a subtle reverb that adds depth to the sound. His tone works in perfect harmony with the bass which is so predominant in Ozzy’s music. 

Randy’s best known riff is “Crazy Train.” While some may claim that it’s overdone, I think that it’s just overplayed to an extent. The 45 years of continuous radio play is understandable. That riff is superb. It matches with the beat of the song so well and turns it into a great song to jam out to. I will never get tired of hearing it. Randy uses a pinch harmonic after Ozzy sings “mental wounds not healing,” which fits so well since it sounds like a scream! The solo is heavenly; his use of tapping is rivaled only by Eddie Van Halen on “Eruption.” It’s honestly such an impressive piece. Elitists may say it’s overrated, but it will forever be a classic.

“Mr. Crowley” is a phenomenal song. The lyrical content is dark, so it makes sense that Randy matched his tone to it. It really sets the mood. As for the solos themselves, the tapping sections are masterfully executed. He took what Eddie pioneered and mastered it. The less tapping-heavy sections are amazing. It shows that he doesn’t have to rely on that to make a great solo.

 My favorite of all of Randy’s works is “Goodbye To Romance.” It’s beautiful and has a life of its own while still showing great musicianship. It’s a change of pace from the early heavy metal of the other songs on Blizzard of Ozz. The cleaner tone shows Randy’s prowess more since it’s not hidden in effects pedals and distortion. It’s quite underrated and I haven’t heard many people talking about it. It deserves more attention. It’s one of the best solos of 1980. The tapping section here is beautiful and really enhances the song. It’s not just there to show off. The synth lines match the guitar so well and it makes this song that much more gorgeous. It’s truly the entire package.

“Dee” shows Randy’s versatility as a guitarist. It’s a gorgeous classical guitar piece. I love it because it shows that he was talented in other ways besides ripping it up on an electric guitar. It’s also interesting because Randy wanted to go back to college to study classical guitar before he died. He could have done so much more in this field, but his life was tragically cut short. As for the song itself, it reminds me of the beginning of “Love Song” by Tesla. It’s slow and inviting, which is a great shift from the other harder songs on the album. 

“Over The Mountain” reminds me of early thrash metal, which shows the influence he had on a variety of styles. This song is a great way to kick off Diary of a Madman. It’s a really solid piece overall. The addition of the synth before the pick slide that leads into the solo is amazing. The beginning of the solo sounds like a 007 theme. The tapping and bends that are included in the solo are nothing short of incredible. The secondary solo during the outro is amazing.

One of my favorite Ozzy songs is “Flying High Again,” and it’s mostly because of the riff. It’s iconic. It’s one of his more simple ones, but it gets the job done. It really shows that he could make even simple riffs sound incredible. This song is a great one to jam out to and it’s not overdone. The solo pairs perfectly with the bass! That’s one of the great things about Randy: he made the band sound cohesive and it wasn’t just him being a show off.

“You Can’t Kill Rock and Roll” has a beautiful intro. It’s an acoustic guitar riff that lays the groundwork for Zakk Wylde’s guitar on “Mama, I’m Coming Home” in 1989. The combination of the layered acoustic and electric guitars is a great touch before it rips into Randy’s signature overdriven tone. The addition of a synth riff before the second verse is a great stylistic choice. It’s truly a great piece.  

As I mentioned earlier, Randy was a founding member of Quiet Riot and lead guitarist before he was hired by Ozzy. After Randy’s passing, the band wrote the song “Thunderbird” as a tribute to him, which appeared on their hit album Metal Health. I’m including it here since it’s a fitting way to close out a tribute to this amazing man. It starts out soft and slow with a beautiful piano part before gradually building to a more hard rock driven song. It reminds me of 70’s glam rock bands like Slade and Sweet. The harmonies on the chorus are great. Kevin DuBrow’s voice in this song is incredible. It amazes me how his voice can go that high. I also love that the solo shares qualities with Randy’s. It’s such a touching tribute to both a former band mate and a rock ‘n’ roll icon.

Randy Rhoads is a legend. For such a short career, he had a huge impact on hard rock and heavy metal. “Crazy Train” and “Flying High Again” are still in rotation on rock radio stations 40 years later. His riffs continue to inspire guitarists generation after generation. His legacy will live on forever as a prolific figure in the history of rock ‘n’ roll.