A different point of view

[Paul Wolfe]

So I was thinking at work last night (should have been working I suppose, but instead I was thinking) about Randy never being older than 25.

I work with a lot of people in their early 20's, so I started thinking about Randy as a young 20-something as opposed to brilliant guitarist. For those of you who are old like me, imagine Randy as the young adult who lives down the street. You don't really know him, but he seems like a good kid.

For that matter, think about the 'what if' of Randy's life had things been different. Not the plane crash part either. I was reading Rudy's book where he mentions Randy going for the Ozzy audition just to get Dana Strum to quit calling him.

Suppose Randy never went to that audition? Suppose he stayed in L.A. and slugged it out with Quiet Riot for another few months and then decided to give up the rock star dream (like his friend Kelly Garni did). Suppose he pursued his music at UCLA and then focused on teaching others to play guitar and understand music.

With that point of view, think of him as the guy living down the street. Nice guy who teaches guitar. Heard he was in a band when he was younger, wonder what that was like?

We usually focus on Randy's tremendous talent and what he left behind. Sometimes I like to think of the 'alternate universe' Randy Rhoads. What if Randy had followed in the footsteps of his older brother? I'm sure Kelle has been a huge influence in the lives of many musicians. We just don't hear about it because Randy's fame overshadows that. So What if Randy had never 'made it' and his contribution to this world was teaching and molding the next great guitarist?

Maybe I should take fewer smoke breaks and focus on finding some work to do

[RRfish]

I get where your coming from Paul, but knowing Randy's personality and ambition, regardless of whether he got the offer from Ozzy, he either would have stuck it out with QR, or would have been offered another gig with a band that would become famous for their virtuoso guitar player. He wanted that, and he got his feet wet with Ozzy. Sadly at the end he did want out, and expressed that the life he was leading in Ozzy's band was not the life he wanted for himself. It was that experience, that taught him he wanted something different. If not with Ozzy, the lesson would had come thru another band or QR. If he would have lived most likely he would have gone the route of UCLA, and continued teaching,influencing students, until he could get his priorities and values arranged and in plain site. If Randy hadn't made it in a band, we wouldn't be talking about the same person at all. You need to remember he wanted this from a very young age, and did what he could to get there. Most of all his charisma and the love of his guitar would have propelled him to the forefront regardless of what band he was with.

[McLowery]

You cant suppose fate. Randy HAD to audition for Ozzy, Jimi HAD to make a burnt offering at Monterey, The Beatles HAD to make Sgt. Peppers and George Lucas HAD to make Star Wars! lol That's how I see it anyway.