New generation Randy fans

[SPTiger]

I have two sons, one seven years old and the other five years old. Since they were born I have always listened to the same music I always have when I have them in the car with me. Most of the time it's Randy-era Ozzy. My five year old can sing right along to Crazy Train, and they both like to air guitar wildly. Having said that they are both big Randy Rhoads fans, and of course love the polka dot V. Here's the thing: Neither of them know he's dead. My five year old doesn't quite understand anything about death, but my seven year old does. When my older son was born, I used to listen to Elvis a lot, and for the longest time he didn't know he was dead either until my Mom spilled the beans. He asked me a couple of weeks ago how old Randy was now, because he knows Ozzy is older. I just told him I didn't know. I don't want to tell him Randy is gone. Not because he will get upset and cry or anything, but to me, in a way, it means that Randy is still alive and well. He's going to find out eventually I know, but right now in my son's little world Randy is alive and still rockin'.

I know this is pretty silly, but after having to tell him that so many musicians I listen to are dead (Hendrix, SRV, etc.) it just pains me to tell him that my favorite guitarist ever is dead.

At least we have two more Randy fans to help carry on the memory of Randy, and hopefully will tell others when they are older. My five year old is going to be the guitarist I believe, and taking Randy's approach to the instrument would be the way to go.

[zennman]

Nice post!