Crazy Train: The high life and tragic death of Randy Rhoads

[CanuckRhoadsFan]

Ordered the book today through Amazon.ca. Looking forward to reading this! I like that we're hearing other aspects of Randy.

The Grover comment is interesting. So what if Randy was being rude? Randy fans tend to over scrutinize his every action. Could he be an asshole? Probably. Just like everyone else is at one time or another. Remember, this was a guy that pissed in a drink one time and tried to get a waitress to drink it as a joke. Randy may have also copped a "Rock Star" attitude in this instance also - just saying. He was no angel, folks! We'd do well to remember that! I'm just as big a Randy fan as the next person, but I've no delusions about life on the road in a rock band, and what goes on. He was human, after all. An extremely talented human, but a human nonetheless. We all have our faults at certain times.

Keep in mind he had also been a professional musician for a while before this and most likely knew the score with getting paid (or not). Given the Ozzy camp's sometimes questionable business dealings with people, he may have been right on the money. Remember, Sharon's dad, Don Arden, was notorious for his strong-arm tactics with acts he managed.

I hope you're not missing the point. No one is claiming or thinking that Randy was an "angel". No one's an angel or perfect. I don't think we're scrutinizing Randy's every move. I was pointing out Grover's reaction, not Randy's comment. Yes, I agree with everyone, there is nothing wrong with asking for a paycheck in front of someone, regardless of how acerbic it did sound at the time. I wonder if Grover left out the part that he gave Randy a really hard time for not paying for his guitar. I'm not stirring the pot with rumors. Just kidding

No, I'm not missing the point.

I realize you're talking about Grover's comment. It just kind of bugs me that people tend to forget Randy was fallible and wasn't the selfless, giving person he is portrayed as at all times. Yes, he could be a wonderful person, but maybe this is an instance where he wasn't. All I'm sayin'!

[CanuckRhoadsFan]

Double post! Sorry!

[Silver Rhoads]

No, I'm not missing the point.

I realize you're talking about Grover's comment. It just kind of bugs me that people tend to forget Randy was fallible and wasn't the selfless, giving person he is portrayed as at all times. Yes, he could be a wonderful person, but maybe this is an instance where he wasn't. All I'm sayin'!

I hear you.

I still don't mind hearing these stories. But isn't pissing in someone's drink a bit more harsh than asking where his money is?

I don't know why, but that practical joke made me laugh out loud. I think I read the reason why he did it was because the server was being rude.

[Tharg]

Thank you so much for the kind words brosephs

[CanuckRhoadsFan]

Joel, thanks for bringing to light more discussions about Randy - it's nice to see an even more in depth look at his life and career, the good things and the bad.

[Tharg]

My pleasure and thank you.

[axeman_12656]

Just finished the book Joel. Great job. Us Randy fans are so die hard that it's really hard to bring to light anything we may not already know. But you managed to find a few small snippets that were different. Randy smoking a cig betweens his lady friends toes. Small details like that helped make it a good read.

I also enjoyed the details of Kelly Garni's departure from Quiet Riot. I actually did not know a lot of that. I don't wanna spoil anything for those that are still reading or plan to read the book.

Also... Really enjoyed the part about Bernie Torme and what it was like joining that band so soon after Randy death. (on a side note) Bernie talked about how the ardans screwed him on his pay but Ozzy paid the difference and then some. I found that interesting.

Great job,
Josh

[electricmombie]

Is this book on amazon?

I'll have to check.

Definitely wanna read that one.

Thanks for the mini-review!

[Tharg]

Thanks Josh!

[rokket]

Is this the book that has a lot of people talking.....mainly about the mistakes in it, like Randy's age is wrong and the spelling of Ozzy's name is wrong....etc...or are they talking about another book thats around??

[hansolo]

I have seen Randy's age at 26 before. Yes, you would think one might research it, like how people often put Rhodes on merchandise - like on the Ozzy - Blizzard of Ozz doll which I did buy in 2001, which you press a button on the doll and it plays Crazy Train. People often forget that Randy was a human being capable of being pissed off. I also heard while Randy was living with Sharon and Ozzy in England, that they used to dump a pan or bucket full of piss & shit on people. I sometimes resent how people say "he had a god given talent" even though he taught students 8-12 hours a day and played constantly. To me, religion aside, he earned it. Okay Catholics, what about 'The lord helps those that help themselves?' Sorry but I always feel that people won't try things if it isn't in 'God's plan' so to speak...

[hansolo]

And I will fight and die for for the right for the noble cause of believing whatever you want but also for the right to debate and present ones case but in the end, I will respect your right to your opinion. That is one redeeming quality (or supposed to be) of what America stands for. I can't help it if others (even in my own country) don't see it the same way...

[The_Scratch]

I finally purchased and read the book.
I wasn't that impressed to be honest, but that stems more from the fact that I already had 80% of everything written in the book.
Hell, if I knew that writing a book about a fallen musician only required that you quote 20 different magazines, 30 interviews by other people and a few other sources previously published... I'd have written 30 books by now.

The book is average at best.
In comparism to Rudy's book it's not even close. The stories and intimate personal details of Randy in that book are pricelss treasures. Crazy Train: The high life and tragic death of Randy Rhoads - is just journalistic pulp.
Theres really no love or passion in the book.
It just doesn't read from the perspective of someone who really caress.
It felt like a cash-in to me.
The lack of comprehensiv details on musicianship is a glaring omission from my perspective. This was Randy's true -love and I think more time could have been spent speaking to accomplished musicians like Malmsteen, Lynch, Leslie West, Zakk Wylde and even people like Satriani and Vai to get some very unique perspectives on Randy's playing, composition and influence. It's interesting that the book spends so much time quoting Guitar Magazines and fails to include critiques by some of the best 80's guitarists about Randys songs. All we get are repetitive quotes from guitarists we've never heard of that idolize him and say the same things we do.
Talk to his peers... Rik Emmett, Alex Lifeson, Uli Roth, Michael Schenker.... guys who played at the same time and didn't grow up worshipping every note he played.... and were also known for classical influences.
Randy was a musician... break down and analyze his music.
Nobody in their right mind would write a biography about Bach or Mozart and not critique the genius of the music.
All this book does is say "he was great.... man he could play... the guy had talent.... amazing skills... what a tragic loss... it's so sad".
yeah we got that... 30 yrs ago.

On some positive notes I did enjoy the section on Bernie Torme. I have an enormous amount of respect for the man. Stepping into that scenerio has got to be mind blowingly tough. It was great to read that Ozzy compensated him nicely.
The reflectons by friends etc, to Randys death were very moving.
I also enjoyed reading the passages about Randy and his girlfriend... the future they wanted and what it was like to see them together.
These "human" moments are what I was looking forward to the most.
The book just seemed to repeat too much of what has already been said.

It's a book every Rhoads fan should have in their collection.... but only from the perspective it being something to collect.
Otherwise.... meh.

At the very least it's another way to keep Randy's name out there.

[Paul Wolfe]

I wasn't that impressed to be honest, but that stems more from the fact that I already had 80% of everything written in the book.

I felt that way, too. I loved the parts about his childhood and his Quiet Riot days, however.

The lack of comprehensive details on musicianship is a glaring omission from my perspective. This was Randy's true -love and I think more time could have been spent speaking to accomplished musicians like Malmsteen, Lynch, Leslie West, Zakk Wylde and even people like Satriani and Vai to get some very unique perspectives on Randy's playing, composition and influence.

I've yet to see any Randy related material which delves into the building blocks of his compositions by someone who cares. Andy Aledort simply comes across too sterile when discussing him, in my opinion.

All we get are repetitive quotes from guitarists we've never heard of that idolize him and say the same things we do.

I agree, I didn't know who most of the musicians were, and simply skipped over those parts.

Randy was a musician... break down and analyze his music.

This is why I'd love to see his lesson tapes and band demos released. To hear his creative process would be amazing. I've heard Van Halen demos, and it is very cool to hear the differences between demos and final cuts. These things could only add to Randy's legacy.

[Paul Wolfe]

For the record, Jamie Humpries does a pretty good job of teaching Randy's style, but still comes across at times as if he's stealing licks and re-interpreting them rather than creating new licks in a way Randy might have created them.

Check Jamie's DVD out here.