randy and ozzy

[randy will never die]

very serious what do all of you think randy would have though of ozzy nowadays

[kamalayka]

I recently read a Brad Gillis interview. In it he states how he finds it funny that Ozzy has taken on "grandfather of metal" persona in modern times, and that when he was in the band, Ozzy was anything but.

I suspect Randy would feel the same. (Honestly,I suspect everybody feels the same!)

Ozzy should have quit after Ozzmosis. Perry Mason was the last decent song he did, in my opinion.

I can imagine the interview now:

Interviewer: Early in your career, you were Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist. What do you think of his music today?

Randy Rhoads: Well, let's just say. . . it's not the worst thing out there at the moment. . .

Interviewer: And how do you feel about the fact that your guitar parts were re-recorded by another guitarist?

Randy Rhoads: I've been so busy the last thirty years making epicly awesome music that I hadn't noticed!

[GUITARIDOL5682]

Well you don't know if he would of taking the same approach as the other people who have been in Ozzy's band. If he was like Bob Daisley would he of left the band to do his own thing. Or would of Ozzy been in contact with Randy for song writing ideas for his next album. Or would he of been glad to get out of the circus of the touring drunking, stoned Ozzy. I think he did look up to him as a bit of a father figure when he first joined up with Ozz. But as he lived with him and seen the ugly side of him ??. Like all the guitarists who have been through the ranks of the Ozzy line up. They all have mixed feelings for the guy, some are grateful for him being a help for there career's to blossom. Some have been back stabbed and used and are glad to see the back of him ?. It's a difficult one to judge as Randy could of made a name for himself after being in the Ozzy band.

[Vtrockgod]

It's really all speculation because we're talking about 30 years. But I've always gotten the impression regarding the following:

1. Ozzy genuinely cared for Randy, appreciated his talent and was absolutely devastated by his death. I think one could argue he never completely recovered from it. Were there issues between Ozzy and Randy? Of course there were. I think a big part of those issues were Ozzy's drug and alcohol abuse. Many people have remarked there's two different people: John (sober) and Ozzy (drunk). Everyone loves John but Ozzy could be a monster. And between his father passing away, being booted out of Sabbath, starting from scratch with little money and his marriage falling apart, Ozzy medicated himself by drinking himself into a stupor (which, again, worsened after Randy died). Ozzy himself has touched upon these issues. And Randy had priorites in life different from the average rock and roller. Do I think Ozzy punched Randy in a rage one time? It very well could have happened. But haven't we all been in a nasty confrontation (physical or verbal) with someone we were close to and wound up regretting it? Were there disagreements about the Sabbath material and the upcoming live album? I have no doubts about it. But, again, we've all had these type of situations with friends and family. And, honestly, Ozzy WAS Randy's boss. And sometimes the boss is going to want things done the employee doesn't want to do (which is one of the reasons I own my own company). Delores Rhoads has stated before that Ozzy has always been sincere about his feelings regarding her son. I don't think she has an ulterior motive/agenda.

2. I think initially Randy wouldn't have been involved full-time in the music business, but I think he would have done session work while going to school and tried out some different things. And, at certain junctures, collaborating with Ozzy 5-10 years down the road and perhaps off and on. Maybe a tour or special gigs for certain occasion and very likely (to me) for songs or even whole records. It certainly makes sense if RR truly hated being on the road and wanted to avoid the nuttiness that is Ozzy on tour (small doses, y'know). Even those who were around that time don't say that RR hated Ozzy or didn't like them. He certainly didn't care for certain ASPECTS of Ozzy's lifestyle and all that went with it, but there was definitely a lot of warm feelings between the two.

As for Brad Gillis, I haven't read the interview but I'm not surprised about how he feels. Part of that is because this was 30 years ago and I think people certainly mellow out (in general) as they get older. But also, he came into a terrible situation and I'm sure Ozzy was still in total shock/grief. It didn't matter if EVH or Hendrix filled in during that period: they weren't Randy and he could never come back. And while Ozzy has stated how much he appreciated Brad Gillis (and Bernie Torm) for stepping in, it had to be an incredibly emotional time. And, again, alcohol and drugs (while numbing in some aspects) certainly didn't help.