Interview with Andrew Klein regarding his book

[TWAPILOT]

http://backstageauctions.blogspot.com/2 ... hoads.html

Among other interesting tidbits...Randy sees EVH in a record store in LA purchasing a copy of DOAM.

[Paul Wolfe]

It’s hard to say given that neither have ever spoken publicly about it. The very first time Randy saw Van Halen, he took his girlfriend Jan with him. Jan told us that Randy was “devastated” after the show. Here he was, the king of Burbank. Everyone was always telling him how great he was. Then he saw Eddie and it opened his eyes and he got a major reality check. It was healthy for him. He was inspired. He thought Eddie was great. He wanted to be great also.

I can see that... imagine everyone constantly praising you and then seeing someone of equal or greater talent, it says a lot that Randy was inspired by this.

Finally, when Randy was home on break from the Ozzy tour, he decided to drive to his local music store to buy some classical albums. Randy said that when he walked into the record store, Eddie Van Halen was standing on line at the register purchasing the Diary of a Madman album.

This one seems a bit far-fetched... Klein just related a story of Randy asking Ed about keeping his trem in tune, so if Randy was comfortable enough to talk gear with Ed, wouldn't he be comfortable enough to talk to him about [i[]his[/i] record in Ed's hands?

Overall the interview is an interesting read, thanks for the link.

[Elvira]

Thank u very much for the link!. " We just can’t let him go. He was so charismatic. We just can’t get enough of him"...very touching sentence.

[rhoads56]

This one seems a bit far-fetched... Klein just related a story of Randy asking Ed about keeping his trem in tune, so if Randy was comfortable enough to talk gear with Ed, wouldn't he be comfortable enough to talk to him about [i[]his[/i] record in Ed's hands?

He might have been comfortable enough to ask Ed, but he also got rejected by the sounds of things, with the response. In the same situation Id probably not go over and discuss his new album purchase either

[oth]

I say bs on ramdy seeing evh buying doam...its just too over the top to believe...in fact a lot of what is in the linked interview with ak sounds urban myth level.It doesnt help that ak is an ocd type fanatic so making up stuff does not seem beyond him.

"He constantly had jocks wanting to beat him up. They called him names. It didn’t affect him. Randy may have been frail, but he was emotionally strong. It took more than names to rattle him. He just laughed at them."

didnt his mom let him drop out and take equivalency courses/tests because of this?

[GUITARIDOL5682]

Well for the record the person who mentioned EVH buying the DOAM album was Delores so pick the bones out of that one...A story told to Dee from Randy... Oh doubters if you know the story stick to the facts...

[Paul Wolfe]

"He constantly had jocks wanting to beat him up. They called him names. It didn’t affect him. Randy may have been frail, but he was emotionally strong. It took more than names to rattle him. He just laughed at them."

didnt his mom let him drop out and take equivalency courses/tests because of this?

According to Kelly's book, he and Randy skipped school on a regular basis to stay home and play their guitars. This lead to the very real possibility of failing school and they were put into an "alternative school" with other misfits who weren't much interested in school. They apparently skipped classes here as well and eventually just dropped out.

I believe the 'adult school/night course' story was created to keep Randy's image from being tarnished.

[Paul Wolfe]

...stick to the facts...

And the actual facts are few and far between, aren't they? Someone said Randy said this to his mom... Randy said this - oh but he was misquoted because Bob said this is actually what happened... Randy's sister said this - yeah, well, he wasn't close to his sister... Kelly Garni said this - sure, but after the gun incident Kelly only want's to ride Randy's coat tails...

So who knows what are "facts"? One person's fact is another's bullshit on this particular subject. A lot of people here won't believe Randy's friends who were actually with him when things happened.

Maybe Randy did see Ed buying Diary. Ed was a big Sabbath fan, so like many, he was probably curious to keep up on what Ozzy was up to. We'll never know, Ed's sure not going to talk about where and when he bought a record in '81.

[GUITARIDOL5682]

Well get on the phone and talk to your mate Kelle... He may be able to fill you in with the finer details don't shoot the messenger...

[dannyahansen]

"He constantly had jocks wanting to beat him up. They called him names. It didn’t affect him. Randy may have been frail, but he was emotionally strong. It took more than names to rattle him. He just laughed at them."

didnt his mom let him drop out and take equivalency courses/tests because of this?

According to Kelly's book, he and Randy skipped school on a regular basis to stay home and play their guitars. This lead to the very real possibility of failing school and they were put into an "alternative school" with other misfits who weren't much interested in school. They apparently skipped classes here as well and eventually just dropped out.

I believe the 'adult school/night course' story was created to keep Randy's image from being tarnished.

I thought Randy to get his GED. Maybe I am wrong about that. I am sure there is a little fluff in keeping Randy's image untarnished. I doubt he was gunho about school. I am sure his mom pushed him quite hard.

[mojopin70]

This place has been dead for days then all of a sudden a massive flurry of activity and arguments seems alive again!

[GUITARIDOL5682]

Who's arguing NOT FKN ME MATEY

[hansolo]

FACT: FIRST CHORD OF "GIRL GONE BAD" IS THE "DIARY OF A MADMAN" CHORD. Sorry for shoutin'! Talking to a peer or someone in the same game about equipment is one thing, although some guys have their secrets but Randy would have had to say something about the album, if indeed it happened. If it did, it doesn't sound impossible but I don't think Randy would have wanted to embarrass Ed or address the situation at all because that seems like a big compliment ("I just happen to be buying your album and I'm Eddie "Eruption" Van Halen!"). Who did Randy knock out of the spot for best guitar player? Just my 2 cents.

[mojopin70]

FACT: FIRST CHORD OF "GIRL GONE BAD" IS THE "DIARY OF A MADMAN" CHORD. Sorry for shoutin'! Talking to a peer or someone in the same game about equipment is one thing, although some guys have their secrets but Randy would have had to say something about the album, if indeed it happened. If it did, it doesn't sound impossible but I don't think Randy would have wanted to embarrass Ed or address the situation at all because that seems like a big compliment ("I just happen to be buying your album and I'm Eddie "Eruption" Van Halen!"). Who did Randy knock out of the spot for best guitar player? Just my 2 cents.

I do think Randy took a few bits from his Classical lessons he uses the A minor 9 chord in Believer in the middle section but some Quiet Riot fan said Ozzy stole all of Quiet Riots music and theres no difference between qr1 qr 2 and oz1 and oz2 as he called them which is just bollocks...

I know Bob has mentioned Believer sounded like a twisted version of Purple Haze but i cant help thinking that it reminds me so much of the intro of Runnin with the Devil Vh theres a bit where Randy plays above the top nut just on the intro and the tempo is the same too. However i can also see why it sounds like a mad version of Purple Haze too.....

[Paul Wolfe]

Well get on the phone and talk to your mate Kelle... He may be able to fill you in with the finer details don't shoot the messenger...

My mate Kelle? No, never spoke to Kelle... Kelly, yeah... Not trying to 'shoot the messenger', just pointing out that 99.9% of the information we have is questionable. Everyone says Randy's family puts the angelic spin on everything, Ozzy and Sharon outright lie & the consensus here is that Kelly G is only out to make a buck off of Randy's name. So 'facts' are a bit murky.

Who's arguing NOT FKN ME MATEY

Me either... simply pointing out different points of view.

FACT: FIRST CHORD OF "GIRL GONE BAD" IS THE "DIARY OF A MADMAN" CHORD.

So, you're saying Ed heard Diary and liked one chord so much that it influenced him to write that song? While technically possible, it's a chord that was around prior to Randy's playing it, so isn't it possible Ed heard it elsewhere?

I know Bob has mentioned Believer sounded like a twisted version of Purple Haze but i cant help thinking that it reminds me so much of the intro of Runnin with the Devil Vh theres a bit where Randy plays above the top nut just on the intro and the tempo is the same too. However i can also see why it sounds like a mad version of Purple Haze too.....

All depends on your listening history... Bob had never heard Quiet Riot's records at the time, so of course he wouldn't relate anything to them. Keven DuBrow, having been with Randy constantly from, what, 75 to '79? Of course he could hear things that reminded him of Randy's playing in Quiet Riot. The intro to Believer does sound reminiscent to the live intro to Slick Black Cadillac, there are specific noises he uses in both. Randy recycled licks all the time - listen to the Chelmsford Odeon 1980 version of Crazy Train and you'll hear a lick which is also in the Tribute solo to Children of the Grave. With all the lessons Randy gave, he was probably very familiar with Van Halen's first record, I'm sure more than one student wanted to learn Eruption...