Ultimate Rhoads

Most memorable live gig you were at!

What was the most memorable live gig you were at! I know that every now and again you see someone and you get a 'wow' moment.

For me it was when I saw Ozzy at Donnington Park on 18th August 1984 it was an amazing show and I read that Ozzy considers it to be his favorite ever solo show.

Also I was at the two Black Sabbath shows when they got back together in 1997 at the NEC Birmingham. This was when they recorded the 'Reunion album that was more than 'wow' it was amazing! And a memory I will take to the grave with me.

T

I do realize that I am repeating myself...but for me there has never been a more intense musical experience than the night I witnessed Randy Rhoads live IN MY FACE. Upon hearing that this was to be Ozzy Osbourne's "NEW" band, I really expected some junior/semi-second rate version of Black Sabbath..........well...........what I got was a complete and ABSOLUTE redefination of what a rock guitarist could really be. The word "intense" comes nowhere close to what it was really like...NOWHERE close. A true virtuoso in every sense of the word who completely and utterly ripped your face off......September 2nd of 1981. I've never been the same since. THAT is why I am here.....

Yep, I have to agree with Xanadu....Had to be the Blizzrd show. Definitely had an impact on my musical life.

Dean......Man, I'd love to hear ANY details or scant memories you may have of seeing RR in San Diego. Also, is the Sports Arena no long the prime concert hall in San Diego as it once was? I know the place has been there for a LONG time.......ALOT of rock history in that place...is it still standing? I hope so......just because of the echos of the bands that linger there still.........

Xanadu wrote:Dean......Man, I'd love to hear ANY details or scant memories you may have of seeing RR in San Diego.

Me too!

Hey Dean,
Can you maybe add your memories about that gig to Did any of you see Randy play live?

It will be very much appreciated by the members here! Thnx!

Xanadu wrote:Dean......Man, I'd love to hear ANY details or scant memories you may have of seeing RR in San Diego. Also, is the Sports Arena no long the prime concert hall in San Diego as it once was? I know the place has been there for a LONG time.......ALOT of rock history in that place...is it still standing? I hope so......just because of the echos of the bands that linger there still.........

Oh man, I remember the Blizzard show at the Fox theater better than the Diary show at the S.D. Sports arena mainly due to the amount of illegal chemicals I had ingested in the parking lot before the show!

I remember at the Fox me and my friends Kelly and Perry had seats dead center of the venue, 16 rows back...Right in the "Sweet Spot". It was F**kin' awesome! I remember my ears ringing and lying in bed hours later and still being able to hear the music playing in my ears...It was that loud! Motorhead was the opener and man the whole show rocked! I can recall it wasn't totally sold-out, but there was a pretty good sized crowd. The fox was one of those old theaters with the huge curtains and ornate fixtures...Very Plush! It was pretty cool 'cuz even though I was not yet 21 yrs old, my friend Kelly was! He'd go into the lobby where the refreshments were sold and buy 3 beers at a time. It was even more cool 'cuz most of my crowd had written Ozzy off years before as a has-been! It was amazing that he was back bigger than ever with a young guitarist from L.A., just 100 miles noth of where we lived in San Diego!

I don't remember many details from the Diary show...only that I went with a group of about 10 friends...many of whom had been the ones who had written Ozzy off years earlier! We got absolutely HAMMERED in the parking lot before the show, blasting cassette copies of Ozzys two albums. I recall the show was way more elaborate at the SD Sports arena...Dwarves, stage props and very, very LOUD! I've still got the official tour book. I dig it out from time to time to remenisce. It's missing one page tho'. I tore out a close-up pic of Randy playing his polka dot "V" and had it on the wall of my music room for years as inspiration. Great memories...I've still got several copies of Diary and Blizzard on LP..Back then, when one wore out we bought another! I listen to 'em every so often. They still sound good when you crank it up!

To answer your question X...Yeah the Sports Arena is still standing but they don't hold many rock shows there anymore. Mostly Arena Football, Indoor Soccer and amatuer hockey. They built a new arena at San Diego State University Called Cox Arena. Real nice venue...but it's smaller than the old Sports Arena. I saw lots of shows at the SD sports arena. You can see some of my stubs at http://www.jakeelee.com (check both pages)

Here's the link: http://www.jakeelee.com/html/index.php? ... opic&t=277

Dean...Great story and thanks for the response! I really envy you on having seen the "Diary" show. As I said in another post, I had a chance to see the January of '82 show in Chicago at the Rosemont Horizon (one of the FEW pieces of live film of RR).....but didn't go because of some lousy work schedual. I wish I had quit that dumbass job and went anyway. What a hard, hard regret. . I had a bunch of friends go who came back SCREAMING about Randy's performance......still makes me SICK to think about it. I figured I would have many more opportunities to see Randy again....but March 19 came bearing down and that chance was forever ended. I do feel very lucky that I was one of the few who were forutunate enough to have seen him play live.......and you were too!

Also.....thanks for the info. on the Sports Arena. What a great and legendary venue! I recall spending hours (and tons of money) browsing Tower Records across the street as well. Also...I will be checking out jakeelee.com - I've enjoyed your comments about your contacts with him. Very cool. Best of luck with "Cat's-Eye", by the way.....it sounds like you are kicking ass. Thanks again.....Xanadu

Great story Dean!

Hey X,
If I had to choose (Diary or Blizzard gig ) I would go for the Blizzard gig then!

But I really believe there is footage of all the tours they did, hope one day we will all see it........

Dutch...I've got to say that at this point, I'd give my left ANYTHING to see either one! LOL!!! I do hope you are right that SOMEDAY we may see more live footage of RR. I just hope and pray that I live long enough to do so. I just cannot believe that all that has surfaced over almost a quarter century are just the few snippets that we have. There has just got to be more.......somewhere........and personally, I'm sick of waiting.....but what else can we do.

Xanadu wrote:Dutch...I've got to say that at this point, I'd give my left ANYTHING to see either one! LOL!!! I do hope you are right that SOMEDAY we may see more live footage of RR. I just hope and pray that I live long enough to do so. I just cannot believe that all that has surfaced over almost a quarter century are just the few snippets that we have. There has just got to be more.......somewhere........and personally, I'm sick of waiting.....but what else can we do.

Oh man, I'm sick of waiting as well, like many others.....

But fans of Charlie Parker only have 30 seconds footage of their hero.....
So in a way we should be very lucky with what we have. But since there are so many clues that there has to be a lot more it still feels very unfair.
I'm sure Randy wouldn't want this situation either, he for sure wouldn't want to be forgotten.
So we need to pay attention to that lost footage, so the responsible people know there are still many people who do care. Hope that will help....

Dutch, it sounds like you and I and everybody else will just patiently continue to wait...........and hope!

Xanadu wrote:Dutch, it sounds like you and I and everybody else will just patiently continue to wait...........and hope!

X, I hope I will live long enough.......

My most memorable would either be the final night of the Anthrax/Public Enemy tour or the "final show ever" by Jane's Addiction on the final night of the first Lalapalooza tour (of course Jane's Addiction returned, so it wasn't really the final show ever, but it was probably the last time Ice -T was on stage with them).

Anthrax are meant to be fantastic live, obviously Rocky you just backed that up

skezza wrote:Anthrax are meant to be fantastic live, obviously Rocky you just backed that up

Grrrrrrrrrrr, me and a friend won tickets to see them with Belladonna (we aren't big fans of John Bush but are big fans of Belladonna so this was a really really cool opportunity for us) FOR FREE. The competition was pretty easy, first person to phone up wins free tickets. However, we had to collect the tickets from London Astoria that same day or they would go to the second person who called. But we were both very busy and so we never got the tickets . I'm hopefully gonna see them with Belladonna someday though. SOMEDAYYYYYYYYY *raises fist to the clouds*