What Did Tony Iommi and EVH think Of RR?

alex1251 · Post by **alex1251** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 3:06 am

does anyone know? I've never read anything about Tony Iommi and his take on RR, I've only listened to the Guitar World interview where EVH is a total jerk when he talks about Randy, it sounds like hes insecure. Can anyone please tell me? And I know, maybe im not looking hard enough on the EVH take on Randy.

NicDots · Post by **NicDots** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:56 am

I don't know about EVH, but Tony said nice, respectful things about Randy. I do remember him saying that he thought Randy wasn't really able to "release" himself on the two albums, but that he did well anyway. I can't give you the exact quote, but I'm sure someone can.

rice_pudding · Post by **rice_pudding** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 3:41 pm

i remember an interview with Tony on a documentary once, he only made a couple of passing remarks about randy but they were positive.

i wish i could remember what documentary that was

Stevie · Post by **Stevie** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 1:14 am

All the times Ive seen EVH speak about him, its just the usual thing about how tragic the crash was, how young etc. When he starts on the thing about coping his style etc, its the usual BS arrogance that makes one gag. I never get the impression he cares that much at all about him either way

Mike541x · Post by **Mike541x** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 8:11 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlhRmyV2He4Here is an interview with Eddie on Randy.

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:21 pm

Mike541x wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlhRmyV2He4Here is an interview with Eddie on Randy.

Keep in mind that interview was conducted in 1982. Eddie was THE guitar player in the world at the time and he probably hadn't heard much of Randy's playing.

It'd be interesting to hear Ed's comments now about Randy. I would bet they'd be different.

alex1251 · Post by **alex1251** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 1:09 am

Mike541x wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlhRmyV2He4Here is an interview with Eddie on Randy.

this is the interview that ive heard, I think EVH pretty much sounds like an asshole. He even puts the interviewer on the spot "What do you think?" its like hes insecure or something.

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:20 am

That interview is MUCH longer and Ed is discussing the current album (Diver Down)... out of the blue he's asked about Randy because Guitar Player needed a quote for a Randy tribute issue.

Ed did come across poorly. But what would he say now with time to consider his response?

NicDots · Post by **NicDots** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:12 pm

EVH is strange. Fantastic guitar player, but strange.
I'll never forget about the GW Tribute to Dimebag and Zakk was talking about EVH at the funeral and what a drunk, crazed attention whore he was when it was someon's funeral. Granted, I think EVH has problems, but I seriously don't think Eddie saw Randy as anything really special. That's not like a character flaw or anything, but I imagine that's the case.

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:27 pm

I think you're right, Nicole. Eddie was (is) fantastically talented as a player. When someone spends all their time writing music they don't spend as much time listening to other's music.

Add to this the fact that Ed wrote a ginormous amount of material during the time that Randy was in Quiet Riot and it's very likely Ed never paid much attention to Randy's playing. They were into different styles of music (Ed was a huge Sabbath fan at one point) and their lives were heading in different directions (VH was off to conquer the world by 1978 while QR was still a 'local' band).

I think Ed's comments are about what anyone in his position would've said at the time. Even Randy said that in L.A. at that time it seemed like everyone was a guitar player and a great deal of them sounded the same. If Ed hadn't paid attention to Quiet Riot then it'd be easy for him to lump them in with all the other bands in town.

Mike541x · Post by **Mike541x** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:18 pm

alex1251 wrote:
Mike541x wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlhRmyV2He4Here is an interview with Eddie on Randy.
this is the interview that ive heard, I think EVH pretty much sounds like an asshole. He even puts the interviewer on the spot "What do you think?" its like hes insecure or something.

I do agree. The "What do you think?" comment just made me go.....

rice_pudding · Post by **rice_pudding** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:31 pm

i think truth be told most guitar players are very competitive, that said i dont think evh really knew much about randys playing (i agree with pauls comments) had he known a little more he may not have been quite so quick to dismiss him.

in any case, at least he doesnt say randys crap, he just acts like he invented contemporary guitar playing

the more i think about it the more i realise how carefully he picked his words even if the question was sprung on him...

ammalato · Post by **ammalato** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 6:07 pm

Look, we all know Eddie and the ego that's behind him. DOn't get me wrong, how many of us absolutely LOVE those early VH albums? He was the man, and it definately got to his head.

I agree with the comment that Eddie probably didn't pay much attention to Randy, or anyone else for that matter. With an enormous ego, the biggest rock band (at the time) accolates and awards from everyone, do you really think eddie paid any attention to anyone other than himself? Especially someone who wasn't as successful or noticeable at that time? Remember Ozzy was still being considered a novelty back then while VH was HUGE.

One last thing, I went to see VH on their reunion tour recently at the Izod center (Meadowlands) in NJ. Eddie looked great for a man his age (begging the question, what would Randy look like?) but he is definately a strange bird. He was having monitor problems and was trying to signal to the board guy to fix it. out of frustration eddie ripped the speaker off the drum riser, and then after the song picked it up and hurled it off stage and down the stairs at the soundboard guy!!!! Then jumped down and started screaming bloody murder at the guy. I honestly thought he was going to assault him.

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:15 pm

Sounds like Ed's got an issue with no longer being relevant in the music world. He's still great, but his time has come and gone and he hasn't even tried to reinvent himself. He should call up Clapton and gets some career advice.

Gabriel Raphael · Post by **Gabriel Raphael** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:06 am

Paul Wolfe wrote:Sounds like Ed's got an issue with no longer being relevant in the music world. He's still great, but his time has come and gone and he hasn't even tried to reinvent himself. He should call up Clapton and gets some career advice.

Peace people,

Randy gave Eddie a run for his career, Randy was his worse nightmare,
Eddie used to face the drum set to avoid people copying his hammer-on tricks and there is Randy all the sudden from the suburbs of LA with a very strong musical background.

Notice that after the loss of Randy Eddie's guitar playing sobbed up and he stopped been innovative, like no one else really came along like Randy, nobody and not even Steve Vai or Satriani has contributed a unique style.

I listened to the comment Eddie made about Randy and he clearly stated that he believed Randy totally copied everything from him, this is absolutely false, Randy was a far better musician, much more advanced and he only said that on the Diary tour he was using hammer ons and stuff like that , basically Eddie Van Hallen to impress kids in order to make a name as fast as he can, as i see now his reasons where to leave Ozzy's band period and been very famous protects you from any redecoulis legal threats from the Ardens.