Lemmy's Book

[Whipper]

Sorry if this has been brought up before here, but I'm quite surprised to hear what Lemmy says about Randy in his autobiography, "White Line Fever", not to mention the fact that he spells his name wrong:

Randy Rhodes was Ozzy's guitarist back then, and he was a much bigger deal. I believe he'd been writing songs with Ozzy. My big memory of him, however, was that he was terrible at Asteroids, so I wound up beating him at Asteroids all the way across America. I was quite friendly with Randy so I found it a terrible shame when he died in a plane crash a year later. Nevertheless, I have to say he wasn't the guitar player he became after his death. As with Bob Calvert, a guy who was more or less ignored during his lifetime suddenly become a huge genius. Randy was a good player, to be sure, but he wasn't the great innovator he was later made out to be. God knows what people will say about me after I'm gone!

[Geo Sav]

A buddy of mine had that book and I thought that was weird how Lenny seems to put Randys guitar playing down.

[CanuckRhoadsFan]

This has been discussed before, I think, but is an interesting topic.

As much as I admire Randy's work and who he was as a person, Lemmy does have a point. Randy was great, to be sure, and I disagree with Lemmy to a degree, but I also think that the "Legend of Randy" sometimes overshadows reality. Randy had not peaked at the time of his death, and we sadly did not see all he was capable of. This does not take away from Randy's playing - I still think he is amazing!

You also have to consider that Lemmy's been in the music business for a looooonnnngggg time - he was a roadie for Hendrix! So he knows good playing when he sees it. I think he's simply praising Randy, but doing it with some perspective - something that some of us lack when looking at Randy.I don't think he's being overly critical, just expressing his honest opinion, which he is known for. Plus, he's right in that people's legacy grows after their passing. As we don't have them around anymore, we tend to romanticize our opinions of them.

No doubt this post will be a source of some debate, but Lemmy isn't being critical, and does have a point here.

[Tito]

its been discussed before but i dont think lemmy means any disrespect by it..lemmy seems to be a brutally honest guy..i think hes just giving his honest opinion of randy at that time..randy was finding himself and he was getting so much better towards the end..from what ive read randy was never the type of person to say im here and thats it..he wanted to keep learning and had he lived i think he would have died still learning....i dont take lemmy's paragraph wrong at all..the asteroids thing gets old though...why does lemmy continue to mention how much better he was than randy at asteroids?maybe he felt that hey im better than randy at something!!!???something to think about and its only my opinion..

[DMRX]

Dont take it to Heart too much,Lammy is Ozzys Age & Randy was like 15 years younger,so just a Kid to him at the time & In the Lemmy Trailer clip he Says The SAME THING!! & Its alot easier & Less offensive sounding after you hear/see that.
But it is true to a great point,I KNOW Randy woulda gone on to Greater things....but Its only imaginable how Imporntant those records would be had he lived??? That definatly puts it in a New Group after the accident & knowing there could be no more......But Look at Paranoid ,Electric Ladyland.....upto the Black Album & Vulgar Dispay of Power....So It would definatly be at the top of the Top 100 lists had he lived,so its impossible to Imagine How great if he hid One more record??? Even if he did Speak......I wonder how that woulda been????Because Randy didnt go & learn the Sabbath Solos on the 3 they did & (to me they too are another part of the song,as randys are) He just wasnt a Fan,but some of those leads are essential to thse songs,like War Pigs.....
But I dont think Lemmy was Talking RR down,just a bad way to Phrase it,I guess

[hansolo]

And what did Lemmy ever do that was revolutionary? Motorhead sucked and were sloppy. When Randy was alive those songs were amazing and new. Today they are still amazing. Maybe because of what happened we grieved Randy and put him up as a god but he lives up to it. It's not like James Dean or Sid Vicious. Ace of spades rocks but it ain't that great. Go tell Lemmy to get that thing on his face lanced and shut up.

[GUITARIDOL5682]

And what did Lemmy ever do that was revolutionary? Motorhead sucked and were sloppy. When Randy was alive those songs were amazing and new. Today they are still amazing. Maybe because of what happened we grieved Randy and put him up as a god but he lives up to it. It's not like James Dean or Sid Vicious. Ace of spades rocks but it ain't that great. Go tell Lemmy to get that thing on his face lanced and shut up.

Everyone has an opinion and you can read Lemmy's book and see the guy aint no fool. He always gives an honest account of life and he says it as it is. He's seen many people die in his life time including his very young girlfriend at the time. So he knows what its like to lose a loved one. Lemmy is admired by millions of fans he's a trooper and regardless of what others think of him. I cock my hat to the guy he's still out there playing Live and making albums. "Ace of spades rocks ?" a typical quote by a non motorhead fan. I bet Lemmy is remembered more then Randy when he does finally die.

[Paul Wolfe]

And what did Lemmy ever do that was revolutionary?

Motorhead was a HUGE influence to an entire generation of metalheads.

I agree wholeheartedly with what he said. We hear the records, but we don't know what went into making them. As I've said before, Randy came up with guitar parts and Bob, Lee and Ozzy helped rearrange things to get the final product. Those songs didn't come from Randy fully complete.

Randy himself said he labored over the Crowley solo for ages and Ozzy said it was all crap. So he winged it and we think it's brilliant. What would we think of the 'crap' Ozzy heard from him?

Had Eddie died after VH 2, we'd all be talking about his genius to no end. Eruption is and always will be the standard. However, Eddie has outlived his brilliance. If we were to hear him jam in private, I'm sure we'd all be amazed at what he can do.

Randy didn't live long enough to put out a bad record. If he had, his legend wouldn't be what it is. He is undoubtedly my favorite player and always will be, but he isn't the only brilliant innovator on the guitar like he's made out to be here.

Remember, Lemmy knew him, we don't. Therefore his opinion carries a bit more weight than ours in my opinion.

[hansolo]

And what did Lemmy ever do that was revolutionary?

Motorhead was a HUGE influence to an entire generation of metalheads.

I agree wholeheartedly with what he said. We hear the records, but we don't know what went into making them. As I've said before, Randy came up with guitar parts and Bob, Lee and Ozzy helped rearrange things to get the final product. Those songs didn't come from Randy fully complete.

Randy himself said he labored over the Crowley solo for ages and Ozzy said it was all crap. So he winged it and we think it's brilliant. What would we think of the 'crap' Ozzy heard from him?

Had Eddie died after VH 2, we'd all be talking about his genius to no end. Eruption is and always will be the standard. However, Eddie has outlived his brilliance. If we were to hear him jam in private, I'm sure we'd all be amazed at what he can do.

Randy didn't live long enough to put out a bad record. If he had, his legend wouldn't be what it is. He is undoubtedly my favorite player and always will be, but he isn't the only brilliant innovator on the guitar like he's made out to be here.

Remember, Lemmy knew him, we don't. Therefore his opinion carries a bit more weight than ours in my opinion.

Dudes, I knew I was in for a flaming but Lemmy did "ask" for it too. Yes, Lemmy is a pioneer in certain aspects and I am ignorant in a lot of his works (Motorhead, Hawkwind) but really? "Randy was a good player, to be sure, but he wasn't the great innovator he was later made out to be." So, Randy was just a good guitar player??? Guitaridol one question? In 1980, Motorhead or Ozzy? If you could only have one? Sort of a Sofie's choice moment. If Motorhead, why are you not on a Motorhead, Hawkwind, Lemmy website?
P.S. - I just added Hawkwind to the spellchecker...

[hansolo]

It's not like James Dean or Sid Vicious.

Correction: It should read; He isn't like James Dean or Sid Vicious. He had substance and a talent you could see and hear. Am I the only one that feels this way?

[oth]

Randy was a good player, to be sure, but he wasn't the great innovator he was later made out to be. God knows what people will say about me after I'm gone!"

Dont worry lemmy youll never be mistaken for a musical legend.Maybe a deliberate image+ character that never outgrew the rocker parody.Cool.
Did hendrix get undeserved praise after he died?Randy wasnt a good player.There are many forgettable good players.Who is bob calvert or whatever.Randys tracks were legendary when he made them doofus,not after he passed.He got voted best new talent just before he passed and was gonna get a full blown interview and cover on GP.So there was plenty of awareness among peers.He was on his way to mass recognition.
Randys stuff is as mind blowing to me today as it was when i became a convert in 83.Just the same for me as Jimi or EVH.
I was a die hard hippy and hated metal when boo and diary came out(strangely enough i had and listened to ace of spades lp a lot).
Although i wasnt yet a fan, when i would hear crazy train and over the mountain and flyin high the guitar playing really stood out-not that i was a fan of it but it was hard not to take notice.Thats what legends do,they make the unaware very aware.

[oth]

I bet Lemmy is remembered more then Randy when he does finally die.

You can also bet that Lemmy wont be on guitar or rock magazine covers 6months let alone 30yrs after he passes.Lemmys legend always has been his image and persona.He has funny stories sure.
Personally i find his persona a bit contrived and boring.And what isnt contrived is alcohol induced-nothing to be admired or respected really.Lemmy is the guy in black leathrr at the Rainbow at end of the bar glued to video slot machines.Wow.
I saw him a few yrs ago standing outside a store in 100 degrees in his dated black attire. Pleeeease.

[Geo Sav]

Sorry guys I like lemmy but his comments diminishing randys playing are crazy. His playing didn't get better cause he died they were great to begin with and if he were alive today he would be even more talented.How many rock musicians could read or write music in 1980? Lemmy included!

[SLAGER]

Lemmy sounds like an old jealous fool. I remember the impact Randy had INSTANTLY upon hearing BOO imported from UK before it was even released here yet and then seeing him live in concert. Randy was clearly something extraordinary and amazing WHILE ALIVE!! His death brought me years of anguish wondering what could have been and decades of enjoying what is. The only thing I'll remember Lemmy for is that big ugly wart on his face.

[Cpt Matt Sparrow]

he isn't the only brilliant innovator on the guitar like he's made out to be here.

Paul, I find that an inaccurate appraisal of the members here: In fact, I can't think of many members who don't have other favourite player/innovators etc, as well as Randy . The influences that people have shared with me over the years, has been very diverse. There are actually quite a few members too, whose favourite player isn't RR, but they still admire him etc!

It is a site about RR, so naturally his praises are sung here more than other musicians, just as if I log onto a Django Reinhardt website, the focus is about Django and The Hot Club Of Paris So yes, Randy is discussed more than others are, but then It is after all, a site honouring Randy Rhoads

Matt