The day I met Randy Rhoads

[Glam Keef]

Just found them thanks! Excellent!!

[GUITARIDOL5682]

here you go...


Randy is in there some where amongst the sea of arms.

Ozzy leaving the backstage door at the Sophia Gardens.

[GUITARIDOL5682]

Found this during the search.. Interesting !!

I found this photo of the popular venue Cardiff's Sophia Gardens in Wales.This was a mammoth of a concert venue in its time and many a classic Rock band had played here from the likes of Led Zep AC/DC Rush Black Sabbath and even the man himself Randy Rhoads had played on this stage in 1980.The photo shows the building after it had collapsed under the weight of heavy snow and ice during the bad winter of 1982.This was a total surprise and no one could of predicted this too happen.Luckily no one was inside the building when the building came tumbling down. But imagine the carnage if this had happened during a packed out gig ???

[Geo Sav]

Thanks! Great pics never seen them.

[stealaway]

Great story!!! Lucky you, man!!!

[mojopin70]

cool. i was only 8 !! lucky guy im from cardiff too, glam keef you know they rehearsed up where my parents live at clearwell castle forest of dean 1 week before going to ridge farm studios to record in surrey?

[Glam Keef]

Yes, I was aware they were in the area - Randy Rhoads sent postcards back to friends and family from Monmouth when he was working on the BOO album. There are scans of these postcards dotted around on the net.
Poor old Sophia Gardens Pavilon - Motley Crue used 'snow on the roof' as an excuse when they had to cancel the UK leg of their Girls Girls Girls tour. It was really just an old aircraft hangar with brick wall around it. I'll be visiting Wales next month as I'm flying back for the Download Festival - I must pay homage at the site ha ha!
Here's how it looked before it collapsed.

[Jazznroll]

No wonder they cancelled the rest of the tour, it looks a right sht hole, like 'hull ice 'arena' '.

[Glam Keef]

Ozzy leaving the backstage door at the Sophia Gardens.

If this was taken at Sophia Gardens straight after the gig, in '81 then I was literally a few steps behind Ozzy when this photo was taken. Seconds later was when I met the band back in the arena. What I'd give for a photo of that meeting!!
Back then, you used to get searched on the door for cameras and recording equipment - that's why there are so few photos of the gigs.

[Geo Sav]

That's awsome. Your lucky bro.

[mojopin70]

hey keef where can i find the rhoads postcards he sent from around here? any ideas? cheers....

[GUITARIDOL5682]

hey keef where can i find the rhoads postcards he sent from around here? any ideas? cheers....

This is Franks postcard from Randy..

[Glam Keef]

Thanks GuitarIdol - I was having a scout around to find it - priceless. The week before this was sent, I saw Motorhead and Saxon at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff - only about 30 minutes drive away. I wonder if RR was at that gig??

[GUITARIDOL5682]

This is a thread about the postcard Randy sent Kevin DuBrow...Some interesting info about the recordiings and auditions for drummers.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2570

[Geo Sav]

Thanks for putting that up.