Ultimate Rhoads

Piano? I seem to remember hearing/reading that somewhere, or I could have easily made it up in my mind. I always thought someone like Randy would have learned it.

From what I've read, his mother made him learn a little piano in order to understand music theory.

I don't know how much he knew or how good he was playing piano, I have read that some of the songs he wrote would be from the piano first and not his guitar. I am guessing some of the QR stuff that ended up being redone for Ozzy. Piano is a great instrument for learning the intervals of notes and also getting ears trained to identify chords besides of composing.

dunno 'bout that, but I know that Zakk plays the piano.

... and mr Jake E Lee does to


but it wouldn't surprise me if Randy knew some piano as well

I believe he did.
Frank?

yes he did. recently we had a lovely visit with delores. we talked for hours with her and the subject came up. his mom taught randy to play at an early age. he wasn't a virtuoso but he could play quite well.

i met randy at a party my friend tony threw. he had played guitar earlier in the basement/studio with some guys and just blew me away. i'd never seen him play before although i knew who he was. everyone in burbank knew who randy rhoads was.

anyway, i decided i would ask him if i could take guitar lessons from him. this took all my courage as i was very timid (no, really) so i approached him nervously. he was sitting at the piano all by himself playing something real pretty. i remember he had a glass of white wine and i thought the whole scene looked rather elegant. i told him i really liked what i had heard and could he teach me to play guitar like that? he said "sure, give me a call and we'll work something out". he handed me a business card.

Frank, do you still talk to Tony?

no. we pretty much lost touch when we moved away from burbank.

Just curious. How did he know Randy?

they were friends in school. tony drummed so they hung out in that circle. i naver had any illusions about playing seriously, but those guys all knew one another.

That is so cool. Thanks for the story, Frank.
I would have loved to hear Randy play some lovely piano music!

Wow Frank, to have seen the rise to fame from that early on, how special is that!!

I spose you thought, like many back in the day, that the QR days were just a stepping stone. A million questions to bombard you with - ready?? LOL, kidding, dont worry

Stevie wrote:Wow Frank, to have seen the rise to fame from that early on, how special is that!!

I spose you thought, like many back in the day, that the QR days were just a stepping stone. A million questions to bombard you with - ready?? LOL, kidding, dont worry

no...i think at the time, like other fans and the band itself, i shared their frustration at not getting signed and promoted by a major label. they were that good.
i don't think randy considered q.r. as a stepping stone either. it was his band after all, until the day he left for england.

Knowing two instruments, like keyboards and guitar, can be like having two steady girlfriends at once. I am so happy that Randy Rhoads married his guitar.

Of course a musician of Randys caliber would know the power of piano too. All eight fingers and two thumbs can sound a note at the same time. When I hear Randys guitar playing it sounds like he is getting a sweet pure note from every digit.

Thanks for your personal memories Frank.

Ray