Randy Rhoads' - 30 Years After His Death

Many out there in the Christian blogosphere might be wondering on why I am posting on this topic. The thought that might be ringing through people's heads being, "What does Randy Rhoads have to do with biblical Christianity or prophetic events?" Well… my dear friends let me fill you in...

Randy Rhoads who was the original guitarist of Quiet Riot in the 70’s and then came to stardom and the height of notoriety as Ozzy’s… yes… Ozzy’s first guitarist will be greatly remembered by countless fans this March 19th on the 30th anniversary of the plane crash that took and ended so tragically this guitar genius’s life. It is absolutely amazing how time flies. I cannot believe it has been 30 years! To this day I have NEVER forgotten this anniversary. There has always been something about Randy and his untimely death that still haunts me and his person that has had a very special place in my heart. I cannot explain it. I know it sounds odd and corny (especially to believers) but that is my past, what can I say? Before I came to Christ in 1992, I myself was lock stock and barrel sold into the musical industry and a huge cultic follower of Ozzy Osbourne and the rock culture. You could say that I definitely sold my soul to Rock n Roll. I played guitar and played in several bands and all that knew me knew that I greatly admired Randy Rhoads. For what it is worth even my guitar was black with white pock - a – dots! Yes! I was a huge follower.

To this day I have NEVER forgotten this anniversary. There has always been something about Randy and his untimely death that still haunts me and his person that has had a very special place in my heart. I cannot explain it.

To all of us who were (me) and are into the music industry or followed it, Randy Rhoads was a guitar god and a legend. His guitar playing changed all the rules and techniques of his day and brought a more technical, professional and classical approach and style to the rock genre. Randy’s playing and genius in appling guitar scales was unique. Randy was very passionate in his playing and rooted and grounded in music theory and the list goes on. In light of all the rock’s guitarists none has ever moved, motivated, inspired and has been more beloved by an industry than Randy Rhoads. Tragically on March 19th 1982 Randy was killed in a plane crash cutting short his life and his guitar genus. His tragic death left a GAPING VOID in the rock world of that day which has NEVER been filled. The daily countless thoughts of Randy’s fans and admirers ponder and wonder, oh… what could have been? They continually ring throughout the music world even today 30 years later!! Unlike the majority of all rock guitarists in that filthy industry; arrogant, proud, haughty, narcissistic and lewd, Randy was very different.

His unique and humble personality has stood out in a narcissistic and opportunist industry and that has left a greater legacy than the genius of his wondrous guitar playing.

In the later months of his life, Randy became highly admired and respected not for just his playing and total professionalism, but for being the complete opposite of those in the rock industry and world. As a 14 year old boy that is what I admired the most about Randy. I could identify with him on that. Randy was humble, kind, caring and considerate and totally not a poser. He was – as silly as this might sound to some - a role model in a godless and decadent world which kids so desperately wanted. He loved to teach guitar and loved his family very much. Many have been greatly influenced by Randy, not just for his playing but for the kind of person that he was. His unique and humble personality has stood out in a narcissistic and opportunist industry and that has left a greater legacy than the genus of his wondrous guitar playing.

Randy’s upbringing according to his brother Kelle and his beloved mother was that of a strong “Lutheran” Christian rearing and after years of rebelling against those foundational teachings from his youth, Randy’s conscience was beginning to convict him of being a part of that life style.

It has been told by many including Randy’s mother, brother Kelle, Rudy Sarzo and Ozzy himself that Randy in the last year or so of his life wanted OUT of the godless, drug induced rock industry to further a musical career as a classical guitarist. As told by many Randy did not drink or do drugs which is unheard of in that decadent and godless society. It is also said that Randy had become very serious in his personality and that touring with Ozzy had really changed him. I truly believe that the life in that godless industry was beginning to turn his stomach and he wanted out. I personally know (by personal experience) that at the age of 24 (not that I was ever at Randy’s level or sphere) I could not be a part of it anymore and adhere to my conservative “religious Christian” upbringing. I believe that this is what Randy might have been thinking near the end of his life. What is most mysterious and an important insight is that on the night before Rhoads' death, Sharon Osbourne stated that Randy said to her: "I don't think I want to be a rock 'n' roller anymore". Why would Randy ever make that statement at the height of his fame unless he saw what that industry was all about? Randy’s upbringing according to his brother Kelle and his beloved mother was that of a strong “Lutheran” Christian rearing and after years of rebelling against those foundational teachings from his youth, Randy’s conscience was beginning to convict him being a part of that godless life style. Randy’s Brother Kelle had shared that touring and playing with Ozzy was causing conflict in his mind due to his up bringing. Who knows? Out on the road away from friends and family one is more open to evaluate one’s life and what it all means. The big lights of fame and the countless concerts of fans praising you after a while do not seem to satisfy one any more (Eccl.). There comes a time in one's life that one looks outside of themselves for the TRUE meaning of our existence here in time.

What is most mysterious and an important insight is that on the night before Rhoads' death, Sharon Osbourne stated that Randy said to her: "I don't think I want to be a rock 'n' roller anymore".

One begins to think and evaluate about whom one is; what is the meaning of life, reflecting on one’s past and upbringing and in the fear of one’s accountability to Almighty God (Job 28:28, Prov. 1:7). All of Ozzy’s drunken, drug induced life style, demonic cross waving and anti biblical personality had to affect Randy. It went against all that he was taught growing up and night after night of it must have finally come to a head. It must have been then that Randy shared with Sharon that he wanted out of Rock n Roll after doing it since his early teens. Many of these private ponderings and thoughts individuals keep to themselves as they wrestle with them in their hearts ever seeking to justify them or objectively condemning them. If this was the case with Randy I do not know, it might have been. Whatever the case with Randy there was a change taking place in his life and people saw it. The rest unfortunately is a great mystery and that is what hooks people till this day about Randy Rhoads, the countless thoughts of the unknown and the thoughts of what would have been.

One begins to think and evaluate about whom one is; what is the meaning of life, reflecting on one’s past and upbringing and in the fear of one’s accountability to Almighty God.

The thought that I want to share about this anniversary is that no matter who we are or what we are or the manner of our living whether good or evil, in the end we ALL will give an account to our Creator in that Last Day (Matt. 7:21-23, Rev. 20:10-15). Almighty God is perfectly RIGHTEOUS in ALL that He allows and does not allow in this fallen world (Gen. 18:25, Rom. 3:5). Whether Randy Rhoads had a saving relationship to Jesus Christ in spirit and truth at the end of his life is unknown (John 4:24, 14:6, Acts 4:12, Rev. 21:27). Tragically Randy’s followers on this 30th anniversary all will picture him to be in “heaven”, a “heaven” which is after THEIR OWN subjective fallen design and delusional reality. My dear friend’s it is IN DEATH that our ETERNAL sobering summons to stand before our ETERNAL RIGHTEOUS Creator Almighty God to give an account for what we have done in our bodies in this fallen world is called (2 Chron. 19:7, Eccl. 3:17, 12:13-14, Heb. 9:27). We do not want to pretend with our fallen delusional reasoning that we in our own deeds are ABSOLUTELY PERFECT and RIGHTEOUS to stand before our Creator. For who is there that EVER lived (virtuous or vile) that has NOT TRANSGRESSED against Almighty God's ETERNAL PERFECT RIGHTEOUS ABSOLUTES (John 3:36, Rom. 3:23)? My dear friend, REALITY is desperately needed in this hour and day, for we will all give an account, maybe even tonight perhaps to Almighty God (Rom. 14:12, 1 Peter.4:5). We do not know when our hour will be at hand but we must be ready! ETERNITY is always before us (Job, 27:8, Prov. 10:2, 27:1, Luke 12:19-20, Rev. 20:11-15)!

Almighty God is perfectly RIGHTEOUS in ALL that He allows and does not allow in this fallen world. Whether Randy Rhoads had as saving relationship to Jesus Christ in spirit and truth at the end of his life is unknown.

Almighty God has made ETERNAL provision in His dear and precious Son Jesus Christ for the transgressions of the ENTIRE world, which includes YOU and ME (John 3:16-17, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 John 2:2, 4:10)! That is the REALITY that we as individuals most desperately need to comprehend and understand. May I my dear friend ask you this VERY sobering and pertinent question? How can YOU or I (TRANSGRESSORS of Almighty God’s PERFECT LAW) ever stand before Almighty God our Creator who is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT (RIGHTEOUS)? How can we EVER enter into His PERFECT and HOLY Heaven (Isa. 53:6, 64:6, Rom. 7:24-25, Rev. 21:27)? My dear friends, we NEVER can (Rom. 3:23). It is ABSOLUTELY HOPELESS without God's PERFECT Lamb (John 1:29, 1 Peter 3:18-19, Rev. 1:5). We are in a horrific and desperate NEED for Divine propitiation and a Savior (Rom. 7:24-25, 1 John 2:2, 4:10). My dear friends it is when one places their absolute trust IN Jesus Christ that that individuals transgressions are forgiven and removed and the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ – who died in our stead - is transferred unto us (Rom. 4:5, 5:8)! It is IN Christ where our RIGHTEOUSNESS is found alone not in anything we ever can do (Rom. 7:24-25, 10:2-4, Titus 3:5)!

My dear friends as millions reflect on the 30th anniversary of the tragedy of Randy’s death, may we look OUTSIDE of the box of this fallen and temporal world to see the ETERNAL in light of this little temporal life here on planet earth. My dear friend’s it is all about ETERNITY, will YOU be ready?

Almighty God is absolutely just in all that He does and allows. He has allowed and used Randy’s tragic death to get people’s attention and to teach us all just how brief, frail, tragic and temporal our little existence truly is here on planet earth. The question that we must ask ourselves is will we pay FULL attention? Whether Randy in the last days of his life came to know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior no one knows, but Almighty God PERFECTLY gave him every opportunity to do so, just as He is doing for all alive on planet earth at present (John 16: 8-11, Rom. 2:4). No one will EVER die without having every opportunity to hear the SAVING Gospel of Jesus Christ. For in the END it is OUR own personal freewill that will make our ETERNAL decision (John 1:12, 3:16-17, Acts 16:29-31). In the GRACE and MERCY of Almighty God I have personally made my decision. Though I wrestled with Almighty God for years He wondrously in His ETERNAL love and kindness gave me some time to beat my drum and to exhaust all of my delusional thinking (Rom. 2:4). In the end, Almighty God showed me how desperately I needed Him and how gracious to me He truly was. I have received Jesus Christ and His ETERNAL saving solution for me - a transgressor and sinner - and I have NEVER looked back (John 1:12, 2 Cor. 5:17-21, Eph. 2:1-10)! How could any look back? You see I can absolutely identify with Randy's life, not that I ever lived on his level, but our lives were very similar. The life in that industry may be enjoyable for a season, but there is no way anyone can find fulfillment in it let alone serve Almighty God in it. Almighty God is calling OUT any who will hear His voice and have an ear to hear (Matt. 13:18-23, Mark 4:9). Do YOU have an ear to hear? That is the ETERNAL question at hand.

Almighty God is absolutely just in all that He does and allows. He has used Randy’s tragic death to get people’s attention and to teach us all just how brief, frail, tragic and temporal our little existence truly is here on planet earth.

Whatever choice Randy made about his ETERNITY if he could tell us anything he would communicate to all that loved him how desperately crucial it is for one to have Almighty God's ETERNAL pardon and redemption found ONLY in Jesus Christ - pro or con (John 3:16-17, 36, 11:25-26, Rev. 20:11-15, 21-22:1-5). My friends I am sure many will misunderstand this post and be enraged. They will NOT be objective and evaluated it based on the REALITIES of Almighty God’s Word, but it is my sincere desire that at least one out of the millions will consider the WONDERFUL saving grace of Almighty God. For in the end, that is what this life and brief existence on planet earth is all about! It's up... TO... YOU... to choose. What will it be?

I’ve never heard of this man, but just last might I was reminiscing about Keith Green with an old friend. He also died in a plane
crash 30 years ago. I loved many of Keith Green’s songs, especially “There is a Redeemer.”

I went to the “Rock Superbowl” in Orlando the next day, and they had procured Pat Travers as Ozzy’s replacement. Travers fried the sound system, so the headliner, Foreigner, sounded horrible. The undercard: Bryan Adams and UFO, who blew me away.

Not to take away from this or his fire, but there’s plenty of great rock and metal guitarists that have died way too young.

Stevie Ray Vaughan who got cleaned up, died in a helicopter crash.

Criss Oliva, guitarist for Savatage, who died because of a drunk driver. (If you want to hear passionate metal guitar, check out Savatage from Sirens to Edge of Thorns - heaviest tone I’ve ever heard)

I had tickets to go see the Ozzy tour, show was scheduled a couple weeks away but after thr crash the show was outright cancelled. Brad Gillis later filled in but when Randy died, my interest in Ozzy solo disapated and I went back to my Black Sabbath records.

I became an Ozzy fan at 13 after already being a metal fan since I heard AC/DC and KISS, Ted Nugent, The Beatles, and the like when I was nine years old and started hanging out with friends who had older brothers and sisters. Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman are two of the. Est metal albums ever due to collaboration of Ozzy and Randy. Randy was as much of an influence to get Ozzy back on the wagon as was his wife Sharon.

Folks that aren’t metalheads and of the religious stripe would even find God Bless Ozzy Osbourne quite an uplifting movie.

I gave up church at 10 when a Sunday school teacher tried to tell me that a human had a longer gestation period than an elephant.

I am very proud of my metal history, and respect those that choose to be Christians.

The really sad part is that he died because they were goofing off. It’s not like it was bad weather or an engine failure. They were buzzing the tour bus.

If he had lived, I truly believe he would have left Ozzy after a couple of more albums....but what AWESOME albums they would be.
“Diary of a Madman” is still my favorite Ozzy song.

Randy was definitely a huge influence on my life. I saw Ozzy in 1981 and when Randy came out on stage and began playing, it changed my life. I returned to school and signed up for the guitar classes offered.

Before that day, I had no direction in life no desires to be the best that I could be at anything. When Randy walked out on the stage, smiled in his platform shoes and made that Les Paul do what he made it do... I was mesmerized.

There has never been another celebrity that has touched my soul the way Randy did. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 30 years.

God bless you Randy Rhoads. Thank you for inspiring me and bringing me out of the depths of self pity and despair.

I met Randy before the Pittsburgh show on 2/2/82.
Watched him play to an empty Civic Arena before the show.
Every person in the building stopped what they were doing,
including roadies and band members who hear him every day.
Never heard anything like it. Was in Fla. when I heard the news.

According to most accounts, Rhoads was a shy spirit and not all that comfortable in the limelight.
Even during his success, Rhoads continued to be a student of music,
seeking out classical guitar lessons wherever he went in pursuit of improvement.
He also gave back to the music community by teaching guitar,
something he reportedly felt most comfortable doing.
Friends have even speculated that before his death,
Rhoads was considering trading in his rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle to teach full time.
Randy Rhoads Remembered 30 Years After His Death

-—Stevie Ray Vaughan who got cleaned up, died in a helicopter crash.——

I miss Stevie. I tell my girls, who don’t really get him, that “it’s manly music for men.” ;-)

I was a teenager and a budding singer/songwriter. I idolized Jim Croce for his story telling ability. I remember laying in my bed listening to a local Texas radio station when his death was announced. I cried.

I was in seventh grade when he passed away. I still remember that day like it happened yesterday. He was a big influence on me as a guitarist, may he rest in peace. The solo to Mr. Crowley, is what made me want play. I heard that when Randy auditioned for the job, he play the whole solo to freebird, and ozzy said you’re in. Don’t know if its true, but a lot of randys music sounded like skynyrd to me.

I’ve never heard of this man, but just last might I was reminiscing about Keith Green with an old friend. He also died in a plane crash 30 years ago. I loved many of Keith Green’s songs, especially “There is a Redeemer.”

We were just telling a younger person about Keith last week...what a joy to see/hear "So you wanna go back to Egypt?" on youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD9W61KZYxk

Not meaning to hijack the thread...

If you like Randy, you should definitely look at Rudy Sarzo’s book “Off the Rails.” It’s kind of a part bio, part tribute to Randy. And, in general, I’d urge everyone to look at “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” by Mark Stein and myself about the golden era of Rock and his bio with Vanilla Fudge.

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