Randy Rhoads Remembered 39 Years After His Death

Many out there in the Christian blogosphere might be wondering 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... and be a little personal.

Randy Rhoads who was the original guitarist of Quiet Riot in the ’70s and then came to stardom and the height of notoriety as Ozzy’s… yes… Ozzy's guitarist! It is absolutely amazing how time flies. I cannot believe it has been 39 years since his March 19th plane crash! To this day I have NEVER forgotten that 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 music 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 that 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 applying guitar scales were 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 genius. 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 and why him? They continually ring throughout the music world even today 39 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 lifestyle.

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 lifestyle. Randy’s Brother Kelle had shared that touring and playing with Ozzy was causing conflict in his mind due to his upbringing. Who knows? Out on the road away from friends and family, one is more open to evaluating 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 anymore (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 who 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 lifestyle, 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 ahead. 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 39th 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 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 38th 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 friends, 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 lifestyle of 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?

Very interesting post. Randy was an outstanding musician. The music industry is wrought (obviously) with all that was written above. And to be close to all these, greed driven, narcissistic, (fill in the blank) industries--you find mass evil and mass emptiness of souls controlling and working in the upper echelons. But--especially in my experience as a musician--there are some outstanding musicians that are also solid, strong Christians. And also some wonderful respectful people of all faiths.

My experience at being in many of these ego driven industries and working and being close to many at the top is you do realize how empty wealth, fame, beauty, (oh and again fill in the blank), sex on demand is and can be. Living in those worlds very much can allow each person (as quoted in Rom. 2:4) to discover fr themselves what God truly does or does not have to offer for them.

I found this contact in these worlds increased my love and dedication to Jesus. It absolutely gave me a deeper faith and trust in his will for me in this life. Not my will. He uses us. Even in the industries--in or out of them.

I also found God gives us this creative talent and ideas. Any true creative or even idea person--whether it be tech, film, etc--knows they are just a funnel and someone or something supplies that funnel (unless they are completely narcissistically consumed and even if they are there is often a day that comes where their well runs dry and they often realize--not all--it was and does from another place.). I belief it is from God. One has only to pay attention and show up in their craft.

Belief in Jesus and living the life of a Christian is filled with rewards beyond this earth and its earthly gold.

Many have walked away from those rewards when needing to make a choice and prefer it over any earthly 'fame,' or gold. As it is not fulfilling if it is not given with a true fulfillment of God's will in my opinion and experience.

Randy's joy--it sounds in the end--was in showing up to do God's will with his talent. Which was a gift to the world. Especially in his statement before his passing that he craved another life another god rather than the rock god, and the corrupt, music industry world. It was an altar to him that was not real in its fulfillment.

He knew as he grew up with the real God. May his soul Rest In Peace.

Those guys are respectable players, but...seriously?

EVERYBODY in the rock ‘n’ roll universe knows the name “Randy Rhoads.” More fingers learned to play guitar because of his influence than all three of your six-string heroes put together. His playing was fresh, previously unknown, groundbreaking. He was innovating like nobody had since Eddie Van Halen and doing so on a new, different front.

Look.

I GET where you’re trying to go, but there’s factual reality, here, that you cannot surmount: Rhoads was, and still is, FAR FAR more well-known than any player in the Christian music world, and saying so isn’t hostile to The Gospel.

Case closed.

Now. You want a serious Christian rock guitarist with an ongoing career, market penetration, and a notable discography?

Go look up Michael Sweet.
https://www.michaelsweet.com/

Here’s an interview to get you some deeper perspective:
https://www.guitarworld.com/features/interview-strypers-michael-sweet

Thanks for that.

After Randy, I was really looking for a serious Christian guitarist, and I ran into this emerging new Christian band; I went to this now-gone club, Radio City in Anaheim, CA, on a sweltering night in the summer of 1984 to see them. After suffering through A couple of what we’d now call thrash metal secular bands (I think Exodus was one of them), these glam dudes all in yellow and black took the stage and blew the roof off the place.

That was Stryper touring their “Yellow and Black Attack” EP, and they went on to solidly — and almost by themselves — hold up the metal corner of the Christian music universe.

Relentlessly bashed in the rock ‘n’ roll universe by big names like Malmsteen, the Sweet brothers, Michael and Robert, with axe man Oz Fox, and bassist Timoty Gaines persevered through the fire and the rain to become the very FIRST Christian rock band to take an album Platinum. “To Hell With The Devil” got actual REAL airplay in big markets across the country, and should have rather emphatically ash-canned the notion that Christian music would never compete in the mainstream music world.

The original lineup has changed, and Michael sweet has branched off into dozens of solo projects and outside collaborations over the years. “United,” a joint effort with George Lynch (Lynch Mob/Dokken) came out in 2017, and Sweet’s two recent solo works “X” (Ten), and “Reborn Again” (get it on clear vinyl) are excellent. The band, Stryper remains alive and well, and both they and Sweet’s works are very much worth a serious listen from any rock aficionado of Faith.

ENJOY!

http://www.stryper.com/

https://www.michaelsweet.com/

https://stores.portmerch.com/michaelsweet/featured-products/reborn-again-lp.html

Randy’s death was a shock. If he didn’t want to be part of that “lifestyle” it begs the question what was he doing on this commuter plane buzzing the Ozzy bus?

That led to the plane’s crashing and his untimely death.

He was great and had a unique sound. He wrote most of the Ozzy album with another band mate while Ozzy typically was sleeping off a bender.

Eddie Van Halen was the number one innovator. Randy Rhodes was the next on that list. It’s sad he wasn’t around to share his love of music with us.

Rhoads played his last show on Thursday, March 18, 1982, at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum. The next day, the band was heading to a festival in Orlando, Florida. Osbourne recalls his final conversation with Rhoads that night on the bus involved the guitarist admonishing him over his heavy drinking.

The On the first flight, Aycock took keyboardist Don Airey and tour manager Jake Duncan.He then landed and a second flight took to the air with Rhoads and makeup artist Rachel Youngblood aboard. Rhoads had tried unsuccessfully to coax bassist Rudy Sarzo to join him on the flight, but Sarzo chose to get some extra sleep instead. During the second flight, attempts were made to ‘buzz’ the tour bus.

Aycock succeeded in making two close passes, but botched the third attempt. At approximately 10 am, after being in the air for approximately five minutes, one of the plane’s wings clipped the top of the tour bus, breaking the wing into two parts and sending the plane spiraling out of control. The initial impact with the bus caused Rhoads’ and Youngblood’s heads to crash through the plane’s windshield.

The plane then severed the top of a pine tree and crashed into the garage of a nearby mansion, bursting into flames. Keyboardist Don Airey was the only member of the band to witness the crash, because the rest were asleep in the bus. Rhoads (25) was killed instantly, as were Aycock (36) and Youngblood (58). All three bodies were burned beyond recognition, and Rhoads was identified by dental records and personal jewelry. According to Sharon Osbourne, who was asleep in the bus and awoken by the crash, “They were all in bits, it was just body parts everywhere”.

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