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Posted on 12/06/2025 5:50:17 AM PST by The Ignorant Fisherman
Many out there in the Christian blogosphere might be wondering why I am posting on this topic and remembering Randy's 69th birthday. The thought that might be ringing through people's heads is: "What does Randy Rhoads' birthday and legacy have to do with biblical Christianity or prophetic events?" Well… my dear friends, let me fill you in... and be a little personal.
Photo by Tom .C (see below) 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 43 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 who 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 countless daily 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, 43 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 opportunistic 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 just for 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 opportunistic industry, and that has left a greater legacy than the genius 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 of 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 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 condemn them. If this was the case with Rand,y 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 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.
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 on 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 42nd 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, 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 a 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)!
We are in a horrific and desperate need for Divine propitiation and a Savior.
My dear friends as millions reflect on the 43rd 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 evaluate 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?
The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!
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RIP Randy
RIP Ozzy
It's my "bad boy" side I guess, and it still comes out at 63 years old.
Why did he ever get on that plane? I heard the bus driver was a cocaine addict, and the plane wasn’t even his. The bus had stopped for repairs, and he stole the plane while he was high out of his mind. Randy didn’t even do drugs, so why did he trust that guy?
Don’t you really mean to say that if Randy Rhoads was alive today, he’d be 69 years old, and that rather than remembering his birthday, you’re remembering him, even though you probably never even met him?
Don’t you really mean to say that if Randy Rhoads was alive today, he’d be 69 years old, and that rather than remembering his birthday, you’re remembering him, even though you probably never even met him?
Glad you posted this (and have done so in prior years too if I recall correctly).
Excellent example of being ‘convicted’ and Randy’s internal struggle. Something many of us struggled with at times in our lives
Randy Rhodes and a long list of others were part of, and continue to be. Part of my life’s soundtrack. One of the first riffs I learned to play was crazy train.
Having attended (one time only) a couple of outrageously liberal parishes, I’ve joked that Crazy Train was more Christian than the God-awful slop their “folk groups” sang. While it’s sort of an anti-war song, in the sense that any human of good will should long for peace, the contrast to “War Pigs” and other Black Sabbath is incredible. Geezer Butler’s songs weren’t Satanic in the sense that they were happy about Satan ruling the world, only because you can’t praise Satan and demonize your enemies simultaneously. Contrarily, Crazy Train hopes that the world could be better.
Thanks! the post says it all! Can’t explain it, but I never forget Randy! But really wanted to share this biblical perspective; There was an internal war with him at the end, which many don’t cover. It’s all about knowing Jesus! Really want to share this with many Randy and Ozzy fans to proclaim Jesus; Please be praying!
Can’t explain it, but Randy fans never stop being Randy fans, even if we know Jesus. There is always a mystery there, but to us, that he would have been 69 years old today in light of his tragic death is mind-blowing how fast time flies; It’s really both.
I would listen to the King Biscuit Flower Hour! When I heard him live, that was it! That was A long time ago!
Thanks for sharing!
A great mystery, he loved taking pictures, I really think that is one of the big reasons why. That’s all part of Randy’s legacy, I myself thought that many times myself.
what an incredible thread!!...i saw Rhoads twice in Detroit. May, 1981 and Feb 1982. Other than Hendrix, i saw them all and Randy was the geatest guitarist i ever heard or saw. Its amazing, the short time he was here, yet 44 years later hes still revered. Those 2 records with Ozzy sound as fresh and amazing, like they were released yesterday. His “live” playing was simply astonishing. He had it all..talent, looks. Best ever.
that recording still blows me away..ive never heard anything like it before or since. I dont listen to any of that music from that era anymore..yet i still listen to those 2 Ozzy/Randy records to this day. Timeless...
no, he didnt “steal” any plane. His name was Andrew Aycock and he lived on the property where there was the bus depot. He worked and lived on that property. The owner employed Aycock to drive busses and he used to fly for him too. It wasnt unusual for Aycock to take the planes out, it was a private airstrip. They were simply horsing around and made a tragic mistake.
*Why did he ever get on that plane?*
I’ve wondered that myself. Randy died right before I got to see Ozzy in Philly. Heard the news in McDonald’s break room on WMMR. I was devastated.
It cost him his life.
"Osbourne recalls his final conversation with Rhoads involved the guitarist admonishing him over his heavy drinking. On the bus, Rhoads said to Osbourne: "You'll kill yourself, you know, one of these days."
"Airey was the only member of the band to witness the crash, ...In his account, he reported a struggle between Rhoads and Aycock in the cockpit, seconds before the crash:
I had my camera and was taking photos of the plane to give to Randy afterwards. I had my telephoto lens on and could tell that there was some sort of struggle going on aboard the plane. The wings were rapidly tipping from side to side. At one point the plane almost became perpendicular, no more than six feet off the ground. That's when I put down my camera and saw the plane right in front of me. I quickly crouched to avoid getting hit and looked over my shoulder and watched it clip the bus, crash into the tree and explode on impact into the garage."
Randi Rhodes is whole other topic, as the subject-music never afflicts my hearing.
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