A to Z Blogging Challenge: R is for Randy Rhoads

December 6, 1956 – March 19, 1982 

A to Z Blogging Challenge:

R is for Randy Rhoads

by

Tempest LeTrope

Randy Rhoads formed his first band, Violet Fox, with his brother Kelle, at the age of 14. He then taught his friend Kelly Garni to play bass. They formed a band called The Whore. When they were sixteen, they formed the band Quiet Riot. Randy left Quiet Riot to join Ozzy Osbourne's band in 1979.

On March 19, 1982, bus driver Andrew Aycock convinced Randy and hairdresser Rachel Youngblood to accompany him for a ride in a small plane. Randy was reluctant initially, but thought it would be a good opportunity to get some aerial photos. 

Aycock, apparently high on cocaine while flying, attempted to buzz the tour bus where Ozzy was sleeping. On his second pass, he clipped the top of a pine tree and ended up crashing the plane into a garage on the property of Ozzy's friend Jerry Calhoun. The plane burst into flames, and everyone on board was killed.

One wonders how far Randy Rhoads could have gone had he lived. He was an amazing talent.

~Tempest~

From the TV show, After Hours. Not the best quality recording, but it's fun to see Ozzy and Randy performing.

Blogging Challenge A-Z: O is for Ozzy

Blogging Challenge A-Z:

O is for Ozzy

by

Spectra Ghostseeker

Ozzy Osbourne is a British heavy metal vocalist. He was the original frontman for Black Sabbath until he was replaced by the late Ronnie James Dio in 1979.

Ozzy was born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948 in Birmingham, England. He has six children: Elliot, Jessica, and Louis with first wife Thelma; and Aimee, Kelly, and Jack with second wife Sharon. 

Ozzy has six grandchildren.

Although he has had personal and substance abuse issues throughout his life, Ozzy is a deeply sensitive and caring individual who is devoted to his family and friends. He was devastated when guitarist Randy Rhoads was killed in a plane crash on March 19, 1982.

Ozzy's son Jack was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. We wish him the best in combating this devastating disease.

~Spectra~

Ozzy and Me

Randy Rhoads

December 6, 1956 – March 19, 1982

His death was a tragedy brought about by the stupid actions of another person. He was a beautiful person. I'm not talking about his physical appearance, although he was attractive. Everyone who spoke of him said that he was a kind and generous soul. There are far too few such people on the planet.

The damn fool of a tour bus driver, a fellow named Andrew Aycock, talked Randy and the band's hairdresser and wardrobe mistress, Rachel Youngblood, into taking a ride on a plane which he was piloting. Aycock was apparently on a toot and decided that it would be a lark to buzz the tour bus. He instead managed to clip the tour bus, smash through a pine tree, and end up crashing into a garage, where the plane burst into flames.

I am perhaps revealing a little too much about myself, but I once had one of "those" dreams about Randy. It made me sad when I woke up, not so much because I knew I'd never have him for my significant other or any such thing as that, but because it made me acutely aware that he was dead, and he shouldn't be dead. It made me feel very sad for his family. I wasn't a mother yet at that point, I was only eighteen, so thank the Powers that Be that I wasn't a mother. But I remember feeling sad for Randy's mother and knowing that the worst thing in the world would be to lose one's child.

Randy Rhoads will always be one of my favorite musicians, and his death will remain on the top of my list of tragedies caused by the stupidity of other people.