Share

 
Powerline: “Randy was very different than other legends who have left us too soon, such as Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn. They were amazing guitar players. Randy was an exceptionally gifted musician as well. But the strong interest in Randy 30 years after his passing is attributed to several factors. For starters, he left us just after he made it big. It was a time when we couldn’t wait to hear what would be coming next. Sadly, he passed away and left us hanging and wanting so much more. There is virtually no video of him. This adds to his mystique. We, as fans, want so much more than we were given — more music, more video, more photos. We want more of all things Randy! We just can’t let him go. He was so charismatic. We just can’t get enough of him. All the information that has been released about Randy prior to our book was very on the surface. There hadn’t been anything released that explored and documented who he was. Our book is filled with stories as told by his closest friends who knew him best. They introduce us to the part of Randy that we’ve always wanted to know.”
 
“It was his dedication to learning and furthering himself that we find the most inspiring and remarkable. Even Ozzy was struck by this. When Randy informed Ozzy he was quitting the rock and roll lifestyle in favor of pursuing a master’s degree in classical music, Ozzy asked him to wait a little longer. Ozzy said, “One more year and you can buy your own university. You have to strike while you are hot.” Randy didn’t care about any of that. He made up his mind and nothing was going to persuade him otherwise. There again, it’s that dedication to his beliefs that we find so inspiring. Furthering himself musically was at the top of his priority list. Anyone else would have relished in what he was experiencing. Selling out the world’s biggest arenas and stadiums got old for him rather quick. He got a taste of it and desperately wanted to move on to something else. That was Randy. He had a long list of things he wanted to accomplish.”
 
“Randy was one in a billion. He didn’t try to be different. He was born different. I don’t think he dressed that way because his goal was to be different. He wore what he wanted to wear. He used to take his first girlfriend, Jan, with him when he shopped for shoes. He preferred the girl’s shoes, and he would have her try them on for him. Clearly, he was embarrassed to buy them for himself, and he knew he would get grief for wearing them. It didn’t matter to him. He was very committed to doing what he wanted to do. Sometimes it did get him into a lot of trouble, especially at school. He constantly had jocks wanting to beat him up. They called him names. It didn’t affect him. Randy may have been frail, but he was emotionally strong. It took more than names to rattle him. He just laughed at them.”
 

One Response to New Randy Rhoads Book Reveals Genuine Character

80s Metal Trending

Legendary hard rockers AC/DC have announced their first tour of Australia in a decade. The five-date trek will kick off on November 12 at Melbourne Cricket Ground and will include [...]

It will be the first time the band played in their home country in a decade. Continue reading… [...]

Could these be the final AC/DC shows ever? [...]

In an interview with the Brutally Delicious podcast, Aaron Stainthorpe of MY DYING BRIDE spoke about his new band HIGH PARASITE, which released its debut album, "Forever We Burn", last [...]

In a new interview with Graspop Metal Meeting, founding KROKUS bassist Chris Von Rohr asked about the possibility of fresh music from the legendary Swiss hard rock band. He responded [...]

In a new interview Terrie Carr of WDHA-FM 105.5 FM, the rock music station licensed to Dover and Morristown, New Jersey, EVANESCENCE singer Amy Lee spoke about the band's plans [...]

DEF LEPPARD performed last night (Saturday, June 21) at the 6,500-capacity Lucas Oil Live at WinStar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma. Fan-filmed video of the concert can be [...]

On June 11, EXODUS and SLAYER guitarist Gary Holt took part in a clinic in Frankfurt, Germany presented by ESP guitars and hosted by German music retailer Session. You can [...]

The Tom deBlonk channel on YouTube has uploaded video of NIGHT RANGER's June 18 performance at Count's Vamp'd in Las Vegas, Nevada. Joining the band on stage for a cover [...]

Alan Niven tells UCR why he was also initially against the idea of a double LP. Continue reading… [...]

In a new interview with MetalTalk, SAVATAGE guitarist Chris Caffery spoke about the reactivated band's recent shows in South America and current dates in Europe. Joining Chris in SAVATAGE's 2025 [...]

Drummer Jon Dette (TESTAMENT, SLAYER, ANTHRAX) has uploaded the latest in his "Big Four" drum-cover series: SLAYER's "Payback". The clip, which can be seen below, follows his previously released videos [...]

In a new interview with the Heavy Demons radio show, KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque spoke about the band's forthcoming horror trilogy, part one of which is titled "Saint [...]

In a new interview with Canada's The Metal Voice, Michael Sweet of Christian metallers STRYPER once again spoke about the fact that he and his bandmates have never been fully [...]

At last weekend's Download festival at Leicestershire, United Kingdom's Donington Park, guitarist Michael "Padge" Paget of Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE spoke to Neil Jones of TotalRock about the [...]

Fan-filmed video of EXODUS's June 19 performance at the Copenhell festival in Copenhagen, Denmark can be seen below. In a recent interview with Germany's Rock Hard magazine, EXODUS guitarist Gary [...]

The band’s famously chilled out frontman Ray Davies had a hard time accepting that people thought Eddie Van Halen & co. wrote his timeless classic [...]

In a new interview with Dark Macek of the Brutally Delicious podcast, FIREWIND guitarist Gus G. spoke about the band's touring activities in support of the "Stand United" album, which [...]

John Ostronomy, co-host of "Talking Metal" on Fuse and co-author of Ace Frehley's "No Regrets" and Jean Beauvoir's "Bet My Soul On Rock 'N' Roll: Diary Of A Black Punk [...]

This summer, RUSHfest Canada lands in Toronto for a once-in-a-generation celebration of one of Canada's most iconic rock bands: RUSH. Taking place Friday, August 1 at Massey Hall and Saturday, [...]

Forty-five years after the original movie's release, Jake and Elwood ride again. Continue reading… [...]

The country legend's rock star phase continues with a new version of the 1985 smash. Continue reading… [...]

Set included a few songs he hasn't played for over 20 years. Continue reading… [...]

Steve Hackett will release The Lamb Stands Up Live At The Royal Albert Hall double live album in July [...]

The reunited Oasis might be stadium-bound soon, but don't hold your breath for another iconic Manchester band returning to the stage [...]