Randy Rhoads - Definition and Overview

Randy Rhoads (December 6, 1956-March 19, 1982) was a songwriter and guitarist with Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne. He was killed in a plane crash at age 25. He is known for adding elements of classical music to heavy metal. Rhoads is buried at Mt. View Cemetery in San Bernardino, California.

Career with Quiet Riot

1975-1976: Rhoads first joined Quiet Riot with Kelly Garni, Kevin DuBrow, Drew Forsythe.

1977: The band signs a contract to Sony Records

1978: The band released its first album. Released only in Japan

1979: The band released the second album. Released only in Japan

1980: Rhoads starts playing with Ozzy Osbourne

1981: Rhoads quits Quiet Riot so he can stay focused on his work with Ozzy Osbourne, releasing Diary of a Madman.

1982: Rhoads dies in a plane crash at Leesburg Florida.

1983: The band releases Metal Health with a new guitarist, Carlos Cavazo.

Career with Ozzy Osbourne

1980: Randy Rhoads's first gig with Ozzy Osbourne, and the recording of Blizzard of Ozz.

1981: Blizzard Of Ozz and Diary of a Madman were both released.

1987: Ozzy Osbourne releases Tribute to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Rhoads's death.

The live recordings on Tribute were originally intended to be released as Ozzy's first live album, Speak of the Devil (Talk of the Devil in the U.K.), but when Rhoads died, Osbourne shelved the tapes. Instead, Ozzy made a live recording of songs from the Ozzy-era Black Sabbath catalogue, playing with his usual live ensemble (Rudy Sarzo on bass guitar and Tommy Aldridge on drums) and guitarist Brad Gillis of Night Ranger substituting for Rhoads. The intended name of the live album, however, did not change, and consequently Speak of the Devil is sometimes erroneously ascribed to Rhoads's discography.

Discography with Quiet Riot

• Quiet Riot I (1978)
• Quiet Riot II (1979)
• The Randy Rhoads Years (Greatest Hits of 1977-1981) (1993)
• The Greatest Hits (Greatest Hits) (1996)

Discography with Ozzy Osbourne

• Blizzard Of Ozz (1981)
• Live EP (No Longer Available - Out of Print) (1981)
• Diary of a Madman (1981)
• Tribute (Live 1981) (1987)
• The Ozzman Cometh (greatest hits) (1997)
• (greatest hits) (2003)