6 posts tagged “randy rhoads”

The journey: destination San Bernadino

Mar 23, 2007
4 comments

Over 600 miles Greyhound bus. Some people might consider it mad devotion. In the last two years of Randy's life he was surrounded by madness 24/7 and kept his wits about him. Granted I wasn't traveling with Ozzy but witnessed a few drunk people.

destination San Bernadino

This Guitar Legends magazine was my companion the entire trip.

(When Delores saw this Randy shot she said, "good picture".)

A good picture

Emotionally, the most important part of my journey was delivering a "Dear Randy Rhoads letter" , a candle, and a card to Randy's grave. It's how I express how much I miss Randy. How he effected my youth in a positive way. He didn't use drugs and drank in moderation. Randy was far from being a womanizer, and he was nice to people even when he voiced he disagreed with their behaviors. He was an adult a young child could look up to and say, "now, there's a role model", and at least one did...

candle, card, & note

It floored me the Rhoads passed around my note....

Rhoads

Randy wouldn't understand the enormous mosuleum or the tear stained notes left by fans who traveled further than myself. How many times has Kelly Garni said that...It's just another aspect of Randy we love. Another reason to hold onto to the memory.

A fellow off the streets of San Bernadino wandered into Mountain View Cemetery. He didn't know much about Randy Rhoads. He wanted to see for himself what the fuss was about. He sat down under the canopy and watched Quiet Riot concert footage with us. Discovering Randy Rhoads he said, "Damn this guy was good". I enjoyed seeing the look on his face when I told him he didn't think he was any better than any other guitarist out there. Utter shock. He was in the right place to learn not all great rock n' rollers are self-centered.

Wandering into a cemetery and learning something new is a journey as well. A short journey, an interesting one, as well.

Journeys of love, journeys of discovery, both lead to the music.

25th Anniversary poster

Delores Rhoads, "It's the fans that keep Randy's memory alive"

Mar 22, 2007
9 comments

Delores & RR fans

Delores Rhoads is an amazing women. At age 86, she still meets with her son's fans two times a year at Mountain View Cemetery. On Randy Rhoads birthday: December 6th. And every year for the anniversary of his passing: March 19th. It is a labor of love. Randy Rhoads was passionate about his fans...uncountable incidents occured where Randy gave his fans free backstage guitar lessons.

The surviving Rhoads family reflect the same gratitude towards Randy Rhoads fans. Every December 6th and March 19th Kathy, Kelle, and Delores Rhoads shake fans hands, converse with us, and answer our Randy Rhoads questions. Delores said of the fans, "It's the fans that keep Randy's memory alive."

The Rhoads & Jody

note: Doug (aka Kelle) Rhoads stepped out to get his mom something to eat. Kelle's not in this photo.

Fans from Japan

Randy Rhoads is huge in Japan. Here are fans who fly from Japan every year to Mountain View Cemetery to pay their respects to Randy.

randys brother

Here's Kelle Rhoads signing the "Day the music died" posters he made for the anniversary (he made 200 and passed them all out in four hours). This joker shook my hand and said, " I know where that hand has been." Cut me up!

randy girls

This picture was taken for the boys.

fan playing Dee

Mountain View Cemetery was full of fans who played guitar for Randy.

delores

Delores signing autographs for the fans.

A rose for the family

A fan presents a rose to the ladies.

Steve with Jody

Steve got to stand next to Jody Parkins (Randy's girlfriend). I'll bet you guys out there are jealous.

Kathy,Delores, Lori, and Jody

Lori is currently involved in the production of the Randy Rhoads documentary filmed at Mountain View Cemetary

March 19, 2007.

Yep, those are Randy's bow ties

Quiet Riot fan club girls proudly display Randy's bow ties.

BLS Brothers Pay Tribute to Randy Rhoads

Mar 22, 2007
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Don't miss out on the Black Label Society article by Rocket, Randy Rhoads 25 years gone:

http://themetalden.com/index.php?categoryid=1&p2_articleid=3564

BLS_tribute

The brothers share a moment of silence for Randy

BLS_KellyGarni

Here's Black Label Society and Kelly Garni (he's the desert rat wearing the denim).

Blacklabelsociety

The silver writing on the BLS jacket shoulder are two signatures. One is Dimebag's and

the other is Zakk Wylde's.

Randy_Marshalls

Zakk Wylde called the Rhoads family. He was unable to attend the 25th memorial.

Randy Rhoads' Gibson Les Paul

Mar 5, 2007
2 comments

Ozzy/Randy Blizzard shot

There are some special characteristics to Randy Rhoads' 1974 Gibson Les Paul I thought I'd share with you metal maniacs.

* The cream Gibson body is scratched (sorry folks, it's true. RR's '74 Gib is blemished. Consider it "well loved".) There are a few visible nicks in the body too.

* There is a "bell" plate above the nut (I've seen a few '74 Gibson Les Pauls. I think the plate is custom but not certain.)

* Pick guard reads "Randy Rhoads"

* It's a myth RR's cream Gibson is a 1963 Les Paul. Randy Rhoads told people it was a 1963. Unknown to me why (?). It's the 1970s Gibson Les Paul design. And the pickups are standard '74 Les Paul.

Take into consideration I'm not a guitar player. But I hope Gibson and Randy Rhoads enthusiasts, alike, enjoyed this blog. I'd like to thank all the cool RR fans that brought out their Gibs for comparison (this is standard l.p., and that is not). You fucking rock!