Frequently cited as one of rock’s most influential guitarists, the legacy of Randy Rhoads remains frustratingly incomplete, even when compared to other talented axemen cut down in their prime – Hendrix being one obvious point of comparison. Killed at the age of 25 in a horrific plane accident while on tour with Ozzy Osbourne, Randy’s recorded output essentially comes down to the first two Ozzy albums (Blizzard Of Oz and Diary Of A Madman, both of which merely hint at what the man was capable of) and early Quiet Riot recordings which catch him at an even earlier stage of his development.
RC’s Joel McIver paces his book carefully, examining Rhoads’ early life and time in Quiet Riot, before looking in detail at the short and occasionally troubled days spent working with Ozzy. Indeed, Rhoads’ death occurs some two thirds into the book, with much of the remaining pages looking at the possible future that would have awaited one of the most committed musicians in rock’s history. McIver admits that he’s seeking to avoid painting the man in an unrealistically flattering light, but Rhoads appears to have been both a genuinely likeable guy, and a musician totally devoted to his craft.
