Randy Rhoads...

1956~1982

30 years ago today (March 19, 1982), Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist Randy Rhoads was killed in a tragic plane crash in Leesburg, Fla.

After co-founding Quiet Riot at the age of 16, Rhoads went on to become one of the most influential and respected hard rock/heavy metal guitarists in history, despite his relatively short career. After breaking through the late-'70s L.A. rock scene and playing such famed clubs as the Whiskey a Go Go, Rhoads played guitar on Quiet Riot's first two albums ('Quiet Riot' and 'Quiet Riot II'), which initially only saw their release in Japan.

In 1979, Rhoads auditioned in front of a drunken Ozzy Osbourne, who was looking to piece together a new band after his departure from Black Sabbath. Randy played on Ozzy's famed 1980 release, 'Blizzard of Ozz,' and his trademark guitar playing can be heard on such hard rock classics as 'Crazy Train' and 'Mr. Crowley.'

After the 1981 release of Osbourne's 'Diary of a Madman,' Randy contemplated the idea of going on a hiatus from rock music to attend UCLA and study classical guitar. He continued to tour with Ozzy, however, supporting 'Diary of a Madman' into early 1982.

Tragedy struck on March 19, 1982. Rhoads, who had played what would become his last show just the day before in Knoxville, Tenn., was heading to a show in Orlando when the band's tour bus stopped in Leesburg, Fla. Parked next to a small airstrip, the bus driver, Andrew Aycock, took some of the band members for joyrides on a plane he owned there. On the second flight of the day, Aycock took Rhoads and the band's hairdresser/seamstress, Rachel Youngblood, with him.

Aycock decided to "buzz" the bus full of sleeping band members. On the third pass, the plane clipped the bus, and all three who were flying were killed instantly. He was laid to rest at Mountain View Cemetery in San Bernardino, Calif. Since his death, Rhoads has been the subject of tribute albums, has appeared on countless "best of" lists, and has even had a special edition amp and guitar released in his memory.

On the 30th anniversary of his tragic passing, Noisecreep reached out to Rhoads' former Ozzy Osbourne bandmate, the great bassist Rudy Sarzo, who shared, "Though I mourn Randy Rhoads' passing 30 years ago today, more importantly I celebrate his life. His unmeasurable talent and friendship lives on forever in my heart." -Noisecreep.com

A cool tribute video...

Billy Sheenan...

"Happy 59th Birthday"

Billy Sheenan...

Billy Sheehan has changed the way bass guitar is played. Rising to cult status in the 80's with his Buffalo, NY based band Talas, Billy was recruited by David Lee Roth when Roth left Van Halen in '85. He recorded two platinum selling albums with the former Van Halen front man before setting out on his own. Forming Mr. Big in 1989, the band achieved a Billboard #1 single in the US and 14 other countries with "To Be With You" from their 2nd Atlantic Records album release "Lean Into It". While developing his trademark style of playing he has performed over 4000 live gigs on every continent except Africa and Antarctica. 

Voted the "Best Rock Bass Player" 5 times in Guitar Player magazines Readers Poll, an honor which placed him in their "Gallery of Greats" (alongside Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Geddy Lee and Eddie Van Halen to name but a few), he has also won readers polls in Germany, Japan, Korea, Italy, and many other countries. On January 27, 1999 Billy's handprints and signature were preserved in cement on the Hollywood Rockwalk at Guitar Center. An honor attributed to those artists who have made a significant contribution to Rock and Roll. In Japan, Billy has won the prestigious "Player Magazine" (Japan's #1 Music mag) Readers Poll for Best Bass Player an unprecedented 14 consecutive times and Burrn! Magazines (Japan's #1 heavy metal mag) Readers Poll 5 times while selling out Budokan arena 3 consecutive nights with his band Mr. Big.

He started the new Millennium 2000 by performing before 40,000 fans with Mr. Big at the Osaka Dome in Japan then began work on his long awaited solo album. With recording completed, Billy's first solo album entitled "COMPRESSION" was released on April 25, 2001 on the Favored Nations label.

On "COMPRESSION", Sheehan wrote, sang, played Baritone 12 string and 6 string guitar, played bass and programmed drums on the entire record, except for 2 tracks featuring Terry Bozzio on drums and an amazing Steve Vai solo on the song "Chameleon" (the first pairing of Steve Vai and Billy since the David Lee Roth days). Other upcoming records include a new Mr. Big album (their 6th) slated for release in Fall 2001, an all instrumental bass album, an experimental Bass & Drum record w/ Terry Bozzio, and the 5th Niacin album featuring Dennis Chambers on drums (Funkadelic, Steely Dan, and Mahavishnu Orchestra). Niacin is an all-instrumental Bass, Drums, and Hammond B3 band at the cutting edge of a new musical movement. -Yamaha.com

Billy Sheenan Quote:

At night I could hear the bass reverberate through the neighborhood. The guitars and drums were muffled, but the bass traveled everywhere. I loved that, and wanted to have the power to shake buildings. Also, the bass was big and manly; guitars were little and wimpy, with these thin little strings that looked like Velveeta cheese cutters. 

10 Years...

10 Years

"Beautiful"

Music Video of the Day...

 From their fourth album, Division, which is their second major release under Universal Records. The song was released as the album's first single to iTunes and rock radio outlets in 2008 performance.

"Beautiful" debuted on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks at number 34 for the issue date of February 23, 2008. It peaked at number 6, spending 26 weeks on the chart. The song has also charted on Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks, peaking at number 14.

The music video for "Beautiful" premiered on April 21, 2008 at Universal Republic's video site and on YouTube a few days later. It depicts a celebrity (Rebecca Ginos) going inside her house due to the paparazzi invading and watching her every move. -Wikipedia.com

"Beautiful" Lyrics...

Beauty over wisdom to fit in with their style
Your Cinderella story's for a price
Vanity's a business built to fleece the unique
Silicon and stars collide, the rest will fall in line

Just as beautiful as you are
It's so pitiful what you are
You should have seen this coming all along

Visually you're stimulating to my eyes
Your Cinderella syndrome's full of lies
Your insecurities are concealed by your pride
Pretty soon your ego will kill what's left inside

Just as beautiful as you are
It's so pitiful what you are
You should have seen this coming all along

It's so pitiful what you are
As beautiful as you are
You should have seen this coming all along

You're everything that's so typical
Maybe you're alone for a reason
You're the reason

It's so pitiful what you are
Should have seen this coming all along

Just as beautiful as you are
It's so pitiful what you are
Should have seen this coming all along

It's so pitiful what you are
As beautiful as you are
Should have seen this coming all along 

Elyrics.net