By Steve Newton I did my first interview with Ozzy Osbourne back in June of 1982, when he was touring behind his Diary of a Madman LP. Just a few months earlier he'd lost his guitar player, the legendary Randy Rhoads, in a bizarre plane crash. At one point in the conversation I asked Ozzy … Continue reading That time I asked Ozzy Osbourne if “Crazy Train” was an autobiographical song
Tag: Randy Rhoads
Ten Seconds Over Tokyo guitarist Tom Beaton was initiated into rock ‘n’ roll by Randy Rhoads
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 11, 1993 By Steve Newton As a kid growing up in the tiny Ontario town of Watford (pop. 1,500), Tom Beaton didn’t get the chance to see many of the world’s greatest guitar heroes. But one fateful day he took a trip to London, Ont., to see Ozzy … Continue reading Ten Seconds Over Tokyo guitarist Tom Beaton was initiated into rock ‘n’ roll by Randy Rhoads
Album review: Ozzy Osbourne, Bark at the Moon (1984)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 16, 1984 By Steve Newton It looks like Ozzy'll be laughing all the way to the bank when the royalty cheques for his new album Bark at the Moon come rolling in. The raunched-out guitars, pounding drums and madman vocals that made his first two albums, Blizzard of … Continue reading Album review: Ozzy Osbourne, Bark at the Moon (1984)
That time Zakk Wylde told me that he’d always be Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist
By Steve Newton If Randy Rhoads hadn't died in that tragic plane crash in 1982, do you think he'd still be playing with Ozzy Osbourne? I kinda doubt it. He was so fiercely talented that I bet he would have left heavy-metal in the dust and moved on to creating adventurous, technically mind-boggling instrumental music … Continue reading That time Zakk Wylde told me that he’d always be Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist
That time Zakk Wylde told me what he really thought of Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, and Tony Iommi
By Steve Newton Whether you think Ozzy Osbourne is a genius or not, ya gotta admit that he's a mastermind when it comes to finding killer guitarists. Tony Iommi, Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, Zakk Wylde--those are some pretty smokin' pickers. When I interviewed 27-year-old Wylde back in 1994 I asked him what he thought … Continue reading That time Zakk Wylde told me what he really thought of Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, and Tony Iommi
That time I asked Jake E. Lee if there was much pressure taking over Randy Rhoads’ spot with Ozzy
By Steve Newton Way back in April of 1992 I interviewed Jake E. Lee in advance of a Vancouver show by his group Badlands, which was touring behind its second album, Voodoo Highway. At one point in the interview I started asking Jake about his time with Ozzy Osbourne, which led to me wondering if … Continue reading That time I asked Jake E. Lee if there was much pressure taking over Randy Rhoads’ spot with Ozzy
That time Tommy Aldridge told me that Randy Rhoads was the most talented guitarist he ever played with
By Steve Newton Drum legend Tommy Aldridge has played with some of the greatest rock guitarists of all time: Gary Moore, Steve Vai, Randy Rhoads, Pat Travers, Tony MacAlpine, Scott Gorham, John Sykes. Heck, even his first band of note, Black Oak Arkansas, featured some pretty heavy-duty pickers. When I interviewed Aldridge back in 2001 … Continue reading That time Tommy Aldridge told me that Randy Rhoads was the most talented guitarist he ever played with
That time Lemmy from Motörhead told me that Randy Rhoads became much better after he died
By Steve Newton I got to interview rock legend Lemmy Kilmister a couple of times, first in April of 1999 and then again in the following century, in May of 2002. During that '99 chat I mentioned how I'd first seen Motörhead back in 1983, when they opened for Ozzy Osbourne on the Blizzard of Oz tour … Continue reading That time Lemmy from Motörhead told me that Randy Rhoads became much better after he died
Album review: Ozzy Osbourne, No Rest for the Wicked (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 11, 1988 By Steve Newton All right? Chalk one up for the rockers in the battle between heavy metal and the Moral Majority. Trust good old Ozzy to take a two-fisted slug at Jimmy Swaggart's recent downfall: "Today I saw a Miracle Man, on TV cryin'/Such a hypocritical … Continue reading Album review: Ozzy Osbourne, No Rest for the Wicked (1988)
Album review: Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force, Marching Out (1985)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 8, 1985 By Steve Newton Swedish guitar hero Yngwie Malmsteen has been heralded as the rock guitarist of the eighties, a successor to Eddie Van Halen and the late Randy Rhoads. And there's no doubt that Yngwie is several cuts above the typical metal guitarist. But blinding speed and technical dazzle … Continue reading Album review: Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force, Marching Out (1985)
Album review: Various Artists, Axe Masters–Legends of Rock Guitar
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 19, 1985 By Steve Newton Now this is more like it--heavy metal with class. But then any album that features the playing of metal martyr Randy Rhoads can't lose. Rhoads is included via Ozzy Osbourne's first solo hit "Crazy Train". And he's in good company. "Axe masters" K.K Downing … Continue reading Album review: Various Artists, Axe Masters–Legends of Rock Guitar
Album review: Quiet Riot, Metal Health (1983)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 25, 1983 By Steve Newton Dedicated to the memory of Randy Rhoads, the first album by his former band is one heavy chunk of vinyl. "Metal Health", "Slick Black Cadillac", and "Breathless" are all excellent, bang-your-head crotch rockers, but the album's most outstanding cuts are the bluesy "Don't Want to Let … Continue reading Album review: Quiet Riot, Metal Health (1983)
Triumph’s Rik Emmett on the merits of the power trio and his secret song for Randy Rhoads
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 11, 1983 By Steve Newton Triumph's Rik Emmett is a man of many moods on guitar. Though best known for supplying the driving rhythms and rapid-fire leads that are trademarks of his group's two-fisted sound, Emmett never hesitates delving into the subtle and contemplative realms of classical and jazz as well. On … Continue reading Triumph’s Rik Emmett on the merits of the power trio and his secret song for Randy Rhoads