News Segment
RANDY RHOADS GETS ROCKWALK AWARD POSTHUMOUSLY:
March 19, 2004
LOS ANGELES – Randy Rhoads, the guitarist behind Ozzy Osbourne’s most acclaimed solo work, was posthumously honored with a bronze bust on Hollywood’s Rockwalk.
About 200 fans turned out to see the ceremony Thursday and hear from Osbourne himself, who praised Rhoads’ virtuoso brand of heavy metal guitar playing.
“I will never forget Randy, he was a small guy with giant talent,” Osbourne said. “Not a day goes by that my family doesn’t think about him. He will never die in our hearts.”
Added wife and manager Sharon Osbourne: “This is a testament to Randy after 22 years on how great his talent is that we don’t forget him. We’ll never forget him.”
Rhoads’ bust was set in a wall next to another rock guitar hero, Jimi Hendrix.
Barely into his 20s, Rhoads left the hard rock band Quiet Riot in 1979 and joined Osbourne, who was forming a group after leaving his former band, Black Sabbath.
Rhoads’ guitar prowess, particularly his solos, was compared to a fusion of classical, heavy metal and blues. During his time as Osbourne’s guitarist, he recorded the albums “The Blizzard Of Ozz,” and “Diary Of A Madman.”
The dedication was timed to the 22nd anniversary of Rhoads’ last public performance. He died in a 1982 plane crash in Florida at 25.
Courtesy of Associated Press