Randy Rhoads

Randall William Rhoads (December 6, 1956 – March 19, 1982) was an American musician. He was born at St. Johns Hospital in Santa Monica, California. When Randy was 17 months old, his father William Arthur Rhoads left his mother Delore

Randall William Rhoads (December 6, 1956 – March 19, 1982) was an American musician. He was born at St. Johns Hospital in Santa Monica, California. When Randy was 17 months old, his father William Arthur Rhoads left his mother Delores Rhoads to raise all three children. Mrs. Rhoads has owned and operated the Musonia School of Music in Burbank, California since 1949. Randy started playing guitar at age 6 on his grandfather's old Gibson "Army-Navy" classical acoustic guitar. According to Randy's mother, he learned to play folk guitar, which was a popular way to learn guitar at the time, although he did not take lessons for very long. Rhoads was always evolving toward a hard rock/metal lead guitar style but he was very influenced by classical music as well. This can be heard on tracks like "Dee", "Mr. Crowley", "Diary Of A Madman", "Crazy Train" and "Revelation (Mother Earth)".

By the time Randy was 14, he was in a band called Violet Fox (after his mother's middle name, Violet). Randy then taught best friend Kelly Garni how to play bass and they formed Quiet Riot when Randy was about 16 (according to Randy's mother). Kevin DuBrow auditioned for vocalist in Randy's kitchen and was chosen. Then drummer Drew Forsyth came into the picture. Quiet Riot played bars and parties in L.A., often in the same clubs as Mammoth, who would later change their name to Van Halen. The band snagged a Japanese record deal soon after and Quiet Riot's self- titled debut album was released in Japan. In 1978-9 Garni left the band to pursue a career as a paramedic, and was replaced by future Ozzy Osbourne bassist Rudy Sarzo. The band then released Quiet Riot II. Although Sarzo appeared on the cover photo for Quiet Riot II, he didn't play on either of the Japanese releases.