I feel the same way about Randy. There's some solid guitar work in Ozzy's "Diary of a Madman". I used to find the tone buzzy, but I was in a Judas Priest excitement era and JD's tone is all the way to the other end of the spectrum, so it makes sense. Now I can't imagine him without that gritty tone.
Too bad he left early and people didn't get the chance to get to know him. I think he'd be up there above some of the current top names.

Luck and fame don't always come to the worthy. Like every time I listen to Savatage I can't believe people have to rummage through their memories in those "most underrated guitarists" kinda threads for Oliva's name to be mentioned way down into the thread.


Oh, and, while I agree about Ozzy's technique, in later albums with Zakk his technique got surpisingly better. Ialmost didn't believe it was Ozzy. Maybe he tweaked it post-recordingly?


-RG -
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I have an immense amount of respect for the late, great RR...he was a huge influence on me back then, and I don't deny that he's still one today.

However...I have to admit that I never considered his tone to be all that great, and you could tell songs that were rushed (many were, the schedule was insane). For instance, "Steal Away the Night" is one of my favorite songs, but the solo section is something that sounds like a guitarist watching the studio clock more than anything else...it's not as musical as much of his other work.

Given that he was writing with a guy who has to just hum melody/riff ideas, I'd say he did an amazing job, particularly as under the gun as he was.

To me, maybe the biggest tragedy was that we didn't hear what he wanted to sound like. I know he was heading for more Classical guitar, but I'm sure he would've pickup up the electrics at times, and maybe been able to find "his" sound.

I don't think he had time in his short life to find his tone.

Agreed. His career was cut short, before we could see what he wanted to do... I think his evolution would have been really interesting alongside the Malmsteens, Vais and Satrianis...
Who knows, maybe he'd have gone a more acoustic route? Ahh well, I guess all we can do is enjoy what he left, eh?

Good vibes about Mr. Rhoads. I liked the double tracked solos rather than taking the approach of just adding chorus to a single performance. I really dig the compositional aspect of the solo break in some rock tunes. I think my favorite player in this regard is Vito Bratta. He admittedly was a composer of solos and I think the one that still makes me smile is the one encompassed in "Little Fighter" from the record Big Game. Go ahead and laugh if you want, White Lion, ha ha ha...you're a loser dude. I emphatically say "whatever". Come on, I'm not being confrontational one single bit, but Vito was sick! James Lomenzo went on to play with Zakk in Pride and Glory (prior to Black Label and actually with Black Label too right? I forget...) and I think he's still touring with Roth.

I digress.

About Ozzy's voice now...I have only one thing to share and it's this: Zakk, Nuno, Dweezil, and Ozzy covering "Staying Alive" by the Bee Gees. He nails everything he goes for and it's not only musically impressive but it will make you laugh out loud and out of control because of the 'cool' factor. I guess for a split second too I imagined him in the studio with a pair of platforms and a feathered boa shaking his first finger like he does...

"I want to see your cigarette lightuz"

hahahahaha

(Vito's an especially sick player)

Thank you for this blog Zombre. My respect. Randy was a great influence on me and still is. He was an amazing guitarist, but if not Ozzy I guess he still could be alive and create more wonderful music. A lot of great songs were written by him, may be now they sound to easy for young generation of guitarists, but back then he only started his carrier. And as it was said by Zanary that Randy wasn't able to find his tone because of his unexpected death

A side note on Vito Bratta:

I saw White Lion open for Aerosmtih way back when...and it wasn't so much a band as 3 hair farmers boucing around and playing with their perms and one guy on guitar waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay over on the other side of the stage, giving a strong "I'm not with them" vibe.

He ripped it up, the rest of the band looked like an all-male Mandrell sisters tribute act.

That's awesome! What a bittersweet testament to musicians who must whore themselves around town to make a dollar. It's such a drag to have so many great players and songs stay so way underground. I wonder if Rod Morgenstein felt the same way about Winger after having been part of the Dregs?!?

RR was no doubt a great player, an hard core study of the game, always was playing. We obviously never saw his full potential. So tragic. Same with Jimi, Stevie, Dime. Personally, RR didnt really do it for me. Scratchy tone was everywhere back then, I think because a lot of guys were avoiding the brown sound. His playing had a real classical vibe to it, which to me, shows great talent, but usually disconnects from the hard rock its with.

Chris

vito has mad skills. right out of the xhool of van halen. loved white lion. wait is one of my all time favs. rumor mill has it that they are writing again. could be interesting. randy was a machine as well. i always liked hit tone. mxr distortion plus thru marshalls. and bob dasileys lyrics complimented his songs nicely. too bad ozzy couldn't see straight enough to write any himself........

I can't talk about scratchy tone, 'cause I'm all about the Big Muff Pi... Randy was awesome, so was (Is?)Vito