Crazy Train: The High Life and Tragic Death of Randy Rhoads

by Joel McIver, Zakk Wylde

Randall Rhoads, born in California in 1956 and cut down in his prime at the age of only 26, has been an immense influence on a whole generation of musicians in rock and metal. He first came to international prominence in 1979, when he was recruited from the cult metal band Quiet Riot to play with Ozzy Osbourne, who had been fired from Black Sabbath for his drink and drug addictions and was in urgent need of a co-writer to kickstart a solo career. How and why Ozzy and Randy went on to find enormous success is one of the key themes of Crazy Train, named after the first and most famous Osbourne/Rhoads co-composition. It was Randy's pioneering combination of neo-classical soloing, catchy riffage and unforgettable songwriting which propelled Ozzy. The two albums that Randy recorded with Quiet Riot and the two with Ozzy showcase the young guitarist's immense ability, although the full extent of his talent may never have been revealed. In 1982 he died in an air crash. The parallels between Crazy Train and the author's best-selling To Live Is To Die: The Life And Death Of Metallica's Cliff Burton (Jawbone 2009) are intentional and obvious. Both books deal with a musical prodigy who died tragically in his mid-20s; both men have a vast following and a profile which has risen in the years since their deaths; and both men have a large coterie of friends, family and associates prepared to tell their stories for the very first time.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography, Rock N Roll

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2011

Reviews

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

not much out of the ordinary here. awesome cover was the catalyst for reading it.

[Mark Bult · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good biography that covers Randy’s early years through insights directly from friends and family, including many friends I’d never heard from before. Almost a third of the book spends time with Randy’s mother, brother and sister, school friends, early bands, and his students at Musonia. We see how Quiet Riot came to be and their struggle to find a recording deal, their two Japanese records and their eventual breakup. It covers the period where Randy auditioned for Ozzy — tales most fans will have heard — and the ensuing recording of Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman, with stories from Max Norman, Bob Daisley, and Lee Kerslake that are less well known. It also does a very good job of tracking Randy’s professional rise and subsequent impact on generations of guitarists.

There’s practically nothing on Randy’s longtime girlfriend and eventual fiancé Jodi — in fact very little of Randy’s love life at all — which in a biography seems like a gaping hole. While there’s plenty of evidence that he loved guitar more than anything, it’s sad that this isn’t balanced with better insight into his interpersonal relationships. There’s also no mention of the fling with Sharon Osbourne that she alleged in her 2003 book, Ordinary People: Our Story, nor do we see the encounter with Jackie Fox of the Runaways. McIver may well have left these things out as they couldn’t be easily independently verified, but it’s the job of a journalist to track such things down.

Lastly, it’s nice to have a capsule of evidence of Randy’s influence on decades of subsequent musicians, McIver spending an entire chapter on Randy’s legacy, including quotes from Slayer’s Kerry King and Cannibal Corpse’s Pat O’Brien, to Bill Ward of Black Sabbath.

There are precious few photos in the book, but a few of them are from Randy’s youth and haven’t been seen widely before — if at all. The book is well designed and professionally edited; quality work.

[D'Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It's like a guided tour through his guitar playing on Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman. It gave me a renewed appreciation of Randy Rhoads as an artist. God damn was he good.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joel isn't the greatest writer, but I found some interesting things in this book I was not aware of before. Randy died when I was in high school and this is a good comprehensive review of his life and career.

[Christopher John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic!!

[Super Saiyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A potent portrayal of how Randy was a once in a generation talent.

[Connie Mcdermott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Not only does it show how Randy became an icon, it also shows us Randy the man. With interviews from the people who knew him best, the author really brings Randy to life, showing his love of teaching to showing Randy's concern about leaving Quiet Riot, his time with Ozzy, how he loved being home and his plans for the future which sadly never came to pass. I highly recommend this book to not only any Randy/Ozzy fan but to anyone who loves rock-n-roll. It is the most complete history of Randy Rhoads that i have read up to date and not only allows you to know the icon but also to finally get to know the man.

[Clint Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't a slimy 'tell-all' shock book, it's a well-documented biography. I especially appreciate McIver's focus on Rhoads' background and the music itself. There are times when I felt I was in the Rhoads kitchen watching Randy practice while he talked on the phone, and other times when I could imagine him being less than enthusiastic about playing Sabbath covers for Ozzy. *That's* the kind of insight I want to have after I crack open a rock biography... yes, I still had fun reading 'Dirt,' but I knew what that was about heading in!

[Connie Anne Kikta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book. Different from any other books I've read about Randy. This book had some great technical parts. People spoke in detail about Randy's guitar solos on various different songs. Some things I already new, some I didn't. I went back and listened to Mr Crowley and Crazy Train and heard new things. That was really cool since I've been listening to those songs for decades.

[Pamela Montano · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, Randy Rhoads is the greatest guitarist who ever lived. I was given this book as a birthday present from a close friend. I loved it. It's filled with interviews from the people who knew Randy best. Randy changed the way heavy metal guitarists play with his unique style and flawless delivery. Randy's life may have been cut short but he will live on through his music forever.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

a book with the many tales of Randy Rhoads and his tragically ending. Not too much new here, just a great collection and reminder of who Randy Rhoads was - a great guitarist a great person a great influence basically just great any way possible.

[Bartek Tkaczyk]

I tihin I't could be the best and the most fantastic book.