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Angels with Dirty Faces
"A Real insight on the years of friendship leading to the formation of legendary hard rock / heavy metal band Quiet Riot and the early evolution of the greatest guitarist of all time... Randy Rhoads
The story of My life, My Friends, told My way ... my friendship with Randy and what came along with it. The trials & tribulations, struggles & battles both personal & professional of growing up in the Hollywood Music Scene of the 70's, trying to make a dream come true...to be Rock Stars .. the laughter & tears, the trouble we got into & out of, the bands we formed together. Before, during & after Quiet Riot The climb from bottom to top & Beyond."
The story of My life, My Friends, told My way ... my friendship with Randy and what came along with it. The trials & tribulations, struggles & battles both personal & professional of growing up in the Hollywood Music Scene of the 70's, trying to make a dream come true...to be Rock Stars .. the laughter & tears, the trouble we got into & out of, the bands we formed together. Before, during & after Quiet Riot The climb from bottom to top & Beyond."
503 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 3, 2015
Kelly Garni grew up with Randy Rhoads and was apparently best buddies with him until he was kicked out of the beginning of Quiet Riot, long before they had a recording contract. Whatever really happened (Kelly says he got into a violent fight with Randy at a friend's house and consequently everyone, but Randy, wanted him out of the band), there is no question that their fates would soon part them.
Randy, was, of course, destined to become a famous guitarist, a virtuoso who met a young and tragic end. Kelly was not a world class talent and had more than his share of problems....a huge drinking problem and chip on his shoulder. I have some empathy...it must be difficult to be a friend or sibling of a world class talent. You can't help but be left behind both literally and figuratively. That has to hurt.
Once Kelly was out of Quiet Riot, it becomes clear even in Kelly's telling of the story that he saw very little of Randy with one notable exception: they hooked up when Ozzy appeared in Vegas during the 18 months that Randy was in the band.
You get a sense of what Randy was like as a kid and early teen. I do not question that Kelly and Randy were friends in the early years. But I do question how good a friend Kelly could have been once he had been booted out of Quiet Riot.
1. He claims he didn't pay much attention what Randy was doing and wasn't even aware of how famous Randy was becoming.
2. He did not even attend Randy's funeral though he was well acquainted with Randy's family since they were kids.
This books is long (500+ pages) but so much of it is uninteresting information about Kelly's life as an adult and his conjectures about Randy. Let's face it, he's milking his fame and their early friendship. I found it distasteful. Everyone knows that Jodi was Randy's girlfriend for quite a while up to the time of his death and yet, Kelly; makes the mean comment (which he could not possibly know) that Jodi was not the love of Randy's life...that some other girl when they were young teens was. BS.
Rudy Sarzo's book "Off the Rails" is much better at giving the reader a sense of who Randy was and I would recommend it over this book. And, Rudy's genuine love and affection for Randy is front and center. Kelly's....not so much.
Randy, was, of course, destined to become a famous guitarist, a virtuoso who met a young and tragic end. Kelly was not a world class talent and had more than his share of problems....a huge drinking problem and chip on his shoulder. I have some empathy...it must be difficult to be a friend or sibling of a world class talent. You can't help but be left behind both literally and figuratively. That has to hurt.
Once Kelly was out of Quiet Riot, it becomes clear even in Kelly's telling of the story that he saw very little of Randy with one notable exception: they hooked up when Ozzy appeared in Vegas during the 18 months that Randy was in the band.
You get a sense of what Randy was like as a kid and early teen. I do not question that Kelly and Randy were friends in the early years. But I do question how good a friend Kelly could have been once he had been booted out of Quiet Riot.
1. He claims he didn't pay much attention what Randy was doing and wasn't even aware of how famous Randy was becoming.
2. He did not even attend Randy's funeral though he was well acquainted with Randy's family since they were kids.
This books is long (500+ pages) but so much of it is uninteresting information about Kelly's life as an adult and his conjectures about Randy. Let's face it, he's milking his fame and their early friendship. I found it distasteful. Everyone knows that Jodi was Randy's girlfriend for quite a while up to the time of his death and yet, Kelly; makes the mean comment (which he could not possibly know) that Jodi was not the love of Randy's life...that some other girl when they were young teens was. BS.
Rudy Sarzo's book "Off the Rails" is much better at giving the reader a sense of who Randy was and I would recommend it over this book. And, Rudy's genuine love and affection for Randy is front and center. Kelly's....not so much.
November 26, 2018
It's not high literature, but it brought me into their world briefly, and if you're a Rhoads fan, then it'll do just fine. Probably the freshest read on Randy Rhoads yet.
August 30, 2025
Ok so.....god damn..... that was fucking good period.
You know how there are some people on earth that have ZERO FILTER?
They never lie, and even when they lie they tell the truth
Kelly Garni is one of them (yeah he is a little like scarface)
As I think 90% of people who read it are reading it because of Randy.
I would read this thing even if Randy wasnt in it.
Kelly has a gift. HE IS an amazing WRITER.
Some stuff here is brutal though. From his childhood "naughty" pranks with Randy
being a paramedic in the 80s in LA, security guard etc. Garni lived an amazing life.
There is about 20% of this autobiography which is REALLY GRAPHIC in terms of gore and medical emergencies but its just because KELLY does not pull back his punches its part of his story and
somehow shows you more what made Kelly Garni,...KElly GArni.
More than anything else, you learn to love Kelly and what Randy saw in Garni all those years as a childhood friend.
yes there is THAT confrontation between Garni and Rhoads that led to Kelly being fired from Quiet riot (Randy was fucking fearless bad ass guy) and it also does not hold
punches against his own name. This is why I believe most of the things in the book because it really does not make him look good most of the times and just lets you know the reality he lived as a part of Quiet Riot
hell I always hated Kevin Dubrow and somehow this book made me realize he was a big part why
Quiet Riot made it....(without even Randy. Quiet Riot Metal HEalth years is mainly Kevin Dubrow not giving up (yes of course Frankie Banali, Sarzo and Cavazo are part of it but after Rhoads and Garni's departure that didnt stop him to become a star) you end up loving Dubrow also.
i wont spoil stuff but I couldnt stop reading 500 pages (I think the word count probably is round 240k and I read this in 4 days) PLEASE READ THIS IF YOU ARE A RANDY RHOADS FAN. A KEVIN DUBROW FAN. A QUIET RIOT FAN.
NOW
I AM A KELLY GARNI FAN.
You know how there are some people on earth that have ZERO FILTER?
They never lie, and even when they lie they tell the truth
Kelly Garni is one of them (yeah he is a little like scarface)
As I think 90% of people who read it are reading it because of Randy.
I would read this thing even if Randy wasnt in it.
Kelly has a gift. HE IS an amazing WRITER.
Some stuff here is brutal though. From his childhood "naughty" pranks with Randy
being a paramedic in the 80s in LA, security guard etc. Garni lived an amazing life.
There is about 20% of this autobiography which is REALLY GRAPHIC in terms of gore and medical emergencies but its just because KELLY does not pull back his punches its part of his story and
somehow shows you more what made Kelly Garni,...KElly GArni.
More than anything else, you learn to love Kelly and what Randy saw in Garni all those years as a childhood friend.
yes there is THAT confrontation between Garni and Rhoads that led to Kelly being fired from Quiet riot (Randy was fucking fearless bad ass guy) and it also does not hold
punches against his own name. This is why I believe most of the things in the book because it really does not make him look good most of the times and just lets you know the reality he lived as a part of Quiet Riot
hell I always hated Kevin Dubrow and somehow this book made me realize he was a big part why
Quiet Riot made it....(without even Randy. Quiet Riot Metal HEalth years is mainly Kevin Dubrow not giving up (yes of course Frankie Banali, Sarzo and Cavazo are part of it but after Rhoads and Garni's departure that didnt stop him to become a star) you end up loving Dubrow also.
i wont spoil stuff but I couldnt stop reading 500 pages (I think the word count probably is round 240k and I read this in 4 days) PLEASE READ THIS IF YOU ARE A RANDY RHOADS FAN. A KEVIN DUBROW FAN. A QUIET RIOT FAN.
NOW
I AM A KELLY GARNI FAN.
April 12, 2019
This book is raw and rough around the edges but it's down to earth, honest and heartfelt. Kelly lays it all out without sugar coating his own flaws. I believe it takes a strong person to do that publicly for many people won't even do it privately.
It's an incredible opportunity to be able to see Randy through the eyes of his true friend. It is also interesting and important to see Kelly's journey navigating the lifelong impact of that friendship.
Much love and appreciation to Kelly for sharing his story.
It's an incredible opportunity to be able to see Randy through the eyes of his true friend. It is also interesting and important to see Kelly's journey navigating the lifelong impact of that friendship.
Much love and appreciation to Kelly for sharing his story.
April 27, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was nice to Randy's story through childhood and onto Ozzy. The only thing that annoyed me about this book was the constant comparing to Van Halen. Why they were signed and QR wasn't. It's simple. Its because VH had a much better frontman, and had much stronger songs. Other than that I thought this was a well-written book. I loved how the author was very honest with the reader concerning his own faults. I think this is a very genuine book. A must-read for all Randy Rhoades fans.
January 12, 2022
The story of an outsider in southern california suburbia find friendship in the early seventies which sets a course for his life.
The freak out dramatics of Alice Cooper set a tone for rebellion and establishes a musical and anthemic tone with his friend as they move through adolesence. Over multiple
Incarnations of a musical group, the band Quiet Riot is born, as his the legend of his friend, guitarist Randy Rhoads.
The freak out dramatics of Alice Cooper set a tone for rebellion and establishes a musical and anthemic tone with his friend as they move through adolesence. Over multiple
Incarnations of a musical group, the band Quiet Riot is born, as his the legend of his friend, guitarist Randy Rhoads.
December 22, 2019
Poorly written and poorly edited, but a must read for any Randy Rhoads or Kevin Dubrow fan.
July 19, 2013
Very interesting book!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews