To any lover of rock and heavy metal guitar music, the name of Randy Rhoads will be familiar. In a few short years between 1977 until his tragic death in a plane crash in 1982, the virtuoso guitarist defined what the role of the guitar was all about, through his early years playing with Quiet Riot and then with Ozzy Osbourne on the genre-defining albums Blizzard of Ozz (1980) and Diary of a Madman (1981).
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
This week, bass player and Quiet Riot co-founder Kelly Garni and Rhoads’ first guitar teacher, Scott Shelly, embark a special ‘Tribute To Randy Rhoads’ Australian tour where they’ll be sharing the stories of Rhoads’ music and life.
“I first met Randy when I was 11 years old and he was 12 and he was only then learning to play lead with Scott,” Garni told Musical Musings this week.
“Once I began to play bass, I watched him progress and on a daily basis, he got good very fast.
“When we were in a Quiet Riot, I of course knew he was a very good guitar player, but when I looked over to the other side of the stage, all I saw was my bestie friend.”
Rhoads exited Quiet Riot to join Ozzy Osbourne because it was an actual paying job, but prior to his departure, Garni was fired from the group.
“I was fired from a band and now the two best friends were separated,” he said.
“I learnt many years ago from [singer] Kevin DuBrow that Randy was not happy after I left the band.”
Prior to his death, Rhoads was reportedly planning to leave Osbourne’s group. Many theories have arisen over the years to why he was planning to leave.
“Randy was unhappy with the situation in Ozzy’s band,” Garni said.
“So, he wanted to leave as he didn't like touring and also, he wanted to study classical guitar.”
After the death of his best friend, Garni retreated into a more stable life.
“Whilst Randy’s death did devastate me that is not the reason why I stopped playing,” he said.
“I stopped playing music because I wanted to experience a normal life I was not used to.”
Garni consider Rhoads “a unique once-in-a-lifetime best friend”.
“I was lucky that he came into mine,” he said.
“I got to grow up with him from childhood to an adult, and for that I feel extremely blessed.”
So, what can lovers of guitars and of Rhoads expect from the Australian shows?
“I will be revisiting the music we first created as a band in Quiet Riot,” he said.
“I will be available to answer any questions that people may have and autographed copies of my book will be available for purchase.
“Along with other cool merchandise.”
Music news
English acoustic-rocker Newton Faulkner, who had an Australian Top 10 hit in 2007 with Dream Catch Me, has announced an Australian tour for April, 2026, which will follow his upcoming new album, Octopus, due for release in March 2026.
Also touring in March are thrash metal legends Anthrax, who were last here in 2019.
April 2026 also sees Earth, Wind & Fire bringing their unique blend of funk, soul and pop to our shores for a run of shows. They last toured here in 2012.
And in May 2026 1990s alt-rockers Spin Doctors will be here to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their chart-smashing debut album, Pocket Full of Kryptonite. The group last toured Australia in 1993!
For lovers of classical music, a five-part Sky mini-series, Amadeus, which reimagines the life, and genius, of one of music history's most celebrated and admired composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, is set to premiere on December 21.
1980s synth-pop duo Soft Cell are scheduled to release their sixth and final studio album, Danceteria, in early 2026. David Ball, one half of the duo, sadly passed away days after having completed the album in October.
Book review
Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run by Paul McCartney (Allen Lane)
Rather than a memoir as such, this book is an oral history of Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles band Wings that begins from the ending of The Beatles and concludes at the start of the 1980s where McCartney’s solo career takes flight. It’s a hefty tome detailing the ups and downs and challenges McCartney faced and how he successfully navigated them to achieve success with his new band. Though McCartney’s quotes are peppered throughout, there also quotes contributed by his late wife Linda, former Beatles members, Wings band members, family and friends and other persons who all passed through the Wings orbit. Each chapter is set up with a narrative by the book’s editor, Ted Widmer.
Many may assume it would have been an easy ride for a Beatle to achieve success after The Beatles folded, yet nothing can be further from the truth. McCartney comes across as both a determined and grounded person. he categorically wanted to create a new group from scratch, in so far as he stripped everything back to basics at the beginning and built the band’s trajectory from there. By the end of the book, you’ll have a deeper appreciation and admiration for McCartney.
This month in music history
1966 — The Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations topped the US chart.
1970 — The Doors played their last ever live show with Jim Morrison.
1973 — Paul McCartney and Wings released Band On The Run.
1977 — ABBA released ABBA: The Album. In the UK, due to demand for pre-orders, pressing plants weren't able to keep up to provide enough copies in time for Christmas, so it was not released in the UK until January.
2016 — Folk legend Bob Dylan received the Nobel Prize for Literature at the ceremony held in Stockholm.
Fun fact
The Sugar Hill Gang’s 1979 single Rapper's Delight became the first rap song to be played on the radio and the first rap song to become a Top 40 chart hit. Originally 15 minutes long, it was edited down to six and a half minutes and its commercial success led to rap being launched into the mainstream masses.