I knew he was working on a book but I didn't know it was out. I wouldn't pay for it either. Although I would like to check it out.

I agree that Randy's playing is what I love so much about those albums. And to tell you the truth, as much as I used to love Ozzy's voice, I have trouble listening to him now after all the BS that has come to light.

I have to wonder if what Bill Ward said about not being offered equal treatment on the Sabbath reunion is true. Then there's also the fact that Ozzy asked Bill to remove the songs that he sang on from his album "Ward One: Along The Way". What was up with that? "Bombers Can Open Bomb Bays" and "Jack's Land" were the biggest hits on that album.

At first I was bummed they'd left him out because Ward is definitely part of the Sabbath sound. Though I remember at one point someone on this forum saying that Ward seemed unable to keep up with the band on one of their recent reunion tours.
 
So I started thinking that maybe offering him an unacceptable deal was their way of getting rid of him. Then a few months back Ward himself recognized that he wasn't in the greatest shape and just last month or so, he had to be hospitalized. 
 
Ozzy basically said that Ward didn't have the stamina to play an entire show, that he was overweight and had had 2 heart attacks and that they didn't want to be responsible for his death.
 
I hadn't heard about the solo album though. Now that's nasty!

Rain
...
Next time Ozzy gets another platinum record for either Diary or Blizzard, I'll be expecting a personal thank you note. :P
... 

BullS****!
 
Just have him right a check for 1 million that you deserve and he doesn't!

Personally, I don't give a flying fudge whether the Osbournes are greedy or what. All the hate and the bad mouthing is just ugly, man.
 
I see those comments sometimes on various sites where people seem to try to outdo each other at whose going to be the meanest and come up with the most definitive verbal assault on Sharon. So much hate. Anyone who gets off of that stuff is as vile as the greediest bastard on the planet.
 
I can't imagine what they'd do with those millions in their bank account, but I'm quite sure it wouldn't be particularly morally commendable, considering how hateful they are. 

Resistance is futile....

Rain
Rhoads still is my favorite guitar player on a guts level 

Then you would really love my friend Randy whom Mr. Rhoads did his best to emulate. Mr. Rhoads used to listen and watch intently while my friend Randy would play. Apparently when my friend Randy and I were playing in Burbank one day Mr. Rhoads and Kelly Garni were there. According to my friend Randy, Kelly went out the next day and bought a Rickenbacker bass because he dug mine and what I was doing with it.

That's a really cool story Bapu. :)
 
Though I'd venture to say that ultimately what really gets to me in Rhoads playing is quite intangible and not stylistic elements that you can pick from someone. At least, I dont feel it's something I've been able to emulate even if I eventually learned to play lots of those songs - nor were most of the people I've heard playing them.
 
By the way, I'm really happy I did not resist and bought those records - I love the sound of those remasters.

Those first two albums were definitely the pinnacle of Ozzy's solo era. Nothing else comes close in my opinion. There was a chemistry on those albums between those four guys that was just magic. As you said Rain, there was something intangible that affected us on a higher level. The music on those albums evoke a feeling in me that no other music can. I still remember the day I heard Crazy Train when the single was released on the radio. I was 11, and immediately asked my mom to take me to the store to buy the album. I also remember hearing Over the Mountain when it first got released on the radio. Every time I hear anything off those albums, I feel like it's 1981 all over again. :)

BTW - I'm finally listening to the live record and, though it's basically the same setlist and very similar to the show previously released as Tribute, I'm 110% sure that it's not the same recording/same actual show - regardless of editing. But it also shows that Rhoads seemed to play very consistently from one night to another.
 
Incidentally though, I prefer the sound of this recording - it's much more raw and in your face - and sounds much closer to what I'd expect from a recording made during the Blizzard of Ozz tour, before the gigantic/over the top Diary of a Madman set up.
 
Tribute seemed drowned in reverb and echo, a maybe bit too polished by comparison.
 
 
 
 

I thought for sure it was the king biscuit show. I don't know. I had a few bootleg shows, and one of them was the exact same show. And yes, I prefer the untouched version as well. Consequently, as a result of our conversation, I listened to the Diary album. On headphones. Probably the first time in a few years. Headphones are definitely the way to go to listen to all the nuances of his playing. It's amazing how fluid he was. I read a Lee Kerslake interview where he said he felt responsible for Randy's death. Randy wanted to leave at the same time Lee and Bob did, but Lee talked him into staying, because he wanted Randy to be successful.