Black Sabbath members Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi were recently interviewed by Goldmine Magazine, and they discussed how they learned that Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Randy Rhoads had died.
Across town in the competing Osbourne camp, things were looking promising with two hit albums. But then tragedy struck the heavy metal world when the band’s guitarist, Randy Rhoads, was killed in an on-tour fly-by prank on March 19, 1982. Recalls Butler, “The only time we thought about Ozzy was when Randy got killed in the air crash. We were in the hotel on tour, and it came on the radio: ‘Members of Ozzy Osbourne’s band killed in a plane crash.’ And we all panicked and called the management, his management, and they said it was Randy that got killed and Ozzy was OK. We were on tour somewhere in America. I don’t think any of us ever met Randy.”
Randy Rhoads is set for a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Ozzy told Sal Cirrincione of Premiere Radio Networks, “I’m so happy that Randy’s genius, which we all saw from the beginning, is finally being recognized and that he is getting his due. I only wish he was here in person to get this award and that we could all celebrate together. It’s really great that Randy’s family, friends and fans get to see him honored this way.”
