Music Plane Crash Victims #3 - Randy Rhoads

@teamfreak16 (43581)
Denver, Colorado
May 6, 2017 4:40pm CST
This one was totally unnecessary. We are at #3 in my Music Plane Crash Victims series: Randy Rhoads. Randy Rhoads was an insanely talented guitarist who was an early member of Quiet Riot, and later, Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist, until 1982, when, at the age of 25, a plane carrying Rhoads, makeup artist Rachel Youngblood, and pilot Andrew Aycock crashed in Leesburg, Florida. Ozzy's tour bus had stopped in Leesburg to repair a broken air conditioner when driver and private pilot Aycock took, without permission, a small plane and began giving rides. On Rhoads' and Youngblood's flight, Aycock "buzzed" the tour bus twice. On the third pass, the plane clipped the bus, sending Rhoads and Youngblood's heads through the plane windshield. The aircraft then hit the top of a pine tree before bursting into flames upon crashing into a nearby garage. All three died instantly. Aycock's system tested positive for cocaine. Rhoads only tested positive for nicotine. The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed that Aycock was flying on an expired license and had been involved in a fatal crash in the United Arab Emirates six years earlier. Randy Rhoads had left Quiet Riot in 1979, shortly before they burst onto the scene, to join Ozzy's band. A classically-trained guitarist, Rhoads was an influence on many an axe slinger, notably Dimebag Darrell (Pantera,) John Petrucci (Dream Theater,) Brad Gillis(Night Ranger,) Buckethead, and Mike McCready (Pearl Jam.) Rhoads was voted Best New Talent by Guitar Player Magazine, Best Heavy Metal Guitarist by Sounds Magazine, 4th Best Heavy Metal Guitarist by Guitar World Magazine, and ranked #26 on Guitar World's Fastest Guitarist list. Like I said, this one was pointless. Screw you, Andrew Aycock. (Info verified by Wikipedia)
Ozzy performed "Mr. Crowley" live on TV in Rochester, NY in 1981. See the full performance and interview on the MEMOIRS OF A MADMAN double dvd set available ...
8 people like this
4 responses
• United States
6 May 17
That is really awful never knew the story Scott. Yeah he really was a winner that 'pilot'. RIP Randy.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43581)
• Denver, Colorado
6 May 17
Just so unnecessary. This guy was so talented. Imagine what he could have done, and not just with Ozzy.
1 person likes this
• United States
6 May 17
@teamfreak16 I can imagine..he was a star, a natural star at that.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43581)
• Denver, Colorado
6 May 17
@TiarasOceanView - He could have done classical metal like Yngwie Malmstein.
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
6 May 17
not heard this story before - must be the most rock and roll way to go ever - sad and dumb but rather legendary too
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
7 May 17
@teamfreak16 lucky he didn't kill everyone on the bus too, including Ozzy
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43581)
• Denver, Colorado
7 May 17
@arthurchappell - I know. It could have been much worse. What an idiot.
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111937)
• United States
6 May 17
thank you my man.Interesting subject you have chosen there.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43581)
• Denver, Colorado
6 May 17
He deserved a high spot in the countdown. Phenomenal guitarist.
@msiduri (5687)
• United States
9 May 17
I had not heard this story. Well, now I'm depressed.
1 person likes this
@msiduri (5687)
• United States
9 May 17
@teamfreak16 Yes. Sometimes it's weather, mechanical failure or outside the pilot's control. Here, the pilot was just being a jerk. And a fatal jerk.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43581)
• Denver, Colorado
9 May 17
This one could totally have been avoided.
1 person likes this