A tribute concert for guitarist Randy Rhoads was held June 4, 2014, at Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey. Rhoads—best known for his work with Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot—tragically died in a plane crash at the age of 25.
Brent Woods, who plays guitar in Vince Neil’s band, was a student of Randy Rhoads in his pre-Ozzy era. Woods opened the show with acoustic renditions of “S.A.T.O” and “Tonight” off of the 1981 Ozzy Osbourne album, Diary of a Madman.
Kathy Rhoads addressed the crowd at a tribute for her brother, guitarist Randy Rhoads, at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey. She and other members of the Rhoads family helped organize a similar event at the NAMM show in Anaheim on January 25, 2014.
Testament’s Alex Skolnick marked the Randy Rhoads’ concert with a trilogy of Ozzy tunes: “Believer” and “Flying High Again” from Diary of a Madman and “Mr. Crowley” from the 1980 album Blizzard of Ozz. Bassist Michael Devin (Whitesnake) handled vocals.
Machine Head’s Phil Demmel got into the spirit with a Polka Dot Flying V on “I Don’t Know” and “Suicide Solution” from Blizzard of Ozz.
Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, Ozzy Osbourne, Foreigner, Billy Idol) joined Brent Woods (Vince Neil) for some acoustic-duo action on another Diary of a Madman track— “You Can’t Kill Rock and Roll.”
Brian Tichy grabbed the guitar VIP of the night, a black-and-white polka dot Flying V, and played it appropriately in front of a stack of Marshalls during the Blizzard of Ozz tune “No Bone Movies.”
The guitar gymnastics went through the roof on “Over the Mountain” as former Megadeth guitarist Jeff Young shredded on a Flying V, Mike Tichy worked a polka dot V, and Mike Orlando dominated his Charvel Desolation DS1.
From left: Kelle Rhoads (Randy Rhoads brother) on percussion, Sherri Klein on vocals, and Brian Tichy and Brent Woods on acoustic guitar for a medley of “Back to the Coast” and “Killer Girls.”
Contest winners Dave Ferguson, Doug Bryan, and Ethan Brosh won a chance to join vocalist Chas West (left) for the Blizzard of Ozz track “Crazy Train.”
Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Chris Caffery played with conviction during a medley of “Iron Man” and “Children of the Grave.” Chas West (Bonham, Tribe of Gypsies) handled most of the vocals for the Randy Rhoads tribute show.
Jeff Young donned a bow tie and a Flying V while joining Brent Woods on “Goodbye to Romance.” Randy Rhoads’ brother, Kelle Rhoads, handled percussion.
You can tell by his facial expression that Mike Orlando gave it his all while jamming on several numbers, including “Revelation” and “Steal Away (The Night)” from Blizzard of Ozz.
Joel Hoekstra (Foreigner, Night Ranger) handled 6-string duties on “Little Dolls” from Ozzy Osbourne’s Diary of a Madman, which came out in 1981.
Joel Hoekstra gave his best Randy Rhoads impression, Les Paul and all (check out the poster behind him) on the classic “Diary of a Madman.”
Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot) thumped on a Fender P bass during the Randy Rhoads tribute show. Sarzo played bass with Rhoads in Ozzy Osbourne’s band and Quiet Riot, and recently wrote an account of his life on the road with Rhoads and Osbourne.
The entire crew of guest guitarists came together for a powerful acoustic finale of “Dee.” From left to right: Mike Tichy, Chris Caffery, Joel Hoekstra, Brent Woods, Jeff Young, Alex Skolnick, Mike Orlando, Phil Demmel, and Brian Tichy.