Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne is 73 years old today, with the singer poignantly reflecting on his life in his 2020 collaboration with Elton John called Ordinary Man.
During the video for Ordinary Man, which sees Ozzy watching footage of his career on a cinema screen, the singer became emotional when footage of guitarist Randy Rhoads played.
Randy was a close collaborator of Ozzy’s before he tragically died aged 25 in a plane crash in 1982, with Ozzy telling Guitar World: “We loved each other very dearly.
“I swear to God, the tragedy of my life is the day he died.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Randy was a guitar prodigy, having co-founded heavy metal band Quiet Riot at the age of 16, and worked with Ozzy on some of his first solo albums since leaving Black Sabbath, including 1980’s Blizzard of Oz and 1981’s Diary of a Madman.
However at the age of 25 on March 19 1982, he died in a plane crash along with Rachel Youngblood, 58, and Andrew Aycock, 36.
(Image: John Atashian/Getty Images)
A report conducted after the accident by the National Transportation Safety Board said: “The pilot, who was a rock group driver, took an aircraft from the hangar without permission to joy ride members of the group.”
The incident took place while they were on tour in Florida, and as the plane passed over the tour bus where members of the band including Ozzy and manager Sharon were sleeping, tragedy struck.
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As the plane flew over the tour bus, it clipped the wing of the plane and the impact sent the aircraft spinning out of control.
The plane hit a tree, subsequently bursting into flames and killing the passengers onboard, including Randy Rhoads.
His death had a huge effect on Ozzy, with the singer telling Rolling Stone magazine that it took him a long time to get back ‘on the right path’.
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He said: “I was kind of emotionally wounded after Randy died. It took me until No More Tears to get back on the right path with recording.
“He died really young, and he didn’t deserve to die.
“It’s really strange for me to sit here and reflect. Like, f*****g hell, 40 years, it seems like it was yesterday.”
Although Randy’s career was short, he had a lasting impact on generations of musicians and in 2004, he was posthumously inducted into the Hollywood Rock Walk.
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
He was also posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on October 31 2021, with Rage against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, who had been inspired by Randy Rhoad’s work saying via video message: “When it comes to musical excellence, there is no-one more deserving of the highest echelon of recognition and praise.
“Now the incomparable Randy Rhoads stands where he belongs.”
Talking about his induction, Ozzy also said that he was “so happy [his] genius [was] finally being recognised.
“I only wish he was here in person to get this award and that we could all celebrate together.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
