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For starters, there is Motown, a music label and sound that has had a huge impact on popular music, with a roster of legends such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Martha Reeves. Then, you have the rockers: Ted Nugent, Grand Funk Railroad, Frijid Pink. And then there's George Clinton and Parliment Funkadelic. Detroit, to say the least, is a musical fertile crescent. Today you have bands such as the White Stripes and the Detroit Cobras.




For this story, though, we must first venture back to an earlier time that, as anyone with ears can attest, was critical to rock bands like Kiss, as well as countless others.

..

February 9th, 1964 was, arguably, the birth of rock music. In a way, America sat at a crossroads, while not as diabolical as the one Robert Johnson sang about a few generations earlier, one that was just as intense and further reaching: still reeling from the assassination of its 35th president, America was about to explode on all fronts--

socially, culturally, politically and spiritually.The initial burst was televised that Sunday night on live television, and one of the single most important moments in the history of mass media was witnessed by 70 million people. Four of those viewers were seated before a T.V. in Detroit, Michigan: three young boys and their father.

Realizing the significance and import of the subjects of this event, a man by the name of Hackney had his sons watch the Beatles' american debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. Soon after, the three brothers each took up an instrument and formed a band.

After honing their skills through stylistic changes , the band began calling itself Death and proceeded to forge a precocious sound in the loud/fast vein.

Literally without missing a beat, Death picked-up right where their local peers the Motor City Five and the Stooges left off: hard hitting rock played with passion and precision that not only embraced the burgeoning heavy metal genre, but also presaged the punk rock movement, as their record 'For The Whole World To See' deftly displays.

..

In the middle 1970's, while hard rock was becoming slightly palatable, extremes in loud/fast music was not as marketable as it would be later, so the forward thinking band met with no success beyond the recording of an album's worth of material that, thanks to the digital age, has been preserved and finally given a chance to find its audience through the efforts of Drag City Records www.dragcity.com .

The album begins with a completely distorted guitar strum that swiftly kicks the track 'Keep On Knocking' into overdrive, accompanied by the tight-driven bass and drums. With its unadorned vocal melody and guitar hooks, this could have been a hit song, or at least a staple of classic rock radio. A DNA test would probably reveal Chuck berry and the Rolling Stones to be its parents. Lyrically, it is a traditional tale of a lover spurned for something seemingly better. However, time tells a different tale as the injured party is given the opportunity to reproach the offending party. The quintessence of rock music.

"Rock N Roll Victim' leaps forward with lyrical passages such as "...you roll yourself another stick of grass...jump on the seat and start to move your ass...you just can't live without your stereo...!!!" and "...we love to say things that we really feel...sometimes we see things that aren't really real...", as well as the totally punk rock statement "...establishment don't want no part of us...except to make themselves a real quick buck..." In reality, ol' Clive Davis (says he's surely gonna make us) was interested in the band, though when they refused his satanic request to change their name to something more commerially viable, he tuned-out and turned-off. "...you're a rock n roll victim and I know this is true 'cause I'm a rock n roll victim too!!!"

"Let The World Turn' mellows down to a twangy surf guitar strum with a lyrical sentiment similiar to 'Let It Be', then shockingly switches to a heavy head banging back beat complete with Iomi-esque riffing and guitar fills. The song also features a drum solo in the middle, possibly the most non-gratutitous drum solo in rock history, showcasing an obviously powerful and agile drummer. "...you know that time is all we're made of..."

Anyone that has ever enhanced their perceptions can relate to the innocent mania of 'Freakin' Out': "...everyone looks very strange today...all of their faces seem to be washed away...everyone's talking, I can't hear a thing...I'm on the moon...why is the sky so green!?!"

...and in the end, in my imagination, there is a Detroit Trilogy of rock anthems that begins with 'Over And Over' by the Motor City Five, continues with 'Search And Destroy' by the Stooges, and concludes with 'Politicians In My Eyes' by Death. Nearly as dramatic of Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs', its melodic and plaintive vocals voice an earnest plea for an end to war: "...always trying to be slick...when they tell us their lies...they're responsible for sending young men to die...we have waited so long...for someone to come along...and correct our country's wrong...but the wait's been too long...reaching out, shaking hands...making friends and other plans...some will rise, some will fall...some won't even answer calls...look ahead, see them fly...see the twinkle in their eye...politicians, tell me why...can't you hear the people's cry?"

Death.

bibliographical reference
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_(protopunk_band)]]> http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/brent76bowman/blog/death-was-born-and-raised-in-rock-city/ Tue, 12 Feb 2013 20:41:31 +0000 Brent Lee Bowman http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/brent76bowman/blog/through-the-astral-plain-leesburg-daze/
For the purpose of pe...]]>
For the purpose of personal context, Randy Rhoads died when I was nearing my sixth birthday; Star Wars, Tinker Toys and Hot Wheels were my main obsessions at this point. Music came along later and my first perceptions of Randy were, to say the least, distorted.

Ignorant to the existence and legacy of Black Sabbath, I learned of Randy through, obviously, the music of Ozzy Osbourne. And my first impression of Ozzy, right or wrong, was that of a devil worshipping lunatic who fed on live bats and birds. He could have arrived on earth in one of those huge starships that appeared in the popular NBC mini series 'V' around this time, which involved humanoid lizard aliens that loved fresh meat! And this was all before I had even heard a note from one of his songs.

A powerful memory of mine involves being in a Karma Records store in central Indiana and seeing the LP Diary of a Madman in the record racks: Ozzy looked like a long-haired ghoul, grinning maniacally with an inverted cross (I was brought up in the Assemblies of God Church, so this was particularly sinister to me) on the wall behind him; candle chandelier, cob-webbed shelves, an evil looking kid reading a book--

my instinct told me not to even look at it, let alone touch it or listen to it.

In study hall we had a cool teacher that would allow us metal heads to take a tv/vcr on-a-cart and roll it over to a corner of the classroom and watch vhs dubbed episodes of Headbanger's Ball with the volume set at an academic friendly level. I saw the video for Crazy Train, the one released to promote the Tribute album, and some of my pre-conceived notions of the music were burned away. Yes, Ozzy looked insane and he was wearing eye make-up and 80's teased hair. But the guitar playing, and the sound: what was that? I had never heard anything like it. I did not know it at that moment, but my world had just changed. It had grown and divided, and so many dreams had been transferred from the subconcious realm and articulated into reality. Life, for me, had just been enhanced.

Pictures of the guitarist and his polka-dotted Flying V kept floating all over the screen. And the sound!!! I was intrigued. That was junior high.

FACT CHECK: Randy died on the 19th of March, 1982, at the Flying Baron Estates, owned by Jerry Calhoun. Located just outside of Leesburg, Florida, the Estates served as a sort of depot for traveling musicians. The small plane that Randy was on clipped one of its wings on the bands tour bus, as a result of the pilot's wreckless flying, and the plane crashed into a house on the property. Randy was twenty-five years old.

Towards the end of my first year of high school, my family moved from Indiana to Florida and I, unaware at that point of its significance, began attending Leesburg High School in Lake County.

A rock station from Orlando, WDIZ, blasted Crazy Train, Flying High Again and I Don't Know in regular rotation. I began to lose my moral prejudice towards Ozzy, as well as lose myself in the music. And then, there was Over The Mountain. The first time I heard it, that was all she wrote. I was a disciple, and there was no turning back. From start to finish, it is the most bitchin' guitar playing ever. Both fast and heavy, a leonine juggernaut that is melodic to the core. And then there is the solo: I do not expect to ever hear anything better.




..




Bill and I met in Mister Taylor's math class. The first class of the day our sophmore year. He had with him the j-card to the new Metallica cassette, and was involved in discussing the lyrics to The God That Failed with another student. They were seated behind me, so somehow I entered the conversation and me and Billy became fast friends.

He related to me once about how Crazy Train was one of the first songs he learned to play on the guitar (Bill is an accomplished musician, composer and songwriter). At some point he got together with another player his age and showed him the 'new' song he had just written, playing the iconic riff to the kid.

"That sounds like Crazy Train," the suspicious dude exclaimed (smiley-face icon).

Bill loaned me the cassette Diary of a Madman. I took it home and had a religious experience listening to it for at least a week. Side One is over. Flip the tape. Tape stopped, Side Two is over. Flip the tape!

Another song that captivated me from the first listen was Tonight, an anthemic ballad showcasing melody and restraint throughout, with a wild free-flying solo over a lengthy fade out that you wish would never end.

Leesburg High was, at this time, a really cool place: the weather was nice, the vibe was laid-back and the people were interesting. Jim Morrison's father, Rear Admiral George Morrison, was a graduate and one of Mr. Mojo Risin's cousins, an attractive blond with an intellect to match, was my Earth/Space science teacher.

During these years Bill was the drummer for the metal band Fatal Portrait, a local five-piece beast that garnered a loyal following in the Central Florida region. Along with playing the drums, Bill was really an arranger/producer of sorts: a dude by the name of Dustin wrote most of the songs, and then he and Bill would work them out--

a young Hetfield and Ulrich! The originals were strong and Bill sang lead on two as well as a couple of covers, Breaking The Law and Paranoid.

Fatal Portrait would play parties out at the Funny Farm. This consisted of a mobile home on about half an acre out in the country. Two brothers who were working on becoming promoters of some sort lived there and would have parties on a regular basis with the cream of the local bands performing, such as Fatal Portrait and Mortem. One of the brothers showed me some photos, developed on standard photo paper that was used by any given developer in this age prior to digital cameras, pictures of Randy seated in a room playing a guitar. Whether it was acoustic or electric, well...my memory fails there. But they were photographed by a pro, there was no doubt about it. I inquired as to how he came to have these pictures and he got...weird...he had an acquaintence from California...he also morbidly alluded to someone stealing Randy's headstone and hiding it in their basement...who knows how true any of this was...though I did see the photos, and I wish I had copies of them.

Bill got his driver's license and when we learned the details of the hows and wheres of Randy's giving up the ghost, we dutifully drove out to the site which was located on the edge of town.

My junior year I sat in class behind a senior by the name of Calhoun. Realizing who he was, I began talking about Randy, how tragic his death was, et cetera.

"The real tragedy was what happened to my house. I had to live in a hotel for weeks!"

Okay, asshole.

(same person injured himself pretty good while driving Peter Gabriel's bus around Orlando about a year later...did he learn any empathy?)




..




The summer of 2011 I had the pleasure of reading Crazy Train: the High Life and Tragic Death of Randy Rhoads (ISBN 978-1-906002-37-4) by Joel McIver www.joelmciver.co.uk, published by Jawbone Press www.jawbonepress.com. McIver is a prolific metal journalist, having written biographies about some of the genre's greatest artists, including the excellent To Live Is To Die: the Life and Death of Metallica's Cliff Burton (ISBN 978-1-906002-24-4).

The books themselves are beautifully produced, works of art in their aesthetic appeal, featuring rich photography: they actually look good on the bookshelf! However, the real pay-off is in the author's writing. He delivers the goods (pun intended). You come away from one of his books with a clarity and insight that you will not find elsewhere in the world of rock journalism.

...and now...I am going to sacrifice some beers on the altar of metal in hopes that Mister McIver will write a biography of Dimebag Darrell.

CHEERS!!!

POST SCRIPT: Also see Off The Rails by Rudy Sarzo (ISBN 097-9-692-89-5) & the July 2011 issue of Guitar World.

selected discography

Quiet Riot:

The Randy Rhoads Years

Ozzy Osbourne:

Blizzard of Ozz

Diary of a Madman

Tribute]]> http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/brent76bowman/blog/through-the-astral-plain-leesburg-daze/ Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:41:12 +0000 Brent Lee Bowman http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/drumworks87/blog/happy-birtday-randy/ Happy Birtday Randy your still my alltime favorite guitar player in the universe!Thanks for the inspiration and I hope I get the chance you did somed... ]]> http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/drumworks87/blog/happy-birtday-randy/ Fri, 07 Dec 2012 05:15:35 +0000 drumworks87 http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/Jon-Holtz/blog/rr-instructional-videos-by-chelsea-constable/ The RR Network is proud to announce that guitar virtuoso Chelsea Constable will be coming aboard RandyRhoads.us soon with an all new instructional vid...
Also, look for Chelsea in next month's issue of Guitar World Magazine featuring Bray Amps.


]]> http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/Jon-Holtz/blog/rr-instructional-videos-by-chelsea-constable/ Tue, 25 Sep 2012 04:23:34 +0000 Jon Holtz http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/Jon-Holtz/blog/chelsea-constable-shredding-van-halen/ These Studio tracks drop jaws. Check out our Lead Guitar player Chelsea Constable shredding Van Halen with her BRAY 4550 Amp! A true Pro Monster Guita... http://davidbrayamps.com/chelseaconstable.mp3]]> http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/Jon-Holtz/blog/chelsea-constable-shredding-van-halen/ Wed, 19 Sep 2012 19:24:57 +0000 Jon Holtz http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/chris/blog/happy-birthday-randy/ Happy Birthday Randy. God Bless you and your entire family. You will always be my favorite guitarist of all time. I hope your blowing the roof off of ... Happy Birthday Randy. God Bless you and your entire family. You will always be my favorite guitarist of all time. I hope your blowing the roof off of Heaven; when I get up there, can I play guitar with you. God Bless and you remain forever. http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/chris/blog/happy-birthday-randy/ Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:10:58 +0000 christopher marquis http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/Jon-Holtz/blog/kuss-a-tribute-to-kiss-hit-the-recording-studio/ ]]> http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/Jon-Holtz/blog/kuss-a-tribute-to-kiss-hit-the-recording-studio/ Fri, 04 Nov 2011 08:56:00 +0000 Jon Holtz http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/spiderbutt3/blog/more-randy-rhoads-book-s/ http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/spiderbutt3/blog/more-randy-rhoads-book-s/ Fri, 04 Nov 2011 08:22:57 +0000 spiderbutt3 http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/spiderbutt3/blog/30-yr-s-after-the-blizzard-2/ Are the Osbourne's wa...]]> Are the Osbourne's waiting until Christmas to release the rest of it?
And what about the Entertainment tonight video? Why would'nt that be released? In Rudy's book, it read's. They recorded 4 song's, which would have been (if they played them in order) Over the Mountain, Mr. Crowley, Crazy Train & Revelation! That I would LOVE TO SEE!!!!!
Liked the tail solo on Tonight, but wish they would've stopped talking through it!
I guess in short, there will never be enough Randy video! Even when it is ALL OUT!]]> http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/spiderbutt3/blog/30-yr-s-after-the-blizzard-2/ Mon, 29 Aug 2011 05:12:15 +0000 spiderbutt3 http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/spiderbutt3/blog/30-yr-s-after-the-blizzard/ http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/spiderbutt3/blog/30-yr-s-after-the-blizzard/ Tue, 23 Aug 2011 03:56:36 +0000 spiderbutt3 http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/Jon-Holtz/blog/live-interview-on-american-perspective-radio-w-judyth-piazza/ American Perspective Radio in Orlando, FL Representing THE JACK - America's Most S...]]> American Perspective Radio in Orlando, FL Representing THE JACK - America's Most Stark & Electrifying Tribute To AC/DC. Judyth has a Super Sexy voice. Click the Link and check it out RandyRhoads.us gets a BIG plug as well as our very own RR Network Director Of Communications Dr. Frederick J. Scavone aka/DOC & our New Assistant Administrator Mr. Keith Johnson.

Special Thanks To Keith Johnson For Making This Possible.]]> http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/Jon-Holtz/blog/live-interview-on-american-perspective-radio-w-judyth-piazza/ Tue, 23 Aug 2011 03:09:55 +0000 Jon Holtz http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/MeeTew/blog/personal-photos-08-02/ related photos, but I'd really appreciate some input.

One really super bright, sunny summer ...]]> related photos, but I'd really appreciate some input.

One really super bright, sunny summer afternoon- my sister tried to snatch a shot of my niece thru a doorway in my front hall/entrance- instead of a shot of a playful young toddler, she got this dark and murky reddish black thing. Even initially, she and I agreed upon what we (thought we may have) seen, however, after throwing it on the PC and playing with various settings- there was a whole lot more that came out. I'm sharing these shots in hopes that others could please tell me what they think, that perhaps some verification could be established and I can rest a little easier.

It's rather obvious that there is a whole lot more in the right half of the photo, than the left- and the only thing that I want to put out there (thus far) is that the reddish light on the right side resembles a "wing" that was witnessed by a paranormal crew that I had investigate the house.


Thank you for reading this, and if you have the time, please check out the photos and let me know what you think of them. There is a lot going on in there from everything from letters to skulls, it's absolutely the craziest thing that I could have conjured for a photo, when it was supposed to be an adorable young girl with a puppy in an area bathed in light at noon. Feel free to DL them and blow them up and readjust the settings to get clearer angles for stuff you think is or isn't there.

Or not, it's all good

Have a good one, everyone God bless Randy- I think daily of what could've been for him, and what he left us in the very short time he was here. Randy's work has carried me through some pretty tough stuff, like when I lived in the house this picture was taken.]]> http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/MeeTew/blog/personal-photos-08-02/ Thu, 04 Aug 2011 07:22:42 +0000 Billie Jo http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/BoogieMan/blog/the-jack-show-for-sept-17th/ http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/BoogieMan/blog/the-jack-show-for-sept-17th/ Wed, 03 Aug 2011 01:05:46 +0000 Keith Johnson http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/Jon-Holtz/blog/the-jack-live-w-dvd-release-party/ The JACK will perform Live In Concert Saturday Night, September 17th @ VFW Post 1990 in GreenEvil, TN with Special Guest Dietra Greene as opening supp...]]> The JACK will perform Live In Concert Saturday Night, September 17th @ VFW Post 1990 in GreenEvil, TN with Special Guest Dietra Greene as opening support. 25% of the Ticket proceeds from this event benefit the RandyRhoads.us website.


Come Rock Out to some Authentic HIGH VOLTAGE ROCK -N- ROLL & join in the Celebration of the release of The JACK's New Live Performance HD DVD. Party with America's most Stark & Electrifying BON SCOTT era AC/DC Tribute Act & 101.5-WQUT's midday baby-doll Jeri George w/ Special VIP Reserved Tables. *VIP Tables are $50.00 & include seating up to 6, with up to 6 FREE Copies of The JACK's new Live DVD signed by each member of the Band. VIP's also receive Special Meet & Greet prime seating arrangements alongside The JACK & Jeri George during all Pre-Show & Post-Show festivities. Plus, an Ice Cold bottle of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin premium Champagne on every VIP Table for celebration time.

Live Remote Broadcast via 101.5FM WQUT Roadhouse w/ Jeri George. 101.5-WQUT Tri-Cities Classic Rock!

Tickets Are Not Included In The Cost Of VIP Packages. Tickets SOLD Separately*

Tables & Seating are Limited, but VIP Reservations are not a requirement to gain access into the event.
Tickets are $10.00 Advance & $15.00 day of show.
Doors Open @ 9:00pm EST

Address:
70 Harlan St
Greeneville, TN 37745
Phone: (423) 638-4201

Join The JACK's Official Fan Club Mailing List & Get Plugged In!]]> http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/Jon-Holtz/blog/the-jack-live-w-dvd-release-party/ Fri, 29 Jul 2011 07:12:41 +0000 Jon Holtz http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/BoogieMan/blog/grace-in-metal-rock-blog/ Hello Everyone! My name is Keith Johnson and I am here to help Jon Holtz with some Admin tasks at Randy Rhoads Dot US. Randy Rhoads was a legendary an... http://randyrhoads.us/index.php?do=/BoogieMan/blog/grace-in-metal-rock-blog/ Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:54:14 +0000 Keith Johnson