Was/Is Randy Rhoads overrated???!!!

[sully]

There was something about Randy's playing that set him apart from many of the lead guitarists at that time. I can't quite put my finger on what it was but I can assure you that he was the absolute talk of the metal town when those 2 albums were released.

i think it's that he played with class, if that makes any sense.

[sully]

I think we need to "De-Eddie" this thread!

heh. this and many others.

[pro-fusion]

i think it's that he played with class, if that makes any sense.

Makes sense to me. His background in music theory showed through, especially on the Diary album. Those songs, and his solos, are constructed so tightly and brilliantly, that it's impossible to imagine them any other way. Blizzard, on the other hand, never seemed quite as 'together' to me, though perhaps with a proper recording budget and a decent producer it might have turned out better.

[Shawn Lutz]

I don't think Randy Rhoads is overrated at all. Yes you had Uli and MS but ya know what, if a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it does it matter ? Randy had the complete package, pretty well written, killer songs that are still relevant today, not just crappy, poorly arranged songs a with cool solo or 2. How many of "our" type of guitar players will have their music played at an NHL, NBA or NFL game (and God knows what else) 24 years after they pass? Randy was only with us for 2 albums, one of which a rush job and unfinished before it was released. The guy didn’t even grow into his own skin yet. To achieve that kind of status, so young you could debate whether he is underrated. I think his double and triple tracking of solos are impressive and I don’t recall hearing other people doing that at the time.

In terms of guitar playing goes and techniques of today then you could say sure, he’s overrated but ask yourself if he was still alive and had the 20 some additional years to gel what would be be like. Blizzard and Diary have guitar parts that are still interesting to my ears and would listen to them over any Rusty Drooley kind of player any day.

[sully]

+1 bajillion x infinity.

[HeWhoIs]

Well said Shawn!!!!!

[dtt001]

I will go in the "he was underrated" camp here by virtue of his untimely passage. It is sad that the saying the good die young sometimes is true. That said clearly he would have gone on to produce great guitar work whether as a player or instructor. I will also say that it has been inclusion on this very board and the general high regard in which he his held around here that caused me to re-purchase Ozzy's tribute album. I still prefer that version of Paranoid to the original and I truly enjoy his solo work on that song.

[z1n]

We might not be on this forum debating a legend if Randy didnt design the V. from my understanding Jackson put his name on Randys V because Charvel didnt want to endorse Rhoads thus creating the first jackson guitar which eventually started JCF. Maybe CFonline?

[horns666]

No Randy was NOT overated..someone who inspred so many players that became monsters themselves..

It's immpossible to have that kind of energy and influence to be called "overrated"..

He is immortal..he's been gone for a long long time..and we will be talking about him for a much longer time..that means something!

[horns666]

I was thinking..well I guess Adolph Hitler is also Immortal that had a lot of power and influence..

so sometimes that's not always a good thing...depending on who's side your on..

[horns666]

I liked Shawns' post too..but that whole ..if a tree falls in the forest and noboby hears it thing...has holes in it..

because yes it was heard, the people that were in the know heard it..It's been my observation that muscians in general don't rely on the media and mainstream for their inspiration..meaning guys like us and the more well knowns such as Friedman, VH, YJM and such has heard that tree fall..and they really liked what they heard and they took it and ran with it..making it their own..then passed that inspration onto us..

so did it make a sound..yes it did!

[RacerX]

Somebody's high again!

[dg]

It's all about the context. 24 years later after so many shredders have come & gone, we can look back & think maybe he was overrated. Hearing him in his own time... forget it! I remember riding the bus home from school & the driver always had a good radio station playing. Lots of VH, Priest, etc. When Blizzard & Diary came out, I remember everybody arguing about whether Randy was better than Eddie. I mean everybody. Jocks, stoners, cheerleaders, geeks. Everybody. Do you think any highschool cheerleader nowadays can name any current guitarist with talent? That was a golden age, & RR was one of the kings!

[jgcable]

Its all about staying power.... whether a player is alive or dead. Randy is not dead. He's just not making any new music. What he did leave us with is masterful. His playing style, his guitars and his influence on millions of fans and musicians lives on. When he was killed he joined a relatively small group of musicians that will continue to inspire us all to be better musicians ourselves.

[Joe_Steeler]

Lots of good points here.
My thought has been that RR was an amazing talent unfortunately cut short. I have always believed that his presence was overblown by the writers and hardcore Ozzy fans on the fact of "What would have been if he was still alive" thing.
The bottom line is that he had and amazing talent only JUST only displayed for the world in two albums. He had a questionable tone, but shit!! he did not have time to develop it and grow.
The guy did and left his legacy after only two albums. Other guitar gods have worked over repertoires like Hendrix after years of recording etc.

RR only gave us a glimpse of his stuff over what? 20 songs? His loss was a shock to us all that love guitar playing. He blended classical aspects into heavy rock guitar before Yngwie had his first donut and he shreded like none did before him.
Nobody is perfect, neither was he. But we will be left wondering forever what would have been if he had the chance to play 20+ years and recored dozens of albums.