...

Of A Madman on Jet Records. Ozzy auditioned Randy in Los Angeles, when he was a regular on the local scene and now, only 1 year later, Randy is the winner of 2 best new guitarist awards. One from Guitar Player, a Bay area magazine distributed throughout the world, and a 2nd from Sounds in England. Filling out the group is Tommy Aldridge, most recently from the Pat Travers band, on drums and Rudy Sarzo on bass. This band has truly captured the musical ears of the world, to the tune of double platinum on the first LP, Blizzard Of Ozz. I caught up with Randy the day of the show, a 4:00 pm soundcheck at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. This was the first show on the brand new tour. The crew was busy setting up the enormous gothic stage and all the special effects. In between the ceremony backstage with Guitar Player, presenting Randy with his Best New Guitarist award, and everybody getting dressed for the show that night, I was able to sit down with Randy and later with Ozzy. The excitement and pre-show tension was almost overpowering. But isnt that what its all about? (Begin Interview) Interviewer: The first night here, are you a little nervous? Randy: Well, Im not so nervous, its just theres so much going on and its like.. theres not enough time to do anything, Im afraid. Int: Opening night comes real quick. Randy: Yeah, it does and its likethe word is out. Im not confident about everything yet. I havnt had time to sort everything out. Since Ive started this, great things havnt stopped happening. I mean, it gets to the point where you dont know how to handle any good news anymore. Everything is great and. .ya know. When you dream of things, you dont even dream of those, you just dream of being in a band and getting the chance to do it, let alone, like the records and the awards. Int: Is this pretty close to the dream, being with Ozzy and starting out with this magnificent stage? Randy: Well, I think this is beyond it, because, I mean, Im really lucky to jump from a local band to headlining, like this big, ya know. Int: Yeah, but I dont think that even Ozzy realized what was gonna happen, I mean, were in a depressed situation here Randy: Yeah, right.. Int: And to come out with an album2 million copies. Randy: No, he didnt really, I mean, when we got together, it was just like, well just knock it out and see what happens. Int: Well go for it, well see what happens, well take our chances. Randy: Thats right and, uh, I think he was really shocked as well. We go in the studio, we just sort of all do our own thing. Like, Ozzy does his vocals how he wants and I go in the control room and do my guitars how I want. I mean, he is not there really, and ya know, we sort of put it together that way in the studio. Like, we come in with a vague idea of what we want, but it all comes to life in the studio. Its not like we have it down beforehand. We wrote both the albums, like, in the country and we had a house, bit of atmosphere. And I think its great, cause no distractions and just nice environment gives you a clean head. Int: Tommy Aldridge Randy: Oh, hes great. Int: Isnt it fun working with him? Randy: Oh, he was always my favorite drummer. Int: Was he? Randy: Oh, I saw him years ago on television when he was with Black Oak Arkansas. Int: Youre kidding? Randy: Knocked out. (Not included in the audio) Int: This has indeed been a big year for Randy. But with the success of the latest album, coupled with the awards for his playing, have not gone to his head. Hes still a practitioner of his craft and he spends long hours honing his skills. Well return with Ozzy. Int: I loved that story that, that you told about when you first saw Randy, that uhhh, what a wimpy looking thing, and then he played his guitar and you changed your mind. Ozzy Osbourne: Oh, hes just. .its the best, its the best. I always said, right from the first time I ever heard him play, that one day he will be one of the rock and roll players in history. Ya know? It will be like, a, it will be a historical name in rock and roll. Int: Its happened to him real fast. Ozzy Osbourne: It will happen to him. Itll get, itll.. hes one of the best players in the world(the world). .(the world). .(the world). .(the world)..