Why was Randy Rhoads' tone so crap?

[Mr. Willy]

Why is there so little live footage of Randy out there? The only footage that’s of decent production value was for that tv show. Why is there no really good footage of Randy live?

 

[Beyond Black]

The terrible re-recordings weren't to screw Bob and Lee out of royalties as they don't get performance royalties anyway (which is what all the lawsuits have been about). It was just a big middle finger to them from Sharon. Bob still gets writing royalties from both Blizzard and Diary and has from day 1 (again it is the performance royalties he doesn't get)

I don't believe this is correct. I was told by a very well-known musician who once worked with Ozzy and Sharon, that Bob and Lee were getting performance royalties. When the songs were re-recorded, those royalties stopped... hence, the lawsuit. Bob continued to receive writing royalties, as he was the chief lyricist.

This is also what I read in Bob Daisley’s book, For Facts Sake.” They we’re receiving performance royalties. Either way, it’s a despicable thing to do. Especially when you consider how sacred and monumental those first two Ozzy albums were. To tamper with that legacy and tarnish the only two albums that Rhoads played on like that? Out of greed and spite? Disgusting....

 

[311splawndude]

To tamper with that legacy and tarnish the only two albums that Rhoads played on like that? Out of greed and spite? Disgusting....

Totally agreed

 

[sytharnia1560]

The terrible re-recordings weren't to screw Bob and Lee out of royalties as they don't get performance royalties anyway (which is what all the lawsuits have been about). It was just a big middle finger to them from Sharon. Bob still gets writing royalties from both Blizzard and Diary and has from day 1 (again it is the performance royalties he doesn't get)

I don't believe this is correct. I was told by a very well-known musician who once worked with Ozzy and Sharon, that Bob and Lee were getting performance royalties. When the songs were re-recorded, those royalties stopped... hence, the lawsuit. Bob continued to receive writing royalties, as he was the chief lyricist.

Actually I think that may be correct. The first lawsuit was for unpaid royalties so yeah maybe they were getting some payments but not the amount they were meant to

 

[sytharnia1560]

Why is there so little live footage of Randy out there? The only footage that’s of decent production value was for that tv show. Why is there no really good footage of Randy live?

Kathy (randys sister) has confirmed she has new footage and they are trying to figure out how to release it ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA3AgzCmXcI around 14mins). I think the After Hours stuff is great. Nice up close footage of Randy...no his tone isn't great on it but I think it captures the "it" factor Randy had. In terms of other pro shot stuff who knows what the financial health of the organisation was back then and where any $$ they were making went. I'm picking the record deal they had was so bad at the time there probably wasn't much interesting in doing a pro shot concert

 

[GreatRedDragon]

Why is there so little live footage of Randy out there? The only footage that’s of decent production value was for that tv show. Why is there no really good footage of Randy live?

Three months after Randy's death they filmed a show that became the Speak of the Devil MTV broadcast.

I have to think that this was planned prior to Randy's death and we just missed out on a complete pro-shot Randy Rhoads show by inches.

 

[Goat]

One of three possibilities exist:

1. A commisioned heist via an individual interest, possibly foreign. Anyone with two brain cells knows such items are not sellable on the open market.
2. A staged event, in an effort to bring attention to the Randy Rhoads legacy. i.e. Bolster RR related product sales.
3. A random robbery. Given that specific items were targeted, this is unlikely.

Just a hunch, but, I think we'll see the missing items returned via an anonymous source.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

At least we have some bootlegs now and various audio performances now but I agree.. would have loved some clear footage of him on stage with that killer backdrop and stage props they had. The steps up to drums are classic. I think for any clear footage, you only have the after hours stuff or the QR stuff. He was a natural on stage though that's for sure. It does look like they had some promo footage shot but who knows how much of it they had on tape. You would think if they could milk it for the $, they would have.

 

[controlled_voltage]

you never know
some footage may turn up found in a vault somewhere like that van halen footage from 1979 that surfaced

 

[Goat]

Three fellow guitarists who I use to hang with ran into Randy and Rudy the day of the "Blizzard" Tampa show. Brian thought they were gay; due to the fact that they were both wearing an earing in the right ear. When the band took the stage, they immediately recognized them. It's a more involved tale, but that's basically what happened.

 

[LP Freak]

Cool

 

[Goat]

Cool

Randy and Rudy were walking in downtown Tampa, where they were spotted by Frank, Brian, and Kevin. Coming up from behind, they were so small that they thought these were girls, which is why they were looking at them. When Rudy and Randy noticed that they were being eyed, they both dropped their heads. Brain asked Frank and Kevin; "Hey, doesn't wearing an earing in your right ear mean your gay?" And so with his big New York mouth... Brain yells; "F**king fa**ots!" A decision he would regret later that evening... but, that's the way things were back then.

 

[BigGuitars]

What is wrong with Randy’s tone? I think it sounds pretty fucking badass personally. I seriously think this is just one of those things where somebody said this once years ago, and somehow it got into everybody’s heads, and people keep repeating it, but there’s no basis for it. Randy’s got epic tone!

 

[Goat]

...I seriously think this is just one of those things where somebody said this once years ago, and somehow it got into everybody’s heads, and people keep repeating it, but there’s no basis for it.

See: Lemming Effect.

 

[Mr. Willy]

Been listening to a lot of the live bootlegs of Randy floating around. You can tell he had a massive sound. I’ve got a question for anyone who might know. On the live stuff when the songs went to the lighter parts, you can tell he’s backing way off the volume (I’m guessing it’s the volume pedal), and it’s obvious he’s kicking on a modulation effect. Is he turning on the flanger during those softer parts? Sounds like the chorus is on all the time.

 

[phil b]

Been listening to a lot of the live bootlegs of Randy floating around. You can tell he had a massive sound. I’ve got a question for anyone who might know. On the live stuff when the songs went to the lighter parts, you can tell he’s backing way off the volume (I’m guessing it’s the volume pedal), and it’s obvious he’s kicking on a modulation effect. Is he turning on the flanger during those softer parts? Sounds like the chorus is on all the time.

Yep.. Studio is double tracked which has a slight modulation thing going on and for live to thicken things up He used a Chorus which was on almost all the time.

 

[Mr. Willy]

Been listening to a lot of the live bootlegs of Randy floating around. You can tell he had a massive sound. I’ve got a question for anyone who might know. On the live stuff when the songs went to the lighter parts, you can tell he’s backing way off the volume (I’m guessing it’s the volume pedal), and it’s obvious he’s kicking on a modulation effect. Is he turning on the flanger during those softer parts? Sounds like the chorus is on all the time.

Yep.. Studio is double tracked which has a slight modulation thing going on and for live to thicken things up He used a Chorus which was on almost all the time.

But what about the softer parts? He kicks on some kind of modulation during the soft parts. I think it’s the flanger.

 

[phil b]

Been listening to a lot of the live bootlegs of Randy floating around. You can tell he had a massive sound. I’ve got a question for anyone who might know. On the live stuff when the songs went to the lighter parts, you can tell he’s backing way off the volume (I’m guessing it’s the volume pedal), and it’s obvious he’s kicking on a modulation effect. Is he turning on the flanger during those softer parts? Sounds like the chorus is on all the time.

Yep.. Studio is double tracked which has a slight modulation thing going on and for live to thicken things up He used a Chorus which was on almost all the time.

But what about the softer parts? He kicks on some kind of modulation during the soft parts. I think it’s the flanger.

Whoops.. forgot that. Yes, you are correct, according to Kelli some many years ago.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Holy chit mang. What year is it? But Blizzard Of Oz still sounds like it was recorded by a newbie in Mom's basement. I'd still like to know how the first Boston record sounds sooo incredible even after all these years?

 

[Goat]

Holy chit mang. What year is it? But Blizzard Of Oz still sounds like it was recorded by a newbie in Mom's basement. I'd still like to know how the first Boston record sounds sooo incredible even after all these years?

I suspect the project was rushed to some extent. I plan on re-record the Blizzard album (via CD) using my SuperScope PSD300, so that I can pitch the entire recording down 1/2 step. If you don't have a SuperScope, pick one up. It's a very useful production tool, and a lot of fun. Though I have not tried this, you can improve the quality of OEM recordings by re-recording at a slower speed. Same concept as the old "Master Recording" albums.

IMO, Pink Floyd DSOTM is best produced album ever. Boston comes in at #2. Don't know what happened on Don't Look Back?