RUDY SARZO: 'RANDY RHOADS Was An Amazing Musician, Teacher, Musician, Friend'

Deb Rao of Glam-Metal.com recently conducted an interview with legendary hard rock/heavy metal bassist Rudy Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, OZZY OSBOURNE, DIO, WHITESNAKE). An excerpt from the chat follows:

Glam-Metal.com: Tell me what inspired you to write your [book, "Off the Rails"]?

Sarzo: In the 25 years since Randy's passing, I've had numerous fans around the world ask me what it was like to play with Randy. Every time I would briefly share my memories with the fans, I always walked away feeling that I hadn't said enough. There is so much more to say about Randy. So I figured, I would write everything that I know, all of my memoirs and all of the information that I have regarding Randy and me put it into a book form, so I won't feel that I left anything out. I felt I could not pay Randy homage in a five-minute conversation. It is all there.

Glam-Metal.com: How do you remember Randy Rhoads? Would you like to share your thoughts and memories with us about Randy?

Sarzo: Randy Rhoads was an amazing musician, teacher, musician, friend, performer and composer. Also, Randy was responsible for getting me in Ozzy's band and for keeping the plane from crashing into our tour bus and saving the lives of us who were sleep in the bus. So you see, the book is my way of me saying "Thanks, Randy."

Glam-Metal.com: March 19, 2007 marked the 25th anniversary of the tragic death of Randy Rhoads. As a musician, how have you seen the Randy Rhoads legacy live on?

Sarzo: Randy's legacy is still growing. Almost every day, I get messages on MySpace from young fans who have discovered him through their parents' CD collection. Most of the guitar players of today, have been influenced by '80s guitar players. I can probaly say, I was influenced a lot from the '70s guitar players such as Hendrix. Randy had a unique sound.

Glam-Metal.com: Actually, you were the only person to perform with Randy in both QUIET RIOT and OZZY. It must have been a true honor for you.

Sarzo: I was blessed. It gave me the opportunity to see the two sides of Randy's guitar playing. There was the Randy with QUIET RIOT, and the Randy with OZZY. The Randy with QUIET RIOT had a lot of restrictions that were set by what the industry in Los Angeles was all about. Let's face it: QUIET RIOT was a band that was looking for a record deal. So we were pretty much at the mercy of what the industry was dictating. The last metal band to get signed out of the '70s was VAN HALEN. Right after that, they shut the door.

Read the entire interview at Glam-Metal.com.