Randy Rhoads

Birth Name:

Randy Rhoads

Birth Date:

December 6, 1956

Birth Place:

Santa Monica, California

Death Date:

March 19, 1982

Place of Death:

31017 Airway Road, Leesburg, Florida

Age:

Cause of Death:

Blunt force trauma (airplane crash)

Cemetery Name:

Mountain View Cemetery

Claim to Fame:

Music

Randy Rhoads was an American guitarist and co-founder and original guitarist of the heavy metal band Quiet Riot. When Quiet Riot continued to struggle with marginal success, the young musician tried out for Ozzy and became the guitarist and co-songwriter for Ozzy Osbourne's first two solo albums - Blizzard of Ozz (1980) and Diary of a Madman (1981). His life was cut short in a stupid and completely avoidable plane crash as the second tour of the group was just getting started. Rhoads was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. He also placed 36th on Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Guitarists. He placed fourth on Guitar World Magazine's 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists and 26th in Guitar World's 50 Fastest Guitarists list.

That Fateful Day …

The life of guitarist Randy Rhoads ended in a tragic aviation accident on March 19, 1982, while he was touring with Ozzy Osbourne’s band. During a stop at a property in Leesburg, Florida, the tour bus driver, Andrew Aycock, took a small plane without proper clearance and began flying low “buzzing” passes over the band’s tour bus as a prank. On the third pass, the plane’s wing clipped the bus, causing the aircraft to crash into a nearby house and burst into flames. Rhoads, Aycock, and costume designer Rachel Youngblood were killed instantly. Members of the band, including Osbourne, witnessed the crash from the ground. Rhoads was only 25 years old, and his death abruptly ended the career of one of rock’s most influential guitarists.

Whether a sick joke or something else, cocaine addled pilot Andrew Aycock, who took the lives of two other individuals when he crashed the plane has an airplane carved prominently on his tombstone.

Rhoads’ talent was not always met with such praise during his lifetime. Fellow guitarist Eddie Van Halen was dismissive of Rhoads’ playing, saying in 1982 “Everything he did he learned from me” and “I don’t really think he did anything that I haven’t done.” J. D. Considine of Rolling Stone Magazine was critical of his playing, referring to Rhoads in his review of Diary Of A Madman as “a junior-league Eddie Van Halen – bustling with chops but somewhat short on imagination”. In hindsight we now know that both individuals are, at a personal level, self-absorbed knobs.

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

Mountain View Cemetery

570 E Highland Avenue

San Bernardino, California, 92404

USA

North America

Map:

Mountain View Cemetery in San Bernadino, California

Grave Location:

Rhoads Family Mausoleum

Grave Location Description

As you enter through the main gates at Highland Avenue and Waterman, drive straight ahead 100 feet and look to your left for the large mausoleum that is now home to guitar legend Randy Rhoads.

Grave Location GPS

34.136734, -117.276215

Visiting The Grave:

Photos:

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FAQ's

Randy Rhoads was born on December 6, 1956.

Randy Rhoads was born in Santa Monica, California.

Randy Rhoads died on March 19, 1982.

Randy Rhoads died in 31017 Airway Road, Leesburg, Florida.

Randy Rhoads was 25.

The cause of death was Blunt force trauma (airplane crash).

Randy Rhoads's grave is in Mountain View Cemetery

Videos Featuring Randy Rhoads:

Randy Rhoads: Reflections of a Guitar Icon | Full Documentary

Randy Rhoads auditions for Ozzy Osbourne

Watch YouTube video titled Ozzy Osbourne Hears Isolated

Ozzy Osbourne Hears Isolated "Crazy Train" Guitar Solo For The First Time In 36 Years

Crazy Train Live in 1981

Randy Rhoads Tragic Plane Crash Death Site Leesburg, FL

Randy Rhoads Crash March 19, 1982

Randy Rhoads Interview

Mr. Crowley 1981 (Live Video)

Watch YouTube video titled The Secret Life of Randy Rhoads: A Simple Life Behind a Guitar Legend

Randy Rhoads