Following on from my post about Metallica’s Orion, here’s another instrumental that’s a showcase for a much-missed legend. Dee is a brief classical guitar piece that was written and performed by guitarist Randy Rhoads for Ozzy Osbourne’s 1980 album Blizzard Of Ozz. I can’t say that, in isolation, I find Dee particularly involving or moving. But the piece (written for the guitarist’s Mum, aww) is sensitive and pretty. Not words commonly associated with Ozzy Osbourne. And in the context of the full album it strengthens the overall musicality, variety and guitar hero-ness of a hugely enjoyable record. Countless aspiring guitarists (myself included) have tried to learn Dee and I’m sure they’ll continue to do so. That’s quite an impact for a 50 second interlude. His Mum must have been delighted beyond words.
Was just listening to a live QR version of it this morning!
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I couldn’t get into the QR stuff with him.
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The Randy Rhoads Years is much better than either of the two studio albums, albeit messed about with.
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That’s the one I had. Years ago. Must’ve sold it I guess.
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It’s OK. Much better than the studio albums. Filler, though…
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It definitely had it’s moments. Back then I was really ruthless with getting rid of stuff.
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I could use some ruthless. I have three Motorhead 2 CD remasters I have owned 18 years and never played.
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It’s amazing all the loud bombastic riffs and there’s a chill piece of a classical interlude before they kick back into Suicide Solution! You’re right his Mum was proud plus if anything Rhoad’s was smart to put this on the debut as if he had lived and had stuck say a classical piece on album number four(instead of the debut) people would have been going whats he doing. I think he had a plan that unfortunately got snuffed out by that clown flying the plane…
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It’s true. Randy planned on going back to school to study classical. He could have changed the world…
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Piece of piss to play that, you should hear my kazoo version of it Scott.
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Impressive. I heard you can do Eruption with armpit farts too?
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I used to be able to, I’m a bit out practice these days. I always used to encore my kazoo gigs with ‘Phantom of the opera’, that one sorts the men from the boys kazoo-wise.
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When I hear his stuff, I wonder what could’ve been. Such a talent gone way too soon.
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Yeah it’s tragic he never got the chance to develop.
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Well said. Like you I was another guitarist who sat down and learnt Dee.
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Yeah I learnt it from the Tribute tab book. Haven’t played it in decades!
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That’s exactly my story as well.
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