Caught news of this a few days ago, and realized I forgot to post it, so here I am. There’s a Randy Rhoads tribute CD coming out next month, and it looks to be interesting. It doesn’t have Zakk Wylde on it, which is a little bit of a surprise, but overall, I like the choice of musicians. Check out the details and press release:
For Immediate Release
January 12, 2015
Announcing “Immortal RANDY RHOADS – The Ultimate Tribute”
A Celebratory Album Feat. All-Star Guests SERJ TANKIAN, TOM MORELLO and More
Out March 3, 2015 via UDR Music
The Late Legendary Guitar Hero Memorialized in Sensational Cover Tracks
Featuring an All-Star Line-Up of Music Greats:
TOM MORELLO
SERJ TANKIAN
RUDY SARZO
FRANKIE BANALI
VINNY APPICE
TIM “RIPPER” OWENS
CHUCK BILLY
ALEXI LAIHO
GEORGE LYNCH
GUS G.
BRUCE KULICK
DOUG ALDRICH
DWEEZIL ZAPPA
BERNIE TORME
JON DONAIS
BRAD GILLIS
… and More
Album Includes Bonus DVD w/ Artist and Producer Interviews and More!
One of the most venerated guitarists ever to grace hard rock music, the late, great Randy Rhoads (heralded as the legendary lead guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot) will be celebrated in the truest of fashions with the release of Immortal Randy Rhoads – The Ultimate Tribute on March 3, 2015 via UDR Music.
A collection of 11 classic Rhoads co-written songs, Immortal Randy Rhoads – The Ultimate Tribute is performed by twenty top contemporary artists, including old friends and performing partners Rudy Sarzo and Frankie Banali, his brother Kelle Rhoads and more designated musicians like Serj Tankian, Tom Morello, Vinny Appice, Tim “Ripper” Owens, Chuck Billy, Alexi Laiho, George Lynch, Gus G., Bruce Kulick, Doug Aldrich, Dweezil Zappa and others.
The album was produced and compiled by the Grammy-award winning guitarist and producer Bob Kulick at his own studio.
Along with the album, Immortal Randy Rhoads – The Ultimate Tribute will also contain a bonus DVD available in the digipack version, including interesting interviews with some of the involved artists, hosted by Bob Kulick and a feature on the Musonia School of Music, a teaching school on North Hollywood, California, set up by Randy’s mother and run by his brother Kelle Rhoads.
Immortal Randy Rhoads – The Ultimate Tribute will also be available in double vinyl gatefold and digital formats.
Full track listing with performers:
1. Crazy Train
Vocals: Serj Tankian
Gtrs: Tom Morello
Bass: Rudy Sarzo
Drums: Vinny Appice
2. Over the Mountain
Vocals: Tim “Ripper” Owens
Gtrs: Jon Donais
Bass: Rudy Sarzo
Drums: Frankie Banali
3. Mr Crowley
Vocals: Chuck Billy
Gtrs: Alexi Laiho
Keyboards: Kelle Rhoads
Bass Rudy: Rudy Sarzo
Drums: Vinny Appice
4. Believer
Vocals: Tim “Ripper” Owens
Gtrs: Doug Aldrich
Bass: Rudy Sarzo
Drums: Vinny Appice
5. Back To The Coast (Quiet Riot)
Vocals: Kelle Rhoads
Gtrs: Bruce Kulick
Bass: Rudy Sarzo
Drums: Frankie Banali
6. I Don’t Know
Vocals: Tim “Ripper” Owens
Gtrs: George Lynch
Bass: Rudy Sarzo
Drums: Brett Chassen
7. S A T 0
Vocals: Tim “Ripper” Owens
Rhythm guitars: Bob Kulick
Lead guitar: Dweezil Zappa
Bass: Rudy Sarzo
Drums: Vinny Appice
8. Killer Girls (Quiet Riot)
Vocals: Tim “Ripper” Owens
Gtrs: Joel Hoekstra
Bass: Rudy Sarzo
Drums: Brett Chassen
9. Goodbye to Romance
Vocals: Tim “Ripper” Owens
Gtrs: Gus G.
Bass: Rudy Sarzo
Drums: Brett Chassen
10. Suicide Solution
Vocals: Tim “Ripper” Owens
Gtrs: Brad Gillis
Bass: Rudy Sarzo
Drums: Brett Chassen
11. Flying High Again
Vocals: Tim “Ripper” Owens
Gtrs: Bernie Torme
Bass: Rudy Sarzo
Drums: Brett Chassen
A lover of classical music, Rhoads had taken initial steps into rock’n’roll as a 16 year old when he formed a band, that soon became Quiet Riot. Rhoads was vaulted to the limelight in 1979 when Ozzy Osbourne chose the relatively unknown guitarist to help shape a new future for him via his band, Blizzard of Oz. The result saw Rhoads co-script two of the most famous albums in hard rock history, Blizzard Of Oz and Diary of A Madman, and rapidly ascended the stairway of fame and recognition for his virtuoso playing and writing. Famed for the way he fused classical flavors with technically-excellent hard rock, Rhoads became one of the most influential lead guitarists in rock.
When he tragically passed away on March 19, 1982 in a plane accident, Rhoads was only 25 years old, but thankfully, the legend of his work, ethos and their continuing influence on a whole new generation of guitarists, has never dimmed.
Celebrate the life and legend of Randy Rhoads with Immortal Randy Rhoads – The Ultimate Tribute!
The Ultimate Tribute – ha ha, that would have been if Ozzy were included.
I think this project appears without any influence of greedy Mrs. Osbourne so Ozzy is absent on this disc.
And by the way, if Randy not have passed away no one knows if he would have survived the tremendous madness to come the following years in the Osbourne Camp, Band or whatever.
If you want Randy – listen to the original albums!
Rhoads wanted to get out of the madness that was Osbourne! That makes his death even more tragic than it already was! He was simply too good for that ‘metal’ scene! That is a fact & a damn shame for him, his family & any ‘fans’ who appreciate quality musicianship!! I’ll go as far as saying what I have always thought, the Osbourne circus killed Rhoads, with it’s utter crap partying, hedonism & stupidity! But as some would say, ‘that’s rock ‘n roll’! RIP Randy Rhoads, never forgotten!
I’m surprised it took this long to do a tribute album. Maybe copyright issues? Maybe Zakk wasn’t asked or he turned it down. He did play most of these songs for twenty plus years remember.
I’ve watched the promo clip, I must say on first hearing the best part of this is the excellent vocals by Tim Owens! I have always enjoyed his classic metal voice and he sounds like a dead ringer for Ozzy on this promo clip. He did a superb job in Judas Priest (although the current material then was not brilliant), and his performance on Priests Live in London is excellent, note and scream perfect. I may buy this album simply for Owens voice! Of course no one else can really imitate the late great Randy Rhoades but the clips do sound impressive. Good to see Bernie Torme and Brad Gillis included too, as they kept the show rolling after Randys death.
Good thing to do.Love Randy Rhoads.He was good at what he did.I have nothing bad to say of him.It was shocking he didn’t like the music of Sabbath though.He did help prove to the world Ozzy could do it again on those first 2 albums.We can thank Randy,Bob Daisley,Lee Kerslake,Rudy Sarzo,Tommy Aldridge,Don Airey,and Sharon(be nice now people).
Serj Tankian on Crazy Train vocals was horrible ! And Sebastian Bach’s vocals on S.A.T.O. were just as bad ! But the other stuff I have heard is pretty good so far .
Sebastian Bach? Where? S.A.T.O. is also sung by Ripper Owens.
I don’r really like the vocals on that album – some good guitar – but in comparision to the original recordings it becomes very obvious how Randy shined on it. Noone reached him.
Unfortunately the album begins with a very bad version of Crazy Train. The rest is much better.
I like the “Living Loud” CD with Kerslake, Airey, Daisley, Steve Morse and Iimmy Barnes much more!
The bonus DVD on “Immortal Rhoads” is very interesting with interviews by Kelle Rhoads and others.
Well moderated by Bob Kulick
I am very surprised that Lee Kerslake and Bob Daisley are missing from this album. AFAIK they are still playing music and certainly had the biggest role in writing and performing these classics.
I really like this idea of this tribute to Randy Rhoads that musicians who grew up or admired or worked with Randy got to be a part of. It did not need Ozzy for this, he did his already his for Randy with the live Tribute, plus he re- mastered the first two Ozzy LPs again when he re-added Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake back on the albums. Love to get a copy of this one, but if you really want a killer tribute to Randy Rhoads check out Michael Angelo Batio’s “Hands Without Shadows” with the track “Tribute to Randy (Crazy Tain & Mr.Crowley)” and “Hands Without Shadows 2-Voices” with “Tribute to Randy 2: You Can’t Kill Rock and Roll”, Michael nailed it on those two tributes!
Musically , it sounds great !!! But vocally it stunk !!! I think there should of been a better selection of vocalists to do the songs .