Pearson: When did you first discover Randy Rhoads?
Danie: I don't recall the exact year, it was after his death unfortunately. I was partying with some friends in a park and my drummer that I had just met at that time put a tape in his stereo. It was a live bootleg of Ozzy with Randy. Everything just stopped for fragments of time and I was transported away to this wonderful realm. I was like, "Who is THAT on guitar???!!!" He proceeded to tell me more about Randy. I was familiar with Ozzy from the Black Sabbath days, but hadn't followed his career. I had admired Sabbath but was not a huge fan until my association with this drummer and his constant playing of that tape and the other albums that Randy appeared on. It ingrained his guitar playing into my being. It was as if his soul came ripping thru the speakers from the first time I heard him. It was beyond any other guitar work I had heard then or since. Randy truly spoke to me.
Pearson: What kind of impact do you feel he had on the entire music scene?
Danie: Well, he definitely is "my" guitar idol. I don't strive to "sound" like him so much as to "be" like him, which is a very lofty goal. He had far more love of his instrument than I think I will ever have. When I lose focus I immediately think of Randy and it pulls me back in line. But I feel while it's "flattering" to his memory to learn and copy every lick of his and try to sound "just" like him, I think Randy would have preferred we take the art that he created and use it for "inspiration." You know, "don't imitate-innovate." To me it would be an insult to his sheer genius to try to sit down and copy everything note for note and become a Randy clone and do nothing beyond that that reflects your own soul. I'm not knocking those that do, I'm just saying for me...I think he would have wanted us to take his knowledge and incorporate it into our various different "styles." There is only one Randy, and never will there be another.
As far as the entire scene? I would hope that his purity and self effacing personality along with his tenacity would be as much an impact on everyone else as it has been on me. He was so far beyond just a "rock star."
Pearson: As a Musician how has Randy influenced you in your studies?
Danie: To me Randy is a symbol of constantly striving to do more, be more with your instrument. Music to Randy was more like a lover than a means to stardom. He nurtured it and loved it. I have a picture of Randy I keep on my stack for inspiration, and even beyond just "music," there was just something about him. He was such a gentle, peaceful soul. His thirst for knowledge was just so genuine and honest. Guitar was not a "science" to him as it winds up being to so many virtuosos. His was an honorable, chaste, untainted artform.
Pearson: Why do you feel Randy continues to inspire people so many years after his death?
Danie: He was a genius, period. That same brilliance will always be evident to people. True genius never dies.
Pearson:You have a Randy Rhoads related web page, what is your goal with that site?
Danie: When I started my page Goodbye To Romance, there were only four others out there that I had found and two of those quickly folded. The sites that were up had very little information and were largely rip-offs of each other. One had some pretty nice photos. So I just came up with my small tribute page and it's linked in my music links hoping that the curious will check it out and read the interview I found and typed out on it. I've also added links to some other sites that have some very extensive information now. I was so glad to see those out there.
I offer a metal award for sites on the web, and was very quick to award the people who took the time to research and share their knowledge of Randy with us. I created a special "celtic cross" that appears next to those links, that is my REMEMBER RANDY RHOADS graphic.
If we can keep him in the public eye, his legacy will only continue to grow. To me that is the most important thing. We cannot let the memory of Randy and his accomplishments die, he's very much alive through his music.
Pearson:What do you feel are Randy's most memorable accomplishments?
Danie: I know I keep going back to his stellar guitar work, but I can't help that being a guitarist myself. His lead work was just phenomenal and it's not just his dexterity, the way he could go from a classical run into a blues riff with such ease and smoothness. The leads always soar so well with the music. Some guitarists the lead is just an afterthought and not much actual "thought" goes into it...yet they are touted as being so astounding. If you sit down and dissect the songs he's done and all the sections. It's just so full of heart and soul along with the exceptional skill level. That is a wicked combination. Most have one or the other. To be able to achieve both and do it so well. I'm just in awe of his talent.
And the team of Randy and Ozzy was just extraordinary. His loss was such a tragedy. Imagine where Ozzy's music would be now if Randy were still alive. I mean even if Randy had left to pursue other projects you know that he would still be looming in Ozzy's music. I'm sure he'd have guest soloed. They were so tight, that is what gave their music such depth and beauty. Two souls flying free and dancing on the edge of hell. They created such memorable, undying music together. It hurts still to think of the tragic impact this had on Ozzy. It's so obvious that a little piece of him died with Randy, they seemed so close. We all suffer from this loss but you can tell it really affected Ozzy deeply.
Pearson:The most favorite asked question: What is your favorite Rhoads song?
Danie: The very first one I heard in the park that day was "Suicide Solution" with that astounding, ripping solo in it. That made such a huge impression on my psyche. I'd have to say that that is my favorite followed by "Mr. Crowley," and of course Dee is so touching and has such a pure medieval flair to it. It's just gorgeous in it's technical simplicity.
And of course "Goodbye To Romance." Having heard Ozzy talk about how this song was created and how Randy urged him to "get that tune out and work on it" that he was insistently humming was very inspiring. It also showed that he allowed Ozzy to be Ozzy and because of that some wonderful music came into being during that creative period. That is the sign of an excellent partnership when your partner "opens" you up and doesn't try to keep you in a well established box. So there is one more superb characteristic of Randy, the ability to bring out greatness in others he touched.
I ask all who read this to please...hold Randy dear in your hearts and minds and turn as many others onto him as you can. His legacy should live on forever for his accomplishments, his sheer love of the guitar and for his beautiful gentle soul. He was a genius pure and simple and the world of heavy metal is a much richer place for our having been blessed by his presence.
DANIE POWERS
Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist For American Power Metal Band:
POWERS COURT
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