Celebrities of the international scene will be presenting a musical memorial for guitar legend Randy Rhoads at Musikmesse 2020. The memorial show, “Randy Rhoads Remembered” on April 2, will be devoted to the life’s work of this hugely style-forming musician and will be focusing particularly on his period of joint work with Ozzy Osbourne. The project’s founder and former Ozzy drummer Brian Tichy leads an all-star Band which will perform the songs from the memorable albums “Blizzard of Ozz” and “Diary of a Madman”. Moreover, musicians and companions will tell stories about Rhoads’ life and work.
The line-up for the European premiere of “Randy Rhoads Remembered” is continually filling up: latest on board for the event are guitarists Richie Faulkner (Judas Priest), Gus G. (Firewind, ex-Ozzy-Osbourne) and the well-known solo artistes Tony MacAlpine and Nick Johnston. Kelle Rhoads, brother of the guitar hero who died much too young, will be supplying some particularly emotional moments at the microphone. Already confirmed for the performance have been the house band “The Madmen”, with percussionist and musical director Brian Tichy, keyboarder Don Airey (Deep Purple), bass player Phil Soussan (ex-Ozzy-Osbourne, Beggars & Thieves), plus guitarists and vocalists Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (ex-Guns-‘N-Roses) and Christian Brady (Hellyeah).
“Musikmesse and the legendary album ‘Blizzard of Ozz’ will be celebrating a joint anniversary this year: in 2020 both can look back on a 40-year history. There could scarcely be a more appropriate occasion to pay tribute to Randy Rhoads as the mastermind behind this and other milestones of rock history. We are looking forward, together with top-notch artistes, to invoking the memory of one of the most influential guitarists of all times”, says Wolfgang Weyand, director of Musikmesse and the Musikmesse Festival.
“Musikmesse is a great, grand music gathering! I am looking forward to working with the Musikmesse team to deliver an exceptional and powerful evening of amazing music and musicians, all joining together for one common reason; the timeless influence of Randy Rhoads’ and amazing talent and songwriting on countless musicians,” says Brian Tichy.
At Musikmesse 2020 “Randy Rhoads Remembered” will be performed for the first time outside America. The participating artistes will be coming to Frankfurt not just for the memorial show, but will also be passing on their knowledge of the instrument at workshops and clinics during the fair. Plus there will be a further all-star concert, featuring many of the artistes and further top musicians, on Friday evening (3 April) at the Frankfurt Fair & Exhibition Centre.
The current line-up for Randy Rhoads Remembered
The house band “The Madmen” will be performing at the show together with a changing round of musicians, who will be joining as special guests.
House Band “The Madmen”
Brian Tichy (drums)
Brian Tichy from the US founded the project in 2014 and since then has realised it on various stages in the United States. As live drummer with Ozzy Osbourne, Tichy in person, together with the “Prince of Darkness”, already played some of the songs in which Randy Rhoads’s influence was apparent. On the scene he is known particularly as a member of Whitesnake and Foreigner and as a live and studio drummer for such greats as Billy Idol and Slash’s Snakepit.
Phil Soussan (bass)
He too was already a part of the band around Ozzy Osbourne – to be heard, among other occasions, on the Album “The Ultimate Sin.” Moreover Soussan, from England, made a name for himself as a founding member of Beggars & Thieves and through his collaboration with Billy Idol, Steve Lukather, Vince Neil and Johnny Hallyday.
Don Airey (keyboard)
The keyboarder enriched more than 200 recordings with his play, working with acts such as Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, Gary Moore and Jeff Beck. Since 2002 he has worked the Hammond organ as a permanent member of Deep Purple.
Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal
For more than twenty-five years Thal has been working as a guitarist, song writer and producer. He became known to a wide public as a member of Guns N‘ Roses during the “Chinese Democracy” era (2006 – 2015). He is currently a permanent member of the line-up for the British supergroup Asia.
Christian Brady
Since 2014 this metal guitarist has been a permanent member of the supergroup Hellyeah, who caused a sensation in September 2019 with their sixth long-player “Welcome Home.” Previously he had been a member of the rock formation Magna-Fi.
Special guests
Richie Faulkner
In April 2011 this guitarist followed in the footsteps of the famous: Faulkner, from London, took over the six-stringer with Judas Priest, after K.K. Downing had left the band. For the albums “Redeemer of Souls” and “Firepower” he was engaged in the writing and arrangement of all songs.
Gus G.
For many years Gus G., who comes from Thessaloniki, toured with Ozzy Osbourne and, with his energy-charged style, was a paramount influence on such albums as “Scream.” Metalheads are also familiar with Gus G. through his band Firewind and his engagements with Dream Evil, Mystic Prophecy and Nightrage.
Tony MacAlpine
As a style-forming artiste for instrumental rock and neoclassical metal, MacAlpine has no less than 13 solo albums behind him. As a founder member of the fusion metal band Planet X, and through his collaboration with Steve Vai, he is one of the great names in the industry.
Nick Johnston
Over the past years scarcely anyone has managed to gain such a large and loyal fan base with instrumental music. Nick Johnston: that is music for musicians. A role model for thousands of guitarists. And someone who enjoys passing on his knowledge at workshops and master classes.
Kelle Rhoads (vocals)
At first Kelle Rhoads played with his younger brother in a joint band. Later the two brothers pursued separate musical paths, and Kelle founded the hard rock formation “Rhoads.” He currently works as a solo artiste and as director of the Musonia School of Music.
“Randy Rhoads Remembered” is part of the Musikmesse Festival, which on the evenings of Musikmesse (1 to 4 April 2020), and earlier on Tuesday 31 March, will be bringing special concert experiences to the whole of Frankfurt.
