Working on Randy Rhoads' Guitars with Jim DeCola!

[@CyclopsGuitars8642]

Wow that is probably the best story i’ve heard about Randy & his guitars.Imagine being 18 and working on R.R. guitars?Just amazing!

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

never heard this story....it's awesome and he did it at the Rosemont show that has the tribute album cover shot

[@brucemcneill6224]

I agree. I was riveted.

[@papajon62]

This guy is my age. At 19 YO, this must have been a powerful experience… 🎸

[@AvnerRosenstein-ULTRA-LXV]

Rhoads was the greatest guitarist to ever live! Love his playing and sound! Thanks for this video!

[@Telepkr]

Well that means you haven’t listen to too many guitar player so good luck to you and your stupid imagination

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

he is an all time A leaguer....follow the legacy

[@crazywisdom2]

I still think about Randy. Gone, but NEVER forgotten ❤

[@countvond233]

Randy changed a lot of minds for sure. 43 years a fan and I only have ever heard stories about how good a guy he was. Loved his family and got homesick while touring. He was one of us, only he had alien-like talent from the gods! Yes, you can be a guitar hero and not a complete dick like so many.

[@bobbiedeleon4845]

I remember when that shift happened when Randy became the newest guitar god! I was 12 then, Randy had already become legendary! I was a new way of hearing what was capable on guitar, like when YJM hit. And then he was gone, I got suspended from school that day for "stabbing" someone with a safety pin. I stopped at the game room on my way home to play Pac-Man. The local rock station was doing its thing when suddenly the music stopped. I just remember I quit playing my game, I just walked home in a daze. The whole town was in a daze, Ozzy had just played a show at our local coliseum in late February! I still miss him dearly!

[@AnthonySG0113]

Thank goodness this information can be relayed in this time and day! Super good fella!

[@toneshopguitars]

Glad you think so!

[@shadow_hillsgrandma8224]

Randy was my friend and I'm still 💔

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Jim was a master lutheir at the early age of 19. A natural!

[@johnnybongshow5257]

when i win the lottery i want this guy to work on my guitars

[@CarloLibertini]

Jim, thank you! This story really made my day… Hope all is well!!!

[@luisvillarreal5262]

Thank you Mr. DeCola, for this incredible Randy Rhoads story. This is gold info. I saw Randy Rhoads in concert on the Diary of a Madman tour, February 21, 1982, in Corpus Christi, Texas, a month before he died. It broke my heart. I took up Classical guitar lessons, because of Randy, then tragedy struck. R.I.P. Randy Rhoads. Your music will continue to live in our hearts and minds. 🎸🤘🏼👍🏻

[@patmayer7222]

,,,,yes,,,,wow,.....I saw the Diary of a madman tour= 1981,,November,,..Boulder,CO.,,,epic nite of music,,he played the polkadot v,,,.white les paul,....no set truck made it,so they played anyway,...perfect ,...took my girlfriend,,we had the best time,..it was Thanksgiving weekend,,pouring rain,,we were soaked,....so long ago now,,,.peace,..pat,land o' lakes,wi.

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

@@patmayer7222 No they were in Europe until December 30, 1981 when they kicked off the U>S. tour in Daly City. Boulder was the January 10, 1982 show. And there was a giant snow storm in the midwest that led to some issues.

[@SHENDOH]

I saw that tour with Randy on Jan 7 82 in Albuquerque NM. Changed my life

[@rybones1311]

Jim is correct, Randys white Concorde still has the two screws in the bridge to this day. Two years ago it was on display at the RNR hall of fame, and I went specifically to see Raandys V, pedalboard, and stage shoes. I got a lot of high quality photos, and noticed the bridge had two screws on it, but had no idea Jim was the one who did that work!

[@luislanga]

Jim is such a cool guy, I'd love to work with him.

[@joemyatt3253]

Very awesome story, i have always wondered where that iconic picture was taken! It makes it that much better now knowing it happened in my home town!!

[@randallrhoads3271]

wanna know more?? the photographer, Paul Natkin, had no idea who Randy Rhoads was. He went to the soundcheck to take photos of Don Airey...weird huh. Also, that was Super Bowl Sunday, and, for the first time, the game was in a cold weather city, Pontiac, Michigan, and boy was it cold. In Chicago that day, it was 4 degrees and 18 below zero wind chill. Natkin took his photos, and left before the show, to go to a SB party that had lots of food and booze. After a few hours, the game was boring and he decided to head back to the show. He was mostly following Ozzy and Oz walked over and picked up Randy and the rest is history. At that time, he wasn't really doing great with his photography business until that night. That photo made him a very wealthy man.

[@translationstations]

Fantastic! ❤🎸🔥👍🎼

[@toneshopguitars]

Glad you like it!

[@johnzucco3559]

Stellar interview!!

[@JAMESSPAULDING-f8v]

Great behind the scenes story of Randy and his iconic guitars!

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

never heard this story this was awesome

[@liorauf]

Jim is a legend!!! ❤

[@tamazbabylon7179]

I love this! This is GOD and Randy!

[@frankiethefixer]

Nassau Coliseum 1982 went to see Ozzy with my brother. We had crappy seats but saw a buddy in the orchestra section and he put two ticket stubs in a pack of Marlboros and threw it up to us. We walked up to the stage and there were about 6 seats empty, probably corporate. Watched the show about 10 feet away from Randy. I was motioning to Randy to toss me a pick and he nodded yes to me. Never did toss that pick though. As a guitar player myself, it was insane watching him. Fun fact, that's the live recording Ozzy did with Randy

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

no, then you mean 1981, the show in 1982 with Brad Gillis. Did you mean the Uniondale show in August 1981, August 14? What do you mean that is the live recording Ozzy did with Randy, no Tribute, if that is what you are talking about was Cleveland and then part of Montreal for the solo, and then Southampton where live Mr Crowley was recorded. I bet being that close to Randy is a religious like experience an all time great

[@michaelw4045]

One of my biggest regrets is not goin to the coliseum show i was offered a free ticket from a friend and i didn't know the band or music so I didn't go then 2 yrs later I started playing guitar and him and eddie were my biggest influences.

[@ToddTheJoker]

That is pretty cool! What a story!

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

who knew, I never heard this story been a rhoads fan for 42 years

[@jjones8817]

He was working at Music Lab Lansing Illinois at the time.

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

what luck to get the call, and then to be at the show that has actual video footage and that iconic paul natkin pic

[@Christ-is-King-]

Obsessed, possessed, Mr. Crowley, an angel, and the prince of darkness? Some heavy wording for it to just be a show.

[@Loganichols123]

I just saw this guy giving a tour for anderton's! He's such a good public speaker

[@ousley421]

Jim, you are a legend

[@samwill226]

I could just sit in a room and listen to this dude talk about his life. Dude needs to write a book.

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

admittedly I am just here for the Rhoads story, an all time great

[@JimDeCola]

Thank you!

[@epasternak4206]

What an incredible story for us fans

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

never heard that one, had to post that on the Randy Rhoads legacy page

[@MikeUIibarri]

That's one of the greatest insider stories I've heard in a long, long time!

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

been a Rhoads and blizzard of ozz fan for 42 years never heard this

[@robinbrown7890]

At 3:26 it was Starfighters....don't thank me, thank Set List 🙂.....great story. Thank you for sharing Jim.

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

and UFO

[@JimDeCola]

Thanks!

[@russellvanvleet7457]

In El Paso,Texas the opening bands were Live Wire and UFO. For the Diary tour.

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Awesome to hear the story straight from Jim himself! Thanks for sharing Jim!

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

never heard that story before

[@quinnsmith2955]

I was at that show in Chicago he's talking about

[@GreyGhost9]

WOW! What a story 😊

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

I was 17 in 82, and the level of bummer I felt when I heard the news the day of will forever be with me. I had just seen Ozzy when they came around the first time. Sad days indeed. I am an Eddie guy at heart, but Randy was coming on strong.

[@OwlsCoffeee]

Hell yeahhhhhh 🐉

[@escargotomy]

I'm 14 years old when "Diary of A Madman" hits stores and I run after school to Sam Goody to get my hands on the record before it sells out. I wait until after dinner and close my bedroom door and spin it on my record player, soft at first, then louder, then a little louder...flip it over to side 2...louder, just a little louder...there's no way my mom can hear from downstairs. Then at long last the title track comes on with that lilting acoustic intro that gives way to that masterpiece of gothic metal that only Randy could have wrought. Then the outro...it sounds like horror movie music...the chanting, the unrelenting guitar...my head is banging harder than it ever dared before. THEN, my mother throws my bedroom door open and screams, "YOU'RE WORSHIPING THE DEVIL IN HERE...I FUCKING KNEW IT!!" Good times.

[@billyarbrough291]

Awesome story!

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

sure is never heard that before

[@Beholderguitars]

Thank you for this beautifully told and heartfelt story. And it's great to see all these comments showing love for Randy and his genius and kindness.

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

Randy by all accounts a really nice guy, I mean watch the Original Charvel gang doc and Grover just raves about Randy. Randy is an all time A leaguer, we post his bootlegs on the group

[@JimDeCola]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@JohnnyBeane]

Jim Decola rules!!!

[@davidp5385]

Im Curious as to what you were using to alter the guitars....power tools ? Sounds risky and a little scary to know there's no putting it back, and figuratively having to have it back up and strung in time for the gig....Awesome stuff. Huge Randy Fan here, my favorite guitarist of all time. Still relevant after all these years !!!

[@JimDeCola]

I used a hand drill, and had done it many times over a few years at that time.

[@jeroenbrouwer1151]

He build the first Wolfgangs for Ed. 🤩

[@JimDeCola]

As well as designed the Wolfgang for him. He approved it.

[@crsstephen72]

so cool !!!!!

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

This is new story I have not heard....this is awesome. Randy Rhoads an all time A leaguer

[@randallrhoads3271]

i agree...weird..."new story" after 42 years. Amazing.

[@jimbo0411]

The Tribute album actually was the live broadcast from Cleveland, 81 Blizzard tour, except for a couple songs were South Hampton show. The guitar solo was from the King Biscut Flower hour Montreal 81 show all spliced together. They should have got a diary board show or used another complete board show. Randy hated his guitar tone on that Cleveland broadcast. He and Tommy used to listen back to the tapes after the show.

[@JimDeCola]

IMO, Randy's live tones were even better than the studio tones!

[@randallrhoads3271]

finally...somebody that actually knows what hes talking about. You are correct about the TRIBUTE recording content. I'll never understand how Rudy Sarzo got that all so wrong in his book...weird. You are also correct about Rhoads being concerned about the Cleveland show being recorded live. The tour was barely 2 weeks old and these guys were just getting used to playing together. I have the original, un-edited, un- processed recording on reel to reel tape. Sure enough, at the beginning of Crazy Train, Randy himself hits a bad chord...a real bad one. It was gone when Tribute was released in 1987.

[@gitanopnmex]

Great Story

[@toneshopguitars]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@caroldenham8348]

Why is Gibson not doing the Randy Rhoads Les Paul? I know they did a limited edition a long time ago, but no reason not to do more.

[@careycrews1]

Randy was very cool. We were on his guest list the for the first time he played the polkadot V. He had picked it up that day. I didnt know he was going to be so famous...just a nice guy to us always.

[@1000poundsguitar]

My oldest son’s middle name is Rhoads and his younger brother is Jaxon (I caved on the spelling lol).

[@florianwenzel4771]

Gibson Sully Erna sig Les Paul. Hell yeah. Have one myself

[@uncleremus64]

18 in 1982? Jim DeCola and I are same age.

[@mudcat422]

Awesome story

[@DavidHsil]

Jim is now an engineer at Gibson.

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

what timing....the day of the famous Paul Natkin photo shoot January 24, 1982.

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

UFO and Starfighters opened up

[@lexgarnier]

I wish Jim DeCola becomes CEO of Gibson .. ❤

[@infinidominion]

Must've been annoying for Ozzy to make calls and everyone on the other end needs to be convinced its actually Ozzy 😂

[@JimDeCola]

Randy's tech, Peter Martens called and mentioned Ozzy Osbourne. It wasn't Ozzy himself.

[@TravisBrady-wn8fr]

I cant help it. Colby jack cheese and an ice cold beer is the shit.

[@Frankentoane]

Just gotta ask. Are the walls flamed or is it just a veneer?

[@JimDeCola]

It's solid maple, not veneer, with solid mahogany trim.

[@Doty6String]

flame maple walls tho

[@JimDeCola]

Solid, not veneer!

[@briankahanek]

❤

[@toneshopguitars]

Brian! 👊

[@briankahanek]

@@toneshopguitars Super great guitar hang!!

[@RichB0330]

where did you pick up lunch at Schoops?

[@JimDeCola]

It was Schoop's! 🙂

[@Anson120]

Jim worked on Randy's guitars? Uhhh? Jim looks maybe age 40 or 45. I bet Jimmy Page did some of his black magic on him. Soooo jelly. LOLOLOLOl

[@bradc32]

healthy eating,not a big fat mess...real cool story

[@Lucky..B]

JE

[@davesaenz3732]

Sad Black Sabbath and Ozzy were called "satanists" and rejected and critics put them down in favor of crappy bands that today no one even listens to. 🎸

[@randallrhoads3271]

i try to tell people how it really was with Ozzy and Sabbath back in the day. In the 70's, critics absolutely hated them...i lived in Detroit that had 4 FM hard rock stations and they never played Sabbath at all...and when they did, it was always only 2 songs..Iron Man and Paranoid. I saw the 1975 Sabotage Tour at Cobo Arena, and the place was barely half full, and a dead, quiet crowd. Saw them again a year later on the Technical Ectasy tour...same thing, Cobo was half full , same dead crowd. Then again in September 1978, Van Halen was the opening act and they were the hot new band....and Cobo was jammed to the rafters. VH was outstanding, sounded and looked great and brought the house down. Sabbath came on and they were awful...so loud and muddled you had to wait 30 seconds to figure out what song they were playing. It was sad..i was a huge fan and it was clear that version of the band was over. 3-4 songs into their set and half the crowd had left. Thankfully, a few years later Oz found Randy.....rest is history.

[@heyjarrod]

Strange, they start the piece with the guy not even realizing why they wanna talk to him. Then he couldn’t remember how old he was on that particular date, but remembered everything else fine, because it was Randy and a very important event to him. I watched a little, almost wanted to call BS. I’m gonna go back and listen from the beginning. Kind of all over the place. 😝

[@johnandstephanie377]

Dude’s going back to 1982, are you some kind of fucking retard?

[@randallrhoads3271]

i agree....first off, if he was 19 in 1982, he looks awful good for 62 years old. Secondly, why would Ozzy, the "star" of the show, be calling a tech guy for a guitar problem?....sorry, not adding up.

[@hackermcmulligan5692]

@@randallrhoads3271 Yeah right, Gibson guitars master luthier, the guy who designed Eddie VH Peavey Wolfgang guitar must be making the whole story up

[@randallrhoads3271]

@@hackermcmulligan5692 dude...over the years, so many people have exxagerated or just flat out lied about Randy Rhoads, they all want to inject themselves into the story more or less. I am exactly 1 year younger than R.R...i saw the whole story unfold from beginning to the end AS AN ADULT. Theres only 2 people, over the years, that never lied or exxagerated their stories, Tommy Aldridge and Dana Strum. ..ALL the others are full of it.

[@JimDeCola]

@@randallrhoads3271 Randy's tech, Peter Martens called and mentioned Ozzy Osbourne. It wasn't Ozzy himself. I didn't say it was actually Ozzy. And thank you for the comment on my age. I stay active and eat healthy. Been vegetarian for decades. :-)