In February 1982, during the Diary of a Madman tour, Randy Rhoads confided in Ozzy Osbourne that he was planning to step away from touring. Despite their rising success, Randy dreamed of returning to UCLA to pursue his master’s degree in classical music. His heart was in education and composition—far beyond the stage lights and chaos of the road.

Around this time, a major tension began to surface. Ozzy needed to record a live album of Black Sabbath songs to fulfill his contract with Jet Records. Randy, along with drummer Tommy Aldridge, was strongly opposed to the project. Both musicians felt they had moved beyond Sabbath’s shadow, especially after releasing two original and critically acclaimed albums—Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman. However, contractual obligations weighed heavy, and Randy reluctantly agreed to participate, seeing it as a step closer to his eventual departure.

The tour bus became a pressure cooker. The mood between Ozzy and Randy grew strained as they traveled from city to city, weighed down by creative differences and philosophical disconnects. For Randy, recording a Sabbath cover album wasn’t just a detour—it felt like a regression. He believed the band had more to offer creatively with their own sound and was frustrated by the backward-looking direction.

Tragically, Randy Rhoads would never record a note for what would become Speak of the Devil, the Sabbath live album that ultimately featured Brad Gillis on guitar. On March 19, 1982, Randy’s life was cut short in a devastating plane crash.

Though he had intended to complete one final studio album and tour with Ozzy before his departure, Randy had already begun receiving session work offers and was planning a quieter, more focused chapter in his life—one rooted in study, collaboration, and musical evolution.

His vision was never fully realized, but the echoes of Randy’s passion and brilliance continue to inspire guitarists around the world. He was more than a shredder—he was a visionary with the soul of a composer, gone far too soon.