Randy Rhoads is the subject of a new documentary coming out in May, and in the doc, his rivalry with fellow L.A.-based guitarist Eddie Van Halen is broached.
In the clip below from Randy Rhoads: Reflections of a Guitar Icon, Quiet Riot fan club president Lori Hollen says, “I know that at some of the shows we’d see David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen, which was always interesting to me, because I know Randy never went to see them play. But they would always come to see Quiet Riot and Randy play.”
Rhoads’ guitar tech Brian Reason would add, “There was a little cross-town rivalry there between Quiet Riot and Van Halen…Everyone was comparing Eddie Van Halen to Randy Rhoads.”
In archival audio included in the clip, Van Halen was asked if he knew Rhoads. EVH responded, “Yeah, he was one guitarist who was honest, anyway. Because he said everything he did he learned from me. He was good, but I don’t really think he did anything that I haven’t done. And there ain’t nothing wrong with it. I’ve copied some other people, you know?”
Randy Rhoads: Reflections of a Guitar Icon is due out on May 6 via VOD, iTunes and Amazon. The doc’s trailer can be viewed below.
