The equipment belonging to the late guitarist Randy Rhoads was recently stolen from Delores Rhoads’ music school, where a shrine was erected in memory of her son.
Rhoads died in a plane crash on tour in 1982 at the age of 25, he was a member of Osbourne’s solo band.
Ozzy took to instagram to spread the word, “As many of you have heard, the Musonia School of Music in N. Hollywood, CA (the school where Randy Rhoads famously taught guitar) was viciously robbed on Thanksgiving night,”
Ozzy continued to say that Musonia was run by Randy’s late mother, Delores, and after his death 37 years ago, the school became something of a pilgrimage to his fans from all over the world.
It is a place where the Rhoads Family happily opened their hearts to share the life of Randy. As you can imagine, the items that were stolen, including Randy’s first electric guitar, are irreplaceable to the Rhoads Family.”
Ozzy wrote that he was heartbroken over the theft of the treasured items that had been stolen from the family.
To compensate, he was going to offer a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction and return of all the goods.
Listing all that was stolen, Osbourne said the most important items were Rhoads’ first-ever electric guitar (a Harmony Rocket from around 1963), a Peavey amplifier head, a prototype Marshall amp head and Delores’ first trumpet. “
This was given to her as a child by her medical doctor father in exchange for medical services as a barter during the great depression,” the former Black Sabbath singer said, noting the instrument sparked her lengthy music career.
More greatness…@rudysarzo @MonstersOfRock @OzzyOsbourne @RRhoadsFanClub @RhoadsRememberd pic.twitter.com/Zhj2PFW6E1
— H.B. McKinney ✳️ (@satch1006) March 21, 2019
Included was “40 years of fan gifts to the Rhoads Family, memorabilia, all photos of Randy Rhoads, the Osbournes, Delores Rhoads and miscellaneous instruments,” he said that basically the room has been cleared.
Kelle, brother of the late musician described the break-in as “bad,” adding, “The Rhoads family essentially has no more pictures or memories … It’s all gone. It’s devastating. … They spent some time here. They even turned one of the heaters on so they’d be warm while they were robbing us blind.” he explained all this in an interview in The Metal Voice.
RIP Randy. December 6, 1956 – March 19, 1982. #RandyRhoads pic.twitter.com/hMKrMyuOR4
— johncarterguitar🎸 (@eecyaj777) March 19, 2019
He said the local police weren’t being “real cooperative right now.” “They’re kind of like, ‘We’ll make a report,’ which they did, and, ‘Too bad for your loss. A lot of people have been burglarized lately so good luck. We’ll see you. Bye,’” he said.
“It’s real hard to even communicate with the police — either too many burglaries and the police don’t have the manpower or they found a really good place to get coffee and the donuts.”