Blimp Time Hop: OZZY At CCCC After Death Of Randy Rhoads In 1982

39 years ago this weekend, Ozzy Osbourne played his second Civic Center show in Portland, Maine. This time around was without his very close friend and music partner, guitarist Randy Rhoads. It was the Diary of a Madman tour making a stop here on May 22,1982.

Tragically, Randy was killed in a plane crash two months earlier in Florida. 

Guitarist Brad Gillis of Night Ranger stepped up for the understandably tough gig and joined Ozzy for the rest of the dates. He really was a champion. You can scroll down for a fan-made live video from the tour and see for yourself.

Here's more recent photo of Brad Gillis performing in San Jose, California a few years ago.

A concert on the Diary of a Madman tour was recorded at the Ritz in NYC and released as the Speak of the Devil live album.

Check out this live footage that a fan did their best to synch up with the album.  The video and audio are definitely not always matched. But, it's still pretty cool to watch.

Here's what Ozzy and the band (which also featured Rudy Sarzo on bass and Tommy Aldridge on drums) melted faces with at the CCCC on that night nearly 40 years ago.

Watch Ozzy with Brad Gillis on guitar doing Randy proud live in 1982, just a few weeks after the Portland appearance.

We count ten trips to Maine from Ozzy Osbourne from 1970 to 2008. Two of those shows were with Black Sabbath, one in 1970 at the University of Maine and one at the Cumberland County Civic Center in 1978.

Thanks for bringing all the beautifully heavy madness to us live on stage over the years, Ozzy. Blimpville loves you.