Today’s Blimp Time-Hop: Ozzy Carries On Without Randy at CCCC

36 years ago today, Ozzy Osbourne played his first solo show at the Civic Center missing his very close friend and music partner, guitarist Randy Rhoads.  This was the Diary of a Madman tour making a stop in Portland 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 tough gig and joined Ozzy for the rest of the dates. A show on the tour was recorded at the Ritz in NYC and released as the Speak of the Devil live album.

Watch Ozzy with Brad Gillis on guitar doing Randy proud a few weeks after the Portland show in ’82!

Ozzy Osbourne returns to Blimpville on September 6 at Xfinity Center in Mansfield, MA. Night Ranger rocks the New England Ribfest the following day in Bangor, ME!