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Guitar legend Randy Rhoads<\/strong> died 44 years ago on this day. The acclaimed guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne<\/a><\/strong> died on March 19, 1982, in a plane crash in Leesburg, Florida, while on tour to support Osbourne’s Diary of a Madman album. Rhoads, who was known for his powerful guitar solos on songs such as “Crazy Train\u201d and \u201cMr.\u00a0Crowley,\u201d was just 25 years old at the time of his death.<\/p>\n At the time,The New York Times<\/a> reported that Rhoads, pilot Andrew Aycock, 36, and makeup artist Rachel Youngblood, 58, were killed after the small plane they were joyriding in struck a van and clipped a house. Other members of Osbourne\u2019s entourage witnessed the crash and its fiery aftermath.<\/p>\n In the documentary\u00a0Into the Void: Life, Death & Heavy Metal<\/a>,\u00a0Osbourne bandmate Tommy Aldridge <\/strong>recalled that the band\u2019s manager, Sharon Osbourne<\/a><\/strong>, became \u201cunglued\u201d when she found out that Rhoads had died. \u201cShe just went off on our tour manager, screaming, \u2018How could you let that baby get on that plane?!\u2019\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n Decades after the crash, Ozzy Osbourne told\u00a0British GQ<\/a> that tragedy often replayed in his mind and that it felt like \u201ca \u00a0bad f—ing horror movie<\/a>.\u201d \u201cThe house was on fire. The bus had been hit by the plane. There was glass and gasoline everywhere. The f—ing house was engulfed,\u201d he said in 2020. “And [Rhoads] was such a nice guy. A very gentle man… but so powerful with his instrument.”<\/p>\n One week after the plane crash, Osbourne shocked fans when he kept a previously scheduled appearance on\u00a0The Late Show With David Letterman<\/a>.<\/p>\n After joking with Osbourne about\u00a0his bat-biting history, Letterman acknowledged that the singer had recently suffered a major loss.<\/p>\n \u201cLast week I lost two of the greatest people in my life,\u201d Osbourne said. \u201cBut it ain\u2019t gonna stop me because I\u2019m for rock and roll. And rock and roll is for the people, and I love the people, and that\u2019s what I\u2019m about.\u201d<\/p>\n Osbourne, who died in July 2025 at age 76, often credited Rhoads for helping him forge his successful solo career after leaving the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s probably the truest musician I\u2019ve ever played with,\u201d Osbourne said in a 2021 interview with <\/a>Rolling Stone<\/a>. \u201cThe way he died was a terrible thing. I owe my career to him. \u2026 I knew him for a very short amount of time. But what he gave me in that short amount of time was immeasurable in f—ing greatness.\u201d<\/p>\n On March 18, 2026, the official Ozzy Osbourne Instagram account<\/a> shared a classic photo from Rhoads\u2019 final performance. In the photo, Osbourne held the guitar virtuoso up in his arms as he played for the crowd for what would be the last time. \u201cMarch 18, 1982, Randy\u2019s final show, Knoxville, Tennessee,\u201d the caption read.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfac<\/strong>SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox<\/strong><\/a>\ud83c\udfac<\/strong><\/p>\n This story was originally published by Parade<\/a> on Mar 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the News<\/a> section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\nOzzy Osbourne appeared in a TV interview days later<\/h2>\n