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Rudy Sarzo - Interview

Dio/ Quiet Riot/ Ozzy Osbourne/ Whitesnake

 

Rudy Sarzo

A Life Of Fire & Ice

 

HE’S PLAYED WITH ALL THE BIGS IN ALL THE BIG PLACES AND ON THE BIG RECORDS. WE TALKED TO THE ROCK BASSIST WITH BETTER CREDENTIALS THAN MOST. STARTED OFF WITH QUIET RIOT AND HIT BIG WITH OZZY AND RIOT AGAIN, HE TEAMED UP WITH VAI AND ROCKED OUT WITH THE SNAKE, NOW HE’S THUMPING IT OUT WITH THE HOLY DIVER.

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December 2006

HEY RUDY, PLEASURE TO TALK TO YOU – HOW ARE YOU AND WHATS IN THE WORKS FOR YOU AT THE MOMENT? Great talking to you too. Right now I’m getting ready to start rehearsing with DIO for our New Year’s Eve show in Bulgaria. After midnight they’ll become members of the EEUU so they’ve got a nation wide celebration. DIO performed there, in Kavarna, last year and we had a blast.

SO YOU’RE ON WITH DIO NOW, HOWS THAT BEEN GOING? It’s been going fantastic. What can I tell you. I’m such a big fan of Ronnie’s and to play along such great musicians as Craig Coldy, Simon Wright and Scott Warren is just fantastic.  Also, during our set we run the gamut of Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Dio so it’s all back-to-back monster songs. WE TALKED TO JEFF PILSON LAST MONTH WHO PLAYED ON THE LAST DIO RECORD, HE’S A NICE GUY? I’ve known Jeff since the 80s. He’s a great bass player, singer and a gentleman. YOU’VE PLAYED WITH PLENTY OF GREATS, RANDY RHOADS FOR ONE; YOU HELPED INDUCT HIM INTO THE WALK OF FAME, RIGHT? Yes, Randy was inducted into Guitar Centre’s walk of fame March 18th, 2004.

Rudy and Randy Rhoads

YOU ALSO FOLLOWED RANDY’S PATH AND JOINED UP WITH THE OZ MAN? Yes, Randy and I had already played together in Quiet Riot. So when it came time for Ozzy to find a new bassist Randy recommended me. I’ve recently published a book titled “Off the Rails”. It’s my memoires of Randy during our Quiet Riot and Ozzy days. For any one who’s interested they can follow this link to amazon.com, http://www.amazon.com/Off-Rails-Rudy-Sarzo/dp/1419650424/ref=sr_11_1/104-8530047-4385553?ie=UTF8

Off The Rails

YOU PLAYED WITH STEVE VAI IN WHITESNAKE TOO? Yes, I learned a lot from Steve. Not only is he a brilliant musician but I also learned from him how to successfully multitask. While we were on tour, was he Whitesnake’s guitar player, but he was also working hard at promoting his solo record, Passion and Warfare as well as working on its videos and other related responsibilities. YOU GUYS EVEN HAD THAT SUPERGROUP DUDES OF WRATH’ WITH PAUL STANLEY AND VIVIAN CAMPBELL? Yes, that was for the soundtrack to the “Shocker”. Tommy Lee was on drums too and a guitarist, Guy Man Dude was the other guitarist. Desmond Childs was the brains behind it all.

Rudy with The Snake (note: Steve Vai with the camcorder)

BUT YOU OBVIOUSLY FIRST MADE IT BIG WITH QUIET RIOT, WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE IN ONE OF THE ORIGINAL 80’S METAL BANDS OF THAT STYLE TO HIT IT BIG? Well, I feel that my first taste of the big time was with Ozzy. Then later with the Metal Health version of Quiet Riot.  It was one hell of a ride having the right song at the right time on at the right place: “Cum On Feel the Noize” on MTV.  We also toured… a lot!  We went out with The Scorpions, ZZ Top, Loverboy, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and did the US Festival.  It was unbelievable

FIRST METAL ALBUM IN THE STATES TO HIT NUMBER 1! THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE? It was really a slow burn. We started out on a tour with the Scorpions who were doing a couple of weeks worth of warm up dates leading to the US Festival. By the time we hit Denver, the promoter form the US Festival needed to filled a recently open slot on the Metal day. He asked us if we wanted it and the rest is history.

ALTHOUGH YOU MADE IT ON MOST OF THE BIG RECORDS, YOU SEEMED TO HAVE COME AND GONE A LOT WITH QUIET RIOT, CARE TO EXPLAIN? I really can’t, I’m still trying to figure it out myself. I’ll go as far as saying that I still consider Frankie Banali one of my closets friends and I wish him all the great success he deserves. I WAS SURPRISED YOU WEREN’T ON THE NEWEST RECORD. DID YOU GET AN INVITE? I haven’t been a member of Quiet Riot since 2004. I’ve been a member of DIO since.

Quiet Riot back in the day

HAVE YOU HEARD IT? IF SO WHAT’S YOUR OPINION? No, I haven’t heard it. AS MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU PLAYED WITH COVERDALE AND WHITESNAKE, CARE TO SHED ANY LIGHT ON WHY THIS GUY GOES THROUGH SO MANY MUSICIANS!? Well let’s face it. Whitesnake is David’s baby. Even before I joined the band he had gone through a hand full of musicians. Beyond that, I think this is a question best answered by him. SO ANYWAY, TELL US ABOUT DIGITAL PRINTS? It’s a collection of Latin songs that I wrote for my mom and dad since they had only previously heard me play rock songs. It’s my way of letting them know that there’s still a bit of Rudy from Cuba left in me.

Rudy does Latin?

YOU HAVE A BASS INSTRUCTIONAL DVD TOO, RIGHT? Yes, it’s titled Rock Bass Essentials. It addresses what is in my opinion the fundamentals of what every rock bassist should have in their musical toolbox. SO WHAT ABOUT YOUR LIFE, DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN FAMILY? I’ve been married to Rebecca since 1984. No children but we have a Yorkie named Tory and she’s the centre of our universe. DO YOU FIND IT HARD TO JUGGLE IT ALL? A long time ago I made peace with the Rudy that goes on the road and the one that stays at home. I feel that making a living on the road at what you love to do the most is a blessing and so are the precious times you spend with your family at home. SO WHEN WILL SEE YOU NEXT ON RECORD BROTHER? Dio’s scheduled to go back in the studio in 2007.

Rudy shows you how to do it!

AND FINALLY, ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD - I would like to wish all your readers a wonderful Holiday Season and a prosperous 2007. Hope to see you all when we come to your town. God Bless.

Go check in with Rudy at www.rudysarzo.com J.L.

Rudy and his Washburn	Rudy Sarzo Washburn

 

 

 

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