Today’s featured 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee is not Ozzy Osbourne. He has yet to be inducted as a solo artist, though he was inducted with Black Sabbath in 2006.
No, today’s highlighted artist is Randy Rhoads, the lead guitarist on this song and many other iconic heavy metal classics. Just listen to the fantastic riff on ‘Crazy Train’ and it’s hard to argue that the man responsible belongs in the Rock Hall.
Rhoads co-founded Quiet Riot in 1973, then joined Osbourne’s band in 1979, co-writing and anchoring some of the genre’s most beloved tracks.
Rhoads had a promising career ahead of him, but it was cut short in 1982 when he died in a plane accident. He was 25 years old.
All aboard! Ha ha ha ha ha haaaa!
Ay (ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay)
[Verse 1]
Crazy, but that’s how it goes
Millions of people living as foes
Maybe it’s not too late
To learn how to love and forget how to hate
[Pre-Chorus]
Mental wounds not healing
Life’s a bitter shame
[Chorus]
I’m going off the rails on a crazy train
I’m going off the rails on a crazy train
(Let’s go!)
[Verse 2]
I’ve listened to preachers, I’ve listened to fools
I’ve watched all the dropouts who make their own rules
One person conditioned to rule and control
The media sells it and you live the role
[Pre-Chorus]
Mental wounds still screaming
Driving me insane
[Chorus]
I’m going off the rails on a crazy train
I’m going off the rails on a crazy train
[Bridge]
I know that things are going wrong for me
You gotta listen to my words, yeah, yeah!
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 3]
Heirs of a cold war, that’s what we’ve become
Inheriting troubles, I’m mentally numb
Crazy, I just cannot bear
I’m living with something that just isn’t fair
[Pre-Chorus]
Mental wounds not healing
Who and what’s to blame?
[Chorus]
I’m going off the rails on a crazy train
I’m going off the rails on a crazy train
Meet Me In Montauk 
This doesn’t seem like an obvious selection to me, but given that electric guitar is the defining instrument for rock music, I suppose it makes sense to honor someone who was responsible for great guitar riffs.
My son’s HS cross country coach was a dyed-in-the-wool New England Yankee…former Marine…in his 70’s (this was 10-15 years ago – he’s still the coach) and tough as nails.
The opening guitar riff to this was his ringtone. His runners would call him just to hear it.