He could certainly play, but the body of work isn't exactly large. 

The guy could play. .. but I don't put him in the highest level on this list. . .but one can't deny his talent.

It is sad to read that people think that a classicaly train guitarist isn
't up to the level of a black dude who probably couln't play a good classical scale if his life depended on it. The idea that jimmy hendrix was in the same league as randy rhodes is just utterly obserd.

now u guys have got taste

THE guitarist

Although not the greatest (although VERY close) guitarist in my mind, he is my second favorite.

In my opinion, if his career with Ozzy was not so tragically ended that unfortunate day in 1982, Randy Rhoades could have been bigger and (dare i say it) BETTER then hendrix was. His style, composure and ability was such that, with only 2 Ozzy albums to his name and a collection of other lesser-known stuff, he is STILL higher then many great long-living guitar gods on this very list. If he had kept going, getting progressively better as he was as a player and songwriter, that when his career eventually did peak it could have been goodbye to Hendrix and Page at the top spots. Trust me as an experienced music listener, if he hadn't died he would fit easily into the top 3-5 of ANY top guitarist list. Plus what he actually did with Ozzy was incerdible. 4.5 Stars if i could.

Amazing musician who's career was snuffed out too early

Technically the most amazing guitar player of the 1980's. He was a metal guitarist who was influenced far more by classical music than by the blues. He was therefore responsible for for gradual de-emphasis on blues in heavy music, even if Metallica were the first to completely separate blues from hard rock. It makes me really angry when I think about how his death was the result of an extremely stupid accident - he was in his friend's plane and the friend felt like showing off by buzzing the tour bus. The plane clipped the bus and crashed into a nearby house, killing everyone aboard. I hope the pilot has been condemned to an eternity of listening to Grand Funk Railroad.

True talent and imigination driving six strings to the outter limits. What a tragedy he had to leave us so soon.