Randy Rhoads Favorite Drummer

What do Black Oak Arkansas, Pat Travers Band, Gary Moore, Ozzy Osbourne and Whitesnake, just to name a few, have in common? Aside from being kickass rock bands, they all shared something else. Drummer Tommy Aldridge. Raised in Florida, Aldridge made a name for himself as a member of Black Oak Arkansas from 1972-1976, due to the bands drug use, he left in late ’76 to join the The Pat Travers Group. He would go on to record 5 albums with Travers between 1976 and 1981. While working with Gary Moore in 1981, Aldridge met Randy Rhoads and the two became close friends. Aldridge would would go on to join Rhoads in Ozzy Osbournes band a few months later. Randy Rhoads said he was “blown away” by Aldridge after witnessing a 1970 performance by Black Oak Arkansas, stating Aldridge was “his favorite drummer”.  Aldridge appears on Osbourne’s Speak of the Devil, Tribute and Bark at the Moon albums. In 1987 he joined former Ozzy Osbourne bandmate Rudy Sarzo in the newly reformed Whitesnake. Aldridge has also appeared on recordings by Yngwie Malmsteen, Motorhead, Ted Nugent and a list of others. Happy 69th Birthday Tommy!