Andrew Klein, co-author of the new book RANDY RHOADS, recently spoke with Lambchops at The Randy Rhoads Society about his work. An excerpt is available below:

Lambchops: I have read comments from those who have the book, and they say it’s beautiful and a loving tribute to the greatest guitarist ever and long overdue. Being an avid fan for over 25 years – I would have to say that this book is the single greatest piece of Randy Rhoads memorabilia released since he passed – that does not contain music. Care to comment?

Andrew Klein: "Well, that's very, very nice of people to say. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who gave it a chance. When we released it, I read comments from those who hadn't seen it that said, 'It will be the same old photos and articles we've read before.' I was baffled by those comments and I thought, 'Well, how would they know that? Why would they think that?' Now that its out there, people are finally seeing that it is so much more than what we've seen and read before. The reason is, the people I mentioned earlier who were closest to Randy, had never shared their stories and photos before. I was thankful to have their support and assistance. I am also grateful to have been blessed with their friendships as well."

"In all honesty, what Randy Rhoads memorabilia has been released that we can compare it to? I was an avid collector of all things Randy, and I didn't have that much stuff. I wanted to create a book that I always dreamed of having. To give something back to a guy that has meant so much to me. Something that shows what an incredible person he was. Hopefully, we were able to accomplish that. Without the images from the photographers who licensed photos to us, we would not have been able to create such a beautiful book."

Lambchops: How long did it take to create this book?

Andrew Klein: "The developmental stages took about 2 years. The published version of the book was revised between 2010 and June of 2012."

Lambchops: Some people have said that the book is a little expensive. Care to comment?

Andrew Klein: "Unfortunately, the book is a little expensive. Even more unfortunate for me, the book was very expensive to produce. We could have released a 200 page soft-cover paperback with a handful of familiar photos. People would have complained that its not worth having and its nothing special. If they want to own something like what we've created, it will unfortunately cost money. It costs money to create it, and therefore costs money to buy it."

Click here for the complete interview.

Randy Rhoads vividly documents the guitarist's life and career. Teeming with hundreds of rare photographs and memorabilia, the book chronicles an oral history of Randy’s remarkable life through those who knew him best. Packed with countless emotional and poignant stories about the guitar icon, the book weaves a powerful tapestry of colorful memories about his life, which help provide deeper insight into Randy, the man, the myth, the legend. His life is a lasting testament to his supernatural talent and quiet humility.