Ozzy Osbourne on Saturday offered a $25,000 U.S. reward for information leading to the return of stolen music gear, including a guitar belonging to his late friend Randy Rhoads.
The electric guitar was among items stolen on Nov. 28 from the Musonia School of Music in North Hollywood, which was run by Rhoads’ late mother Delores and where he once taught guitar.
Rhoads, who played with both Osbourne and Quiet Riot, died in a plane crash in 1982 at the age of 25.
“As you can imagine, the items that were stolen, including Randy’s first electric guitar, are irreplaceable to the Rhoads Family,” Osbourne wrote in a Facebook post. “I am heartbroken that these treasured physical memories of Randy and Delores have been taken from the family so I’ve decided to personally offer a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction and/or return of all stolen items.”
Also taken was an amp, Delores Rhoads’ first trumpet, several instruments and 40 years worth of memorabilia and photos.
In an Instagram post on Nov. 29, Rhoads’ sister Kathy shared: “My heart is BROKEN. I’m just at a loss for words right now. So very sad. Musonia was totally ransacked and suffered major damage.” She said in a follow-up post that the family is “sickened” by the theft.