Fans Push for Randy Rhoads Memorial Statue in Burbank

Petition gains traction to honor late guitarist in his hometown park.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:14am

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An abstract, minimalist illustration featuring a stark black silhouette of a guitar player, representing the late musician Randy Rhoads and the grassroots effort to memorialize him in a California park.Fans rally to honor the enduring legacy of guitarist Randy Rhoads with a proposed memorial statue in his hometown of Burbank.Burbank Today

A petition has been launched by a group interested in creating a memorial to guitarist Randy Rhoads in Burbank's Stough Canyon Park, celebrating the late musician's legacy. The proposed $200,000-$250,000 memorial would feature a statue of Rhoads playing guitar surrounded by a small pool of water and park benches.

Why it matters

Randy Rhoads was a highly influential guitarist who played with Ozzy Osbourne before his tragic death in a 1982 plane crash at age 25. Despite his lasting impact on rock music, Rhoads has no major memorial in his hometown of Burbank, where he spent much of his time. Fans are hoping to change that with this proposed statue.

The details

The Randy Rhoads Memorial Project was founded by Bill Lonero, who reached out to Rhoads' sister Kathy Rhoads D'Argenzio about the idea. They decided to pursue a memorial in Stough Canyon Park, a place Rhoads frequented. Lonero has already launched an online petition that has garnered over 3,500 signatures in two weeks, and he has started initial inquiries with the city of Burbank about making the memorial a reality.

  • The petition was launched in the past two weeks.
  • Rhoads died in a plane crash in 1982 at the age of 25.

The players

Bill Lonero

The founder of the Randy Rhoads Memorial Project, who is leading the effort to create a statue honoring the late guitarist in his hometown of Burbank.

Kathy Rhoads D'Argenzio

The sister of Randy Rhoads, who has expressed support for the memorial project.

Randy Rhoads

The late guitarist who played with Ozzy Osbourne and died in a 1982 plane crash at the age of 25.

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What they’re saying

“After a lot of research, I decided I wanted to make this happen. I reached back out to Kathy and told her my plan, and she was 100 percent in board.”

— Bill Lonero, Founder, Randy Rhoads Memorial Project

“The idea is to give fans, family and friends a place to go to honor and remember their time with Randy and think about the influence he has had.”

— Bill Lonero, Founder, Randy Rhoads Memorial Project

What’s next

Lonero has started initial inquiries with the city of Burbank about making the memorial a reality, but the project still faces many steps before it can be approved and funded.

The takeaway

Despite his immense influence on rock music, Randy Rhoads has no major memorial in his hometown of Burbank. Fans are now rallying to change that by pushing for a statue of the late guitarist in Stough Canyon Park, where he spent much of his time.