Randy Rhoads vs. Eddie Van Halen

[Bumble's Bridge Pickup]

Eddie. I kinda dig Randy too but he died too soon. Eddie just made much more Crazy Train level recordings, and a lot of better stuff too.

[Georgy Zhukov]

All of Eddies solos sound the same to me.

[MidnightRuMidnMidnight ner]

Eddie easily. He was much more innovative and influential. 

I think Randy is overpraised because he died young (as it's a case with many musicians). And RR was more derivative than innovative, because that playing style was already established by guys like Blackmore, Schenker and Uli Jon Roth (who all get less credit than him) plus Eddie.