Random Rotation around given axis

I'm making a firework system for fun, and I created an explode type called Ring and what I'd like it to do is this:

And it works, but only if the axis I'm giving it is (0, 0, 0). And if I were to make the plane the rotation of (45, 0, 0) (so rotated around the x axis 45 degrees right?) it comes out looking like this:

I double check making sure the planes were facing right after exploding. The view is from a bit aways, as if at a show, hence why it's elliptical. But if you notice in the above picture, there is a part of the ring cut out. If I increase the rotation to 90, every flare of the firework is in the same spot falling straight down. Here's my code for generating the ring:

 public void Explode ()
 {
     if (currentPhase == Phase.Rising) {
         //ready to go pa poopy
         Debug.Log ("Exploded");
         currentPhase = Phase.Exploded;
         foreach (GameObject go in flares) {
             go.transform.localScale = new Vector3 (flareExplodeSize, flareExplodeSize, flareExplodeSize);
             Vector3 explodeVector = new Vector3 ((Random.value * 2) - 1, (Random.value * 2) - 1, (Random.value * 2) - 1);
             if (explodeType == ExplodeType.Sphere) {
                 go.GetComponent<Rigidbody> ().velocity = explodeVector.normalized * explodeForce;
             } else if (explodeType == ExplodeType.Cube) {
                 go.GetComponent<Rigidbody> ().velocity = explodeVector * explodeForce;
             } else if (explodeType == ExplodeType.Ring) {
                 //this is the ring section right here
                 go.transform.rotation = Quaternion.Euler (ring_Rotation);
                 go.transform.Rotate (go.transform.up * Random.value * 359.999f);
                 go.GetComponent<Rigidbody> ().velocity = go.transform.forward * explodeForce;
             }
             go.GetComponent<Rigidbody> ().useGravity = gravityOnExplode;
             go.GetComponent<Renderer> ().sharedMaterial.SetColor ("_EmissionColor", colorOnExplode);
         }
         gameObject.GetComponent<AudioSource> ().Stop ();
         if (explodeSound != null) {
             gameObject.GetComponent<AudioSource> ().clip = explodeSound;
             gameObject.GetComponent<AudioSource> ().Play ();
         }
     }
 }

I dont doubt I'm missing something blindingly obvious, but I'm having a hard time imagining the rotating and which part isn't what's it's suppose to be.