After parting ways with Ozzy, Black Sabbath needed a new voice, and fast. And that’s when Sharon Osbourne made a suggestion that would change heavy metal history. Black Sabbath are rightly enshrined as one of the forefathers of heavy metal. The band’s original line-up – singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward – were responsible for one of the greatest run of albums in music history, stretching from 1970’s self-titled debut to 1975’s Sabotage. When he first joined the band, he replaced Ozzy Osbourne. He was previously a member of several other bands, including the Vegas Kings/Ronnie and the Rumblers, Ronnie and the Redcaps, Ronnie Dio and the Prophets, the Electric Elves, the Elves, Elf, and Rainbow. After his first period in Black Sabbath, he was the lead singer of Dio. The news of Ozzy Osbourne's death at 76 surfaced on the internet on Tuesday, July 22, after his family's announcement about the singer's death was posted by media outlets. Ronnie James Dio replaced Ozzy Osbourne in BLACK SABBATH in 1980, recording the "Heaven And Hell" and "Mob Rules" albums, plus "Live Evil", before leaving in 1982. He rejoined the group 10 years Ozzy Osbourne – Vocals Tony Iommi – Guitar, Keyboards Geezer Butler – Bass Bill Ward – Drums Rick Wakeman – Keyboards (1973, not a full member of band) Jezz Woodruffe – Keyboards (1975 – 1977, not a full member of band) Official Albums from this Lineup: Black Sabbath Paranoid Master of Reality Volume 4 Sabbath Bloody Sabbath Sabotage We Sold Our Soul for Rock & Roll Technical Four lineups of Black Sabbath and Heaven & Hell: 1973, 1986, 2007, and 2013. Black Sabbath were an English heavy metal band from Aston, Birmingham. Formed in September 1968 under the initial name Earth, the group's first lineup included lead vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward. Ozzy Osbourne experienced a series of ups and downs before his death at age 76 After the rock icon was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979, his solo career proved to be equally successful Osbourne's When Ozzy Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979, it threw the band’s future in doubt – but they returned with a new singer, Ronnie James Dio, and an album, Heaven and Hell, that revived their fortunes. In 2007, Tony Iommi looked back at Sabbath’s first great resurrection. Why did Black Sabbath fire Ozzy Osbourne in 1979? It wasn't the first time the iconic singer and the pioneering metal band had parted ways. OZZY OSBOURNE was kicked out of Black Sabbath in 1979, prompting the beginning of his solo career - but the Birmingham rocker was "jealous" of his replacement - even though the replacement did not Four lineups of Black Sabbath and Heaven & Hell: 1973, 1986, 2007, and 2013. Black Sabbath were an English heavy metal band from Aston, Birmingham. Formed in September 1968 under the initial name Earth, the group's first lineup included lead vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward. Black Sabbath are rightly enshrined as one of the forefathers of heavy metal. The band’s original line-up – singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ozzy Osbourne was replaced as the lead vocalist for Black Sabbath by Ronnie James Dio. Together with his creative contributions, Dio’s strong and operatic vocals helped the band enter a new era and take their place as heavy metal pioneers. In 1979, Dio replaced Ozzy Osbourne as Black Sabbath’s lead singer and appeared on three successful studio albums. In 1982, Ronnie left Black Sabbath to form his own band, Dio, which went on to sell over 20 million records worldwide. Ozzy Osbourne became famous as the front man for Black Sabbath, but in 1979, his bandmates let him go. Late Cortland native Ronnie James Dio replaced Osbourne as Black Sabbath’s lead singer in 1979, among other lineup changes over the years, though Osbourne returned to the group in later years. An excerpt from Ronnie James Dio’s memoir revealed the reason he finally decided to replace Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath in July 2021. At the end of 1977 Ozzy Osbourne left Black Sabbath. Rehearsing for the album that would eventually be "Never Say Die" Osbourne up and quit the band. Being as hard headed as Ozzy, Tony Iommi wasted no time in replacing him, by calling former Humble Pie & Fleetwood Mac singer Dave Walker to join. The journey of Black Sabbath began with the original lineup consisting of guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. Formed in 1969, the band quickly gained popularity with their heavy blues-influenced sound and dark lyrics. They released their debut self-titled album, “Black Sabbath,” in 1970, which became a platinum hit. Over the next
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