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. It got to the point that he was eventually kicked out of Black Sabbath, and the band was left looking for a replacement who could match Osbourne not only in his vocal ability but also in his stage presence. They managed to get this in Ronnie James Dio. 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 Though Dave Walker briefly replaced Osbourne during his 1977–78 sabbatical, the late Ronnie James Dio supplanted Osbourne in 1979. Dio would go on to record the following two Sabbath albums, An excerpt from Ronnie James Dio’s memoir revealed the reason he finally decided to replace Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath in July 2021. So, in 1979, the unthinkable happened—Black Sabbath officially fired Ozzy Osbourne. And while the band has never admitted that Sharon Osbourne played a direct role in the decision, she Black Sabbath were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. Though Dave Walker briefly replaced Osbourne during his 1977–78 sabbatical, the late Ronnie James Dio supplanted Osbourne in 1979. Dio would go on to record the following two Sabbath albums, An excerpt from Ronnie James Dio’s memoir revealed the reason he finally decided to replace Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath in July 2021. For the rest of Sabbath, it left a huge problem: how do you replace such a charismatic frontman as Ozzy? Rather than go through the chore of sitting through endless auditions, the band decided to tap up someone they knew. Enter Dave Walker. 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 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. Black Sabbath were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. For the rest of Sabbath, it left a huge problem: how do you replace such a charismatic frontman as Ozzy? Rather than go through the chore of sitting through endless auditions, the band decided to tap up someone they knew. Enter Dave Walker. Ronnie James Dio (born July 10, 1942 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S.) was an American singer, songwriter, bassist and trumpetist. He was lead vocalist of Black Sabbath from 1979–1982, 1991, 1991–1992 and 2006–2010. When he first joined the band, he replaced Ozzy Osbourne. It got to the point that he was eventually kicked out of Black Sabbath, and the band was left looking for a replacement who could match Osbourne not only in his vocal ability but also in his stage presence. They managed to get this in Ronnie James Dio. 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 Ronnie James Dio (born July 10, 1942 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S.) was an American singer, songwriter, bassist and trumpetist. He was lead vocalist of Black Sabbath from 1979–1982, 1991, 1991–1992 and 2006–2010. When he first joined the band, he replaced Ozzy Osbourne. 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 So, in 1979, the unthinkable happened—Black Sabbath officially fired Ozzy Osbourne. And while the band has never admitted that Sharon Osbourne played a direct role in the decision, she
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |