Why did Ozzy Osbourne leave the band Black Sabbath?

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Over time, Ozzy Osbourne has established himself as an iconic figure in popular culture. Regarding music, he will forever be associated with Black Sabbath. This band played a crucial role in shaping metal into a distinct subgenre within rock and roll. With their controversial frontman, they embodied the perfect representation of the genre. During their peak years, they produced music that left an indelible mark, after which Osbourne embarked on a solo career.

Ozzy Osbourse was one of the original members who formed Black Sabbath back in 1967. He provided vocals and played the harmonica across their initial eight studio albums. The first three of these records are renowned as classics within the genre. However, as the band’s popularity began to decline, Ozzy’s personal lifestyle started clashing with the rest of the group members. Eventually, he was dismissed from the band in 1979, not by his own choice.

Ozzy Osbourne was fired in 1979

The main vocalist was dismissed by band members Geezer Butler (bassist), Tony Iommi (guitarist), and Bill Ward (drummer). They had grown weary of Osbourne’s constant partying and drug abuse, even though they too were engaged in similar activities privately. Iommi was the one who spoke up the most about letting Osbourne go, as he felt the singer was becoming careless in the recording studio and negatively impacting their ability to create exceptional music.

In an interview with Raised on Radio in 2019, Iommi stated, “It was necessary for us to take action.” The situation had become critical, and we were faced with the question, ‘What’s next? Should we disband or call it quits, or should we try to find a new vocalist?’ Osbourne went on to have success as a solo artist in the 80s, but his struggles with alcohol and drugs only served to confirm Black Sabbath’s apprehensions.

In time, the band and its vocalist made up. They embarked on a series of joint tours in 1997 and continued strong into the new millennium. There were intentions to produce a fresh Sabbath album in 2001, but these plans dissolved when the singer departed to complete his solo work. The vocalist left once more in 2006, and legal disputes ensued.

The singer has returned multiple times

2009 saw Ozzy Osbourne filing a lawsuit in a New York federal court against Iommi. He alleged that Iommi had unlawfully used the band name, despite being the only continuous member throughout Sabbath’s 40-year history. The legal dispute was resolved the next year, but specific details about the settlement remain undisclosed. Remarkably, Osbourne and Iommi reconciled their disagreements once more to collaborate on Black Sabbath’s album titled “13“.

Since then, Osbourne, Iommi, and Butler have reunited for what is currently the final recording by Sabbath. From 2011 until 2017, they toured extensively, with their album dropping in 2013. After their separation, another reunion was just a matter of time. In fact, it was confirmed that the original lineup, featuring Osbourne, Iommi, Butler, and Ward, would be back together for a Black Sabbath concert titled “Back to the Beginning.

The performance is scheduled for July 5th in Birmingham, and it’s being advertised as the last Sabbath show they’ll ever play. It may not be the cleanest route to the end, but credit where it’s due – all four of them are making their exit on their own terms, which isn’t something many bands can claim.

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2025-03-20 22:00