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Paul Elliott

“It wasn’t just my decision to fire Ozzy. It was a band decision. It was either we break up or we carry on without him”: Tony Iommi says they had to get rid of Ozzy Osbourne to make Black Sabbath great again

Ozzy Osbourne Tony Iommi Ronnie James Dio Black Sabbath Sabbath Bill Ward Rainbow Ritchie Blackmore Sharon Arden
Tony Iommi in 1980.

When Ozzy Osbourne was kicked out of Black Sabbath in 1979, fans were stunned. But as guitarist Tony Iommi insisted, the only other option the band had was to split up.

In an interview with Classic Rock, Iommi recalled how the problem with Osbourne came to a head in Los Angeles during sessions for Sabbath’s ninth album.

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