Ozzy Has Left The Building...

Thank You – Ozzy, Geezer, Bill, and Tony

Black Sabbath circa 1970, courtesy of Billboard Magazine

Black Sabbath was my band of bands back in Grade 7. I used to sneak out of class early every day, rushing home before the rest of the family arrived. I’d crank up their debut album, *Black Sabbath* (1970), on my dad’s stereo console, which had a ¼-inch jack—perfect for plugging in my Kent guitar, a pale green Stratocaster copy with a whammy bar. I loved that thing and learned so much playing along, even before I was a teenager. Sabbath was truly rocking! Then, when *Paranoid* dropped later that year, I was addicted. I followed closely up to *Vol. 4* (1972), but my musical tastes shifted toward the singer/songwriter groove for a while.

Getting back to Ozzy and Sabbath, Ozzy had such a distinctive voice—different, recognizable, and, to me, filled with pain yet brimming with truthfulness. Let’s not forget what a rocking band Sabbath was—and still is. Many might not realize it, but the Black Sabbath rhythm section is incredibly tight and killer: Bill Ward on drums and Geezer Butler on bass formed an incredible pairing. Add Tony Iommi on guitar, with his chunky, tight rhythms, fierce solos, and killer tones—words can’t fully capture how good these guys were. If you’re a player—bassist, guitarist, or drummer—try playing along with their songs properly. Geezer’s fluid, rocking bass lines, Bill’s double-stroke fills, and those time signature changes are truly wonderful. As for Ozzy, some underestimate his talents, but he had a marvelous melodic sense, crafting vocal melodies to complement Sabbath’s heavy riffs. When a melody didn’t work, he’d follow the guitar riff instead, which paired perfectly with those iconic tracks.

Let’s touch on a few albums. *Black Sabbath* (1970) opens with the sound of heavy rain, leading into songs like “The Wizard” and “N.I.B.”—this debut is superb and sets the stage for what’s to come. Then came *Paranoid* (1970), wow, two masterpieces in one year, with “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “Paranoid,” “Planet Caravan,” and “Fairies Wear Boots.” Sabbath cemented their place in rock & roll history. Listen to “Planet Caravan”—Ozzy’s melody is trippy, dreamy, and haunting all at once. Just a year later, they released *Master of Reality* (1971), featuring Ozzy’s coughing intro on “Sweet Leaf” (a nod to cannabis) with a riff that pulls you right in. Then, another year later, *Vol. 4* (1972) arrived—I still love this album today. Tracks like “Wheels of Confusion,” “FX,” “Snowblind,” “Supernaut,” and “Changes” deliver great guitar riffs and hooks, with Ozzy adding the perfect vocal performance. The exception is “Changes,” a heavy piano piece where Ozzy sings a sweet, heartfelt melody. As I mentioned, by the early ‘70s, I drifted toward the singer/songwriter vibe, but those Sabbath records still hold up and stand the test of time.

Sadly, Ozzy eventually left the band and was replaced by some very fine singers. But to me, he couldn’t be replaced—his voice suited Sabbath best in my opinion. I’d like to end by saying thank you, Ozzy, Geezer, Bill, and Tony, for the songs and fond memories.

Cheers, GB