In 1970, Ozzy joined with Tonny Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, to form the band Earth. While rehearsing in Birmingham, there was a cinema across the street playing the movie "Black Sabbath." They decided to write music that would scare people since people seemed willing to stand in line to see a movie that would scare them. Subsequently, they wrote "Black Sabbath." Later, Geezer would come up with the idea of calling the band Black Sabbath. With the releases of Paranoid (1970), Black Sabbath (1970), Master Of Reality (1971), etc. Black Sabbath defined what heavy metal would become. Ozzy has since become known as the "Godfather of Metal." Unfortunately, in 1978, Ozzy was fired from Black Sabbath.
In 1980, Ozzy teamed up with Randy Rhoads (1956-82), former guitarist and founder of Quiet Riot. Randy's style combined the elements of heavy metal, blues and classical music. Together with bassist Bob Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake, they made Blizzard of Ozz. The album featured some of Randy's greatest compositions, as well as Ozzy's. Songs like, "Crazy Train," "Suicide Solution," "Goodbye To Romance" and "Mr. Crowley" will be remembered for a long time. Ozzy and Randy again teamed up for Ozzy's second solo work, Diary Of A Madman (1981). This album had Tommy Albridge on drums and Rudy Sarzo (also from Quiet Riot) on bass. Unfortunately, Randy was killed in a tragic plane crash on March 20, 1982 over Leesburg, Florida. This ended the legacy Ozzy and Randy had created. "When he died, a part of me died with him," Ozzy said of losing Randy.
In 1982, Ozzy released "Speak Of The Devil," a live compilation of Black Sabbath songs. In 1983, "Bark At The Moon" was released, with guitarist Jake E. Lee replacing Randy and the addition of Don Airey on keyboards. 1986 saw the release of "The Ultimate Sin." Lee continued as Ozzy's guitarist on this release, with Randy Castillo on drums and Phil Soussan on bass.
In 1987 Zakk Wylde joins the band (replacing Lee). The following year, "No Rest For The Wicked" is released. In 1990, Ozzy released the live album, "Just Say Ozzy." The following album, "No More Tears" (1992) added John Sinclair on keyboards. Daisley was replaced by Michael Inez on bass, although Daisley is the bassist on the album. In 1992, Ozzy anounced that he was on his final tour, "No More Tours," and was retiring. Zakk went on to form Pride and Glory (a country-rock band) and Inez would become the bassist of Alice In Chains. Fortunately, Ozzy got sick of retirement, and got together with Zakk, Geezer Butler, bassist of Black Sabbath, Deen Castronovo on drums, and Rick Wakeman and Michael Binhorn on keyboards, to release "Ozzmosis" in 1995. He then went on a small "Retirement Sucks" tour, and is currently on a larger scale Ozzmosis tour. On the tour, Joe Holmes replaced Zakk on guitar and Michael Inez replaced Butler midway throught the tour.
