Tony Iommi reflects on replacing Ozzy with Ronnie James Dio in Black Sabbath

Tony Iommi, the guitarist and primary songwriter of Black Sabbath, initially had mixed feelings about replacing Ozzy Osbourne as the band’s lead vocalist. When Ozzy was dismissed from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to various issues, including his substance abuse problems, the band was faced with the task of finding a new frontman. At first, Iommi was hesitant about the idea of replacing Ozzy because he believed that the band’s success was largely due to the chemistry and unique sound they had developed together. However, the remaining members of Black Sabbath—Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler (bass), and Bill Ward (drums)—were determined to continue making music. After auditioning several vocalists, the band eventually hired Ronnie James Dio, formerly of the band Rainbow, as their new lead singer. Dio’s powerful and versatile voice brought a different dynamic to Black Sabbath’s sound, and the band went on to release two successful albums with him: “Heaven and Hell“ (1980) and "