Geezer Butler Recalls ‘Heartbreaking’ Decision to Fire Ozzy

When Ozzy Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979, it marked the tip of the unique lineup’s basic period.

Throughout a current look on the Bob Lefsetz podcast, bassist Geezer Butler detailed the troublesome determination to dismiss the Prince of Darkness.

“It was heartbreaking as a result of we might all grown up collectively. We fought towards the percentages collectively,” the bassist defined. “We carried out miracles, making the band profitable. And it was heartbreaking. It is like slicing your arm off.”

Regardless of agonizing over the choice, Butler nonetheless believes it was the best transfer for all concerned.

READ MORE: The Day Black Sabbath Fired Ozzy Osbourne

“He positively wanted a change of way of life on the time,” the rocker famous, pointing to Osbourne’s more and more harmful substance abuse habits. “We had been all doing medicine and boozing and stuff like that, however we might nonetheless operate. Whereas Ozzy, he wasn’t functioning anymore. And we received this home in Bel Air to put in writing an album. Ozzy simply wasn’t within the music that we had been doing.”

Based on Butler, the preliminary suggestion to fireside Ozzy got here from Black Sabbath’s guitarist, Tony Iommi.

“Finally Tony says, ‘Ozzy’s received to go. He is simply not . The band’s not going to go anyplace if we carry on like this.’ And he says, ‘Really I used to be a celebration the opposite night time and I received speaking to this man known as Ronnie James Dio, and he is received a fully good voice, and I feel we must always give him a go.’”

“So Tony got here to the choice to do away with Ozzy,” Butler continued. “We we hated doing it, nevertheless it needed to occur for our sake and his sake. And all of it labored out nice in the long run. And Ronnie James Dio got here alongside… He sang to a few of the stuff that we would written and he was good, completely simply precisely what it wanted. And that was the tip of the Ozzy period.”

Getting Fired From Black Sabbath Hit Ozzy Osbourne ‘Like a Ton of Bricks’

As you’d anticipate, Osbourne was surprised when the band informed him he was fired.

“He could not imagine it. I imply, it is like a ton of bricks coming down on him,” Butler recalled, noting that Ozzy was immediately alone. “I imply, we had one another, however Ozzy did not have anyone. And by chance that is when Sharon got here alongside and saved him.”

Following his dismissal, Osbourne rebounded with one of many biggest second acts in rock historical past. The singer branched out with a vastly profitable solo profession, which lately earned him a second induction into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame.

READ MORE: Ozzy Osbourne Celebrated With All-Star Efficiency at Rock Corridor

“It stunned me how briskly he turned himself round,” Butler admitted, trying again. “And we had been completely, actually glad that he was profitable and he turned his complete life round. It was nice as a result of he was profitable and we had been profitable. We had been, had one of many largest promoting albums ever of the Sabbath period, and he most likely grew to become larger than Sabbath.”