Black Sabbath vs Ozzy Osbourne vs Tony Iommi (rated by Total Tracks Played)

Black Sabbath's Turbulent History & Multiple Departures

Black Sabbath's story is one of rock's most chaotic, with multiple breakups, reunions, and lineup changes spanning five decades. The band essentially had several "breakup" periods, with members cycling in and out due to creative differences, substance abuse issues, and personality conflicts.

The Original Split (1979) & Ozzy's Departure:

Ozzy Osbourne was fired/quit in 1979 during the recording of "Never Say Die!" due to his severe drug and alcohol problems and erratic behavior. The band briefly continued with Ronnie James Dio as vocalist, creating a different but successful era, before Ozzy returned for various reunions.

Solo Careers:

Ozzy Osbourne became the "Prince of Darkness" and one of metal's biggest solo stars. With guitarist Randy Rhoads (and later Jake E. Lee and Zakk Wylde), he created classics like "Crazy Train," "Shot in the Dark," and "Mama, I'm Coming Home." His solo career actually eclipsed Sabbath commercially, helped by his outrageous stage antics and later reality TV fame with "The Osbournes." He became heavy metal's most recognizable figure.

Tony Iommi remained Sabbath's consistent core, keeping the band name alive through numerous lineup changes. He continued recording and touring as Black Sabbath with various vocalists including Dio, Ian Gillan, and Tony Martin. His guitar work and songwriting remained the band's defining element. He also released solo albums showcasing his riff-writing prowess across different styles.

The Revolving Door:

Unlike other band breakups, Sabbath's members (including Geezer Butler and Bill Ward) repeatedly reunited for tours and albums, making it less a clean "breakup" and more an ongoing soap opera. The original lineup's final album "13" came in 2013, over 40 years after their debut.
The situation allowed both Ozzy and Tony to explore their creative visions - Ozzy's theatrical showmanship and Tony's heavy riff mastery - while periodically returning to their legendary partnership.

Genre breakdown

31.4bn all-time streams (13 May '26)

10.1bn all-time streams (9 May '26)

6.4bn all-time streams (8 May '26)