“Paranoid”
Written by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward & Geezer Butler

JOE ALTIER: Lead Vocal
MARK DUNN: Guitars
SCOTTY SIMPSON: Bass
HENRIK ENGQVIST: Drums

Producer: Tom Emmi
Music Mixes: Bob Schachner
Video Editor: Vince Bruzzese, David Kratz

John Michael Osbourne was born in a home without plumbing in Birmingham, England. As a teenager, he worked in a slaughterhouse and did time in prison for burglary. Perhaps his greatest achievement was to invent a career for himself where dark deeds and a bad reputation would be the secret to success. At age 20, Ozzy, as he would henceforth be known, helped to forge a new genre of rock music. To stand out from the psychedelic sunshine of their British Invasion cohort, Black Sabbath went dark. Belting satanic verses in an icy tenor over thrashing guitars and thundering bass lines, Ozzy and his Birmingham bandmates turned metal into platinum while influencing hordes of young musicians to follow in their boot steps. Though mostly remembered late in his career as a comical drug casualty and reality TV star, it was Ozzy’s searing voice and visionary sense of style that will long cast a dark shadow over the musical landscape.

Related Segments

Mick Ralphs

Mick Ralphs was an English guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He was a founding member of two widely popular English rock bands…Mott The Hoople and Bad Company. He appeared on every…

Watch now

Sonny Curtis

Sonny Curtis was an American singer and songwriter. Known for his collaborations with Buddy Holly, he was a member of The Crickets and continued with the band after Holly’s death…

Watch now

Brian Wilson

How do you measure musical genius? Is it about creating new sounds? Does commercial success matter? Critical opinion? The admiration of your peers? Or does it have more to do…

Watch now

Jill Sobule

Before Katy Perry ever imagined kissing a girl, Jill Sobule had recorded an unforgettable song about the experience. Thanks to her wide-eyed curious perspective and self-effacing sense of humor, it…

Watch now

Drew Zingg

Drew Zingg was an American rock, blues, soul and jazz guitarist, best known for his performing with Steely Dan and Boz Scaggs.

Watch now

Terry Reid

When Robert Plant says his prayers at night, we hope he thanks Terry Reid for his singing career. Reid, whose plaintive, haunting voice had captured the ear of Jimmy Page,…

Watch now

Sly Stone

Of all the stars that rose in the 1960s, Sylvester Stone might have burned the brightest and hottest. A genius-level songwriter, arranger, bandleader, singer and multi-instrumentalist, Sly and his band…

Watch now

Ozzy Osbourne

John Michael Osbourne was born in a home without plumbing in Birmingham, England. As a teenager, he worked in a slaughterhouse and did time in prison for burglary. Perhaps his…

Watch now

Roberta Flack

There are singers who wow you with technical flash and operatic range. Roberta Flack just stole your heart outright without even seeming to try. Her warm, mellow tone and captivating…

Watch now

Sheila Jordan

Sheila Jordan was an American jazz singer and songwriter. She recorded as a session musician with an array of critically acclaimed artists in addition to recording her own albums.

Watch now

In Memoriam 2025

So we can remember them fondly, here is a compiled list of some of the many musicians and industry veterans who passed away in 2025. May they all Rest in…

Watch now