The dramatic split of Black Sabbath from Ozzy Osbourne in 1979 resulted in an extraordinary turn of events, giving rise to two remarkable new musical entities. The last collaborative effort of the original Sabbath lineup, the 1978 album Never Say Die!, showcased a band struggling with burnout and internal conflicts, ultimately reflecting a diminished creative spirit. However, the introduction of Ronnie James Dio as their new lead vocalist breathed new life into the legendary group. His exceptional, operatic vocal style sparked a wave of innovative ideas from guitarist and riff master Tony Iommi, leading to the creation of the critically acclaimed 1980 album Heaven and Hell.

Meanwhile, Ozzy Osbourne faced escalating substance abuse challenges, reaching a point where many deemed him a lost cause. Yet, after enlisting the phenomenal guitar talent of Randy Rhoads, who had previously played with the pre-fame band Quiet Riot, Osbourne shocked the music world with the release of the stunning 1980 album Blizzard of Ozz.

Following the successful album launches, the next logical step for both groups was to embark on extensive tours. Black Sabbath kicked off their Heaven and Hell tour on April 17, 1980, in Aurich, West Germany, while Ozzy Osbourne commenced his Blizzard of Ozz tour on September 12 in Glasgow, showcasing their new directions and musical styles.

Below, we explore the similarities and differences in the set lists crafted by Osbourne and his former bandmates during their respective tours:

Explore Ozzy Osbourne’s Set Lists: A Focus on New Tracks

Embracing a fresh start, Osbourne predominantly performed songs from Blizzard of Ozz at the outset of each concert, often including a few tracks from his upcoming album, Diary of a Madman, which would be released in 1981. He concluded each performance with a trio of iconic Black Sabbath classics, notably “Iron Man,” “Paranoid,” and “Children of the Grave,” ensuring a blend of new and nostalgic experiences for his audience.

“I’d be talking out of my arse if I said I didn’t feel like I was in competition with Black Sabbath when we made Blizzard of Ozz,” Osbourne reflected in his 2009 autobiography, I Am Ozzy. He expressed well wishes for his former band but candidly admitted to feeling anxious about their potential success without him. “I knew we had a cracking album of our own. And it was magic to be in control – like I’d finally pulled something off. Everywhere we went, the venues were full, and there were more people queuing up outside.”

Ozzy Osbourne, Typical ‘Blizzard of Ozz’ Tour Set List

1. “I Don’t Know” (from 1980’s Blizzard of Ozz)
2. “Crazy Train” (from Blizzard of Ozz)
3. “Believer” (later featured on 1981’s Diary of a Madman)
4. “Mr. Crowley” (from Blizzard of Ozz)
5. “Flying High Again” (later included on 1981’s Diary of a Madman)
6. “Revelation (Mother Earth)” (from Blizzard of Ozz)
7. “Steal Away (The Night)” (from Blizzard of Ozz)
8. “Suicide Solution” (from Blizzard of Ozz)
9. Guitar Solo
10. “Iron Man” (from Black Sabbath’s Paranoid)
11. “Children of the Grave” (from Black Sabbath’s Master of Reality)
12. “Paranoid” (from Black Sabbath’s Paranoid)

via SetList.fm

 Watch Ozzy Osbourne Perform ‘I Don’t Know’

Black Sabbath’s Set Lists: A Blend of Classic and Contemporary Hits

The newly reformed Black Sabbath also expressed delight in their new material. “Tony would tell me how overjoyed he was to finally be able to take Sabbath to the next level,” Dio reminisced in his posthumous 2021 biography, Rainbow in the Dark. “Full of light and shade, tracks like ‘Heaven and Hell,’ he said, belonged in the same pantheon as Sabbath classics like ‘War Pigs’ and ‘Iron Man,’ only now there was a real sense of melody involved.”

However, the band seemed to feel a greater obligation to perform their classic tracks compared to Osbourne’s approach. They almost completely reversed Osbourne’s set list ratio, delivering eight tracks from the Ozzy era and only four from Heaven and Hell. In addition to the three songs Osbourne featured, Sabbath included an energetic rendition of “War Pigs” to kick off their shows, alongside other timeless hits like “N.I.B.” and “Sweet Leaf.”

Dio expressed his nervousness regarding how Sabbath fans would receive him in this new role. “Tony and the guys acted cool, reassuring me there would be no problem at all. But I knew in my bones that things are never quite that simple. I knew it wouldn’t just be a case of whether I could sing the songs – that was the least of my worries. It would all come down to how relatable I was to the fans.”

“Ronnie had to put up with people in the front, like ‘Where’s Ozzy?’ signs and all this ‘Where’s Ozzy?’ stuff, and he had to do that,” shared drummer Vinny Appice, who stepped in for Bill Ward during Sabbath’s 1981 Mob Rules tour. “And he hated singing those songs. He hated singing ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Sweet Leaf’ and the Ozzy songs.”

Despite Dio’s discomfort, Appice noted that the singer excelled in delivering the Osbourne-era material. “It was totally different. It was just a powerful voice singing the melody and the whole thing. So it was incredible.”

Dio himself credited the introduction of his now-iconic “horned hands” gesture for fostering a connection with the audience. “The fans picked up on it and began flashing them back. Just a few dozen at first, but more each night as word of mouth spread—and the music press reviews began to mention it. Soon, I began to feel like I really belonged up there on the stage with Sabbath.”

Black Sabbath, Typical ‘Heaven and Hell’ Tour Set List

1. “War Pigs” (from 1970’s Paranoid)
2. “Neon Knights” (from 1980’s Heaven and Hell)
3. “N.I.B.” (from 1970’s Black Sabbath)
4. “Sweet Leaf” (from 1971’s Master of Reality)
5. “Children of the Sea” (from Heaven and Hell)
6. Drum Solo
7. “Black Sabbath” (from Black Sabbath)
8. “Heaven and Hell” (from Heaven and Hell)
9. “Iron Man” (from Paranoid)
10. Guitar Solo
11. “Orchid” (from Master of Reality)
12. “Die Young” (from Heaven and Hell)
13. “Paranoid” (from Paranoid)
14. “Children of the Grave” (from Masters of Reality)

via SetList.fm

Watch Black Sabbath Perform in 1980