When Black Sabbath concluded their final show, the Back to the Beginning farewell event on July 5, 2025—just 17 days before Ozzy Osbourne’s passing—the band closed with “Paranoid.” No other song would have been more fitting. The 1970 classic elevated Black Sabbath from a regional cult act to international superstardom, and the band never left the stage without it.
This commitment extended beyond Ozzy’s departure in 1979. Even as he launched his solo career with Randy Rhoads, and as Sabbath continued with multiple vocalists through the 1980s, “Paranoid” remained a staple. Over their decades-long career, countless singers and guitarists tackled this heavy-metal milestone. Here’s a retrospective look at 12 standout versions of the timeless classic.
Black Sabbath with Ozzy Osbourne
The original Black Sabbath were at their peak when they performed at L’Olympia Bruno Coquatrix in Paris on December 20, 1970—just three months after the Paranoid album’s release. A professional camera crew captured the performance for posterity. This predates the cocaine, alcohol, and financial excesses that would slowly tear the band apart. While they played “Paranoid” hundreds of times afterward, it never sounded quite as vital as this.
Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio
Losing Ozzy Osbourne should have doomed Black Sabbath, but they quickly recruited former Rainbow frontman Ronnie James Dio, released the acclaimed Heaven and Hell album, and hit the road. As shown here, Dio brought a more theatrical approach to “Paranoid” compared to Ozzy’s style. Among post-Ozzy vocalists, Dio was clearly the standout. For a brief period in 1980, it seemed Sabbath might triumph over the split with Ozzy—until Blizzard of Ozz dropped.
Black Sabbath with Ian Gillan
After Dio departed in 1982, Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan joined Black Sabbath for the troubled Born Again album and tour. Contrary to popular belief, their struggles—including the infamous oversized Stonehenge prop—didn’t inspire Spinal Tap; the film was already in production. Nonetheless, this was a messy period for Sabbath. Gillan’s powerful “Highway Star” vocal range suited “Paranoid” well, though the collaboration was short-lived. Deep Purple reunited the following year, leaving Sabbath searching for another singer.
Black Sabbath with Glenn Hughes
In 1973, Deep Purple recruited singer-bassist Glenn Hughes, and 12 years later, Black Sabbath did the same. (Their name was in quotes since this was essentially a Tony Iommi solo project that the label pressured into calling itself Black Sabbath.) The Hughes-era lone album, 1986’s Seventh Star, featured live performances of classic tracks including “Paranoid” during touring.
Black Sabbath with Tony Martin
After hiring established vocalists throughout the 1980s only to lose them quickly, Tony Iommi opted for relative unknown Tony Martin in 1987 for The Eternal Idol. This proved a smarter long-term choice, as Martin remained loyal and even returned in 1993 for a brief reuniting with Ronnie James Dio. A strong vocalist, Martin delivered powerful performances of classics like “Paranoid,” though Sabbath was creatively at their lowest point. Their club-level touring during this era contrasts with fans who celebrate the Martin years for the extensive original material they produced.
Ozzy Osbourne with Randy Rhoads
On September 3, 1980, while Black Sabbath traveled from Hawaii to Florida, Ozzy’s new solo band Blizzard of Ozz debuted publicly at the Norbreck Castle Hotel in Blackpool, England. This marked the unveiling of Ozzy’s post-Sabbathfuture with ace guitarist Randy Rhoads. Their seven-song set opened with new material like “Crazy Train” before closing with Sabbath classics including “Paranoid.” This kickstarted the rivalry between Ozzy and his former bandmates—a competition Ozzy would decisively win.
Ozzy Osbourne with Bernie Tormé
The Ozzy-Rhoads partnership produced many of the singer’s biggest solo hits, and they became close friends during recording of Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman. But on March 19, 1982, Rhoads died in a plane crash while buzzing Ozzy’s tour bus. Despite Ozzy’s grief, he kept the tour going two weeks later. Irish guitarist Bernie Tormé filled the gap briefly, lasting only weeks. A poor audience tape from Madison Square Garden captures this fleeting lineup performing “Paranoid.”
Ozzy Osbourne with Brad Gillis
When things didn’t work with Tormé, Night Ranger’s Brad Gillis replaced him. Gillis fit better than the bluesy Tormé, though Ozzy was drinking heavily to cope with Rhoads’ death, creating tension between them. Gillis returned to Night Ranger after the tour, but during his tenure they recorded the live album Speak of the Devil—a Black Sabbath covers collection designed to compete with Sabbath’s Live Evil for publishing rights. The album remains divisive, offering a unique take on “Paranoid.”
Ozzy Osbourne with Jake E. Lee
Ozzy finally found stability in Jake E. Lee after passing over Dokken’s George Lynch for the Bark at the Moon sessions. Lee remained through Bark at the Moon and The Ultimate Sin albums and tours. They performed few Sabbath songs during this period—their younger audience favored new material—but every show concluded with “Paranoid.”
Ozzy Osbourne with Zakk Wylde
At just 20, Zakk Wylde landed the job after hearing Ozzy on Howard Stern via photographer Mark Weiss’ connection. This began a three-decade partnership producing hits like “No More Tears” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” Wylde played alongside Ozzy at the Back to the Beginning event. However, there were significant gaps in the 1990s and 2000s where Ozzy worked with other guitarists.
Ozzy Osbourne with Joe Holmes
Ozzy launched the No More Tours farewell tour in 1992, followed by the Retirement Sucks tour three years later. Surprisingly, Wylde wasn’t part of the latter—Joe Holmes, formerly of David Lee Roth and Lizzy Borden, filled the gap. Holmes stayed through early Ozzfest years into the 2000s before being let go in 2001 to reinstate Zakk Wylde.
Ozzy Osbourne with Gus G
Wylde’s dismissal in 2009 brought Greek guitarist Konstantinos Karamitroudis—known as Gus G—in as his replacement. Gus G excellently recreated parts from Tony Iommi, Randy Rhoads, and Zakk Wylde, though hardcore fans remained unimpressed, longing for Wylde’s return. That wish was granted in 2017 when Wylde was hired for his third stint.