Ozzy Osbourne was fired by his bandmates after a lengthy period of increasingly erratic drinking and drug-fueled behavior. When Tony Iommi chose to replace Ozzy, the band's tensions erupted...and they broke up later that year. Black Sabbath was originally formed in Birmingham, England in 1960 by bassist/vocalist Geezer Butler (then known as George Barker), guitarist/vocalist Tony Iommi, and drummer Bill Ward. The group started out playing blues-based rock 'n' roll but soon developed a heavy metal sound that became popular in the 1970s. Black Sabbath has been cited as an influence by many other bands including Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Van Halen. Iommi and Ward remained friends with Barker not being invited back into the band, even after he rejoined for a time in 1983. In 1987, Black Sabbath reunited without Barker for their first world tour in nine years. After this successful run, Ozzy Osbourne was hired as replacement for deceased lead singer Tony Iommi. Osbourne's aggressive vocal style and personal life made him an instant hit with fans who had grown tired of Iommi's deep voice and perceived lack of emotion during songs. Black Sabbath continued to play shows until 1992 when Ward died of cancer.