Black Sabbath Hits No. 1 For The First Time

Black Sabbath said goodbye to fans around the world with a farewell concert held in Birmingham, England in early July. The group reformed in its classic lineup for one final show – an event that likely also marked the end of Ozzy Osbourne’s performing career. Charts globally reflect the excitement and sadness drummed up by the performance, and in the United States, Black Sabbath scores a long-overdue hit, as the band manages to conquer a Billboard ranking for the very first time.

Black Sabbath Lands a First No. 1

Black Sabbath launches “Paranoid” at No. 1 on the Hot Hard Rock Songs chart. The group earns not only its first No. 1 or even its first top 10, but its first appearance ever on the ranking of the most consumed hard rock tracks throughout the U.S. The tally was introduced many years after Black Sabbath’s initial commercial heyday, but some longtime fans may still be surprised by the fact that it took until 2025 and the group’s swan song for the rockers to appear anywhere on the list.

“Paranoid” Returns on Multiple Rankings

“Paranoid” also debuts on both the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and Hot Rock Songs charts at the same time. Coincidentally, it launches at No. 16, earning Black Sabbath just its second-ever hit. More than a decade ago, in 2013, “God Is Dead?” arrived and spent a very short stint on the consumption-based rankings.

Hard Rock Classic Hits the Sales and Streaming Tallies

The same single, which is regarded as perhaps Black Sabbath’s most famous and one of the most highly-regarded hard rock tunes in history, returns to both the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales and Hard Rock Streaming Songs charts simultaneously. “Paranoid” reenters those tallies at Nos. 5 and 10, respectively. Those positions mark high points that “Paranoid” has reached in the past, and the composition returns to them as interest in the band’s music surges.

A Classic Album Climbs Once Again

“Paranoid” served as the lead single from Black Sabbath’s second studio album of the same name, which arrived in 1970. As the smash hit debuts and returns to several rosters, Paranoid the collection reappears on the Top Hard Rock Albums tally this week, breaking back in at No. 16. That slot serves as a never-before-seen high for the bestselling release.