Black Sabbath
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About Black Sabbath
British heavy metal band Black Sabbath formed in Birmingham in 1968. The original lineup consisted of Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony lommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass), and Bill Ward (drums). Black Sabbath are well known for shaping the heavy metal genre with their dark, brooding sound and themes.
Their self-titled debut album, ‘Black Sabbath’ (1970), is often considered the first heavy metal album, featuring iconic tracks like ‘Black Sabbath’ and ‘N.I.B’. Further albums such as ‘Paranoid’ (1970) and ‘Master of Reality’ (1971) stamped their mark in the scene with classic hits like ‘Iron Man’ and ‘War Pigs’.
The band's influence has since spread across rock music, inspiring countless groups such as Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Rage Against The Machine, Electric Wizard, Iron Maiden, and Metallica. Despite numerous lineup changes and hiatus periods, Black Sabbath’s final tour, The End Tour (2016-2017), marked the end of an era for the band.
How did Black Sabbath get their name?
Black Sabbath derived their name from a 1963 Italian horror film titled Black Sabbath, directed by Mario Bava and starring Boris Karloff. The film was known for its atmospheric and eerie themes, which resonated with the band’s overall style.
What is Black Sabbath’s biggest hit?
Released in 1970 on their album Paranoid, ‘Iron Man’ won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2000, almost three decades after its release, and Rolling Stone ranked it among the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
What albums have Black Sabbath released?
Black Sabbath have released nineteen studio albums including: ‘Black Sabbath’ (1970), ‘Paranoid’ (1970), ‘Master of Reality’ (1971), ‘Vol. 4’ (1972), ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’ (1973), ‘Sabotage’ (1975), ‘Technical Ecstasy’ (1976), ‘Never Say Die!’ (1978), 'Heaven and Hell’ (1980), ‘Mob Rules’ (1981), ‘Dehumanizer’ (1992), ‘13’ (2013), and the live album ‘The End’ (2016).
Why did Ozzy Osbourne leave Black Sabbath?
In 1979, Osbourne was officially dismissed from the band due to personal issues, internal conflict, health concerns and creative differences. Following his departure, Osbourne embarked on a highly successful solo career and later reunited with Black Sabbath in 2013 until their final tour.
