Black Sabbath

sabs

Black Sabbath was an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968. The band is often cited as pioneers of heavy metal music. The original lineup consisted of Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass guitar), and Bill Ward (drums). Black Sabbath's music features dark themes and heavy, guitar-driven sound, a stark contrast to the popular music of their time, which contributed to the development of the heavy metal genre.

History

Formation and Early Years

Black Sabbath began under the name Polka Tulk Blues Band before changing to Earth. They finally settled on the name Black Sabbath in 1969, inspired by a horror film. Their self-titled debut album, Black Sabbath, was released in 1970 and was followed by Paranoid the same year. These albums contained some of their most iconic songs, such as "Black Sabbath", "Paranoid", and "Iron Man".

Rise to Fame

The early 1970s saw Black Sabbath becoming one of the most influential bands in heavy metal, with albums like Master of Reality (1971), Vol. 4 (1972), and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973). Their music was characterized by Iommi's heavy guitar riffs, Osbourne's distinctive vocals, Butler's doom-laden lyrics, and Ward's powerful drumming.

Line-up Changes and Later Years

Throughout their career, Black Sabbath underwent numerous lineup changes. Osbourne was fired in 1979 and replaced by Ronnie James Dio, leading to a new musical direction with the albums Heaven and Hell (1980) and Mob Rules (1981). The mid-to-late 1980s and 1990s saw further changes and a decline in commercial success. However, the original lineup reunited in the late 1990s and released 13 in 2013, their first studio album with Osbourne since 1978.

Legacy

Black Sabbath's influence on the development of heavy metal is immeasurable. They are credited with creating the genre's sonic foundation and aesthetics. Bands across various metal subgenres cite Black Sabbath as an influence. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

Discography

• 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)
• Born Again (1983)
• Seventh Star (1986)
• The Eternal Idol (1987)
• Headless Cross (1989)
• Tyr (1990)
• Dehumanizer (1992)
• Cross Purposes (1994)
• Forbidden (1995)
• 13 (2013)

Members

• Ozzy Osbourne – vocals
• Tony Iommi – guitar
• Geezer Butler – bass
• Bill Ward – drums

See Also

• Heavy metal music
• History of heavy metal