Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath | |
---|---|
Background information | |
AKA |
Polka Tulk Earth |
Genres | Heavy metal |
Years active |
1968 (as Polka Tulk) 1968-1969 (as Earth) 1969-2006, 2011-present |
Labels |
Vertigo/Mercury/Virgin EMI/Universal Warner Bros. I.R.S. Sanctuary |
Members | |
Tony Iommi Geezer Butler Ozzy Osbourne | |
Past members | |
See below |
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Birmingham in 1968, by guitarist and main songwriter Tony Iommi, bassist and main lyricist Geezer Butler, singer Ozzy Osbourne, and drummer Bill Ward. The band have since experienced multiple line-up changes, with guitarist Iommi being the only constant presence in the band through the years. Originally formed in 1968 as a blues rock band, the group soon adopted the Black Sabbath moniker and began incorporating occult themes with horror-inspired lyrics and tuned-down guitars. Despite an association with these two themes, Black Sabbath also composed songs dealing with social instability, political corruption, the dangers of drug abuse and apocalyptic prophecies of the horrors of war.
Osbourne's regular abuse of drugs and alcohol led to his dismissal from the band in 1979. He was replaced by former Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Following two albums with Dio, Black Sabbath endured countless personnel changes in the 1980s and 1990s that included vocalists Ian Gillan, Glenn Hughes, Ray Gillen and Tony Martin, as well as several drummers and bassists. In 1992, Iommi and Butler rejoined Dio and drummer Vinny Appice to record Dehumanizer. The original line-up reunited with Osbourne in 1997 and released a live album Reunion. Black Sabbath's 19th studio album, 13, which features all of the original members but Ward, was released in June 2013.
Black Sabbath are often cited as pioneers of heavy metal music. The band helped define the genre with releases such as Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1970) and Master of Reality (1971). They were ranked by MTV as the "Greatest Metal Band" of all time, and placed second in VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" list. Rolling Stone magazine ranked them number 85 in their "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". They have sold over 70 million records worldwide. Black Sabbath were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. They have also won two Grammy Awards for Best Metal Performance.
Members
- Current line-up
- Ozzy Osbourne - Vocals (1969-1977, 1978-1979, 1997-2006, 2011-present)
- Tony Iommi - Guitars (1969-2006, 2011-present)
- Geezer Butler - Bass (1969-1979, 1980-1984, 1987, 1991-1994, 1997-2006, 2011-present)
- Former members
- Bill Ward - Drums (1969-1980, 1983, 1984, 1994, 1997-2006, 2011-2012)
- Dave Walker - Vocals (1977-1978)
- Ronnie James Dio - Vocals (1979-1982, 1991-1992)
- Geoff Nicholls - Bass (1979, 1987), Keyboards, Backing vocals (), occasional Rhythm Guitar (live) (1979-2004)
- Vinny Appice - Drums (1980-1982, 1991-1992, 1998)
- Ian Gillan - Vocals (1983-1984)
- Bev Bevan - Drums (1983-1984, 1987)
- Dave Donato - Vocals (1984)
- Eric Singer - Drums (1985-1987)
- Dave Spitz - Bass (1985-1987)
- Jeff Fenholt - Vocals (1984-1985)
- Glenn Hughes - Vocals (1985-1986)
- Ray Gillen - Vocals (1986-1987)
- Bob Daisley - Bass (1986)
- Tony Martin - Vocals (1987-1991, 1992-1997)
- Jo Burt - Bass (1987)
- Cozy Powell - Drums (1988-1991, 1994-1995)
- Neil Murray - Bass (1989-1990, 1994-1996)
- Bobby Rondinelli - Drums (1993-1994, 1995)
- Touring members
- Adam Wakeman - Keyboards, Rhythm guitar (2004-2006, 2011-present)
- Tommy Clufetos - Drums (2012-present)
- Former touring members
- Gerald "Jezz" Woodruffe - Keyboards (1975-1977)
- Terry Chimes - Drums (1987-1988)
- Rob Halford - Vocals (1992, 2004)
- Shannon Larkin - Drums (1997)
- Mike Bordin - Drums (1997)
Tours
- Black Sabbath Tour 1970
- Paranoid Tour 1970-1971
- Master of Reality Tour 1971-1972
- Vol. 4 Tour 1972-1973
- Sabbath Bloody Sabbath Tour 1973-1974
- Sabotage Tour 1974-1976
- Technical Ecstacy Tour 1976-1977
- Never Say Die Tour 1978
- Heaven & Hell Tour 1980-1981
- Mob Rules Tour, 1981–1982
- Born Again Tour 1983
- Seventh Star Tour 1986
- Eternal Idol Tour 1987
- Headless Cross Tour 1989
- Tyr Tour 1990
- Dehumanizer Tour 1992
- Cross Purposes Tour 1994
- Forbidden Tour 1995
- Ozzfest Tour 1997
- European Tour 1998
- Reunion Tour 1999
- Ozzfest Tour 1999
- US Tour 1999
- European Tour 1999
- Ozzfest Tour 2001
- Ozzfest Tour 2004
- European Tour 2005
- Ozzfest Tour 2005
- Black Sabbath Reunion Tour, 2012–2014 [1]
- The End Tour 2016
Discography
- Studio albums
- 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)
See also
References
- ↑ Tour Dates – Black Sabbath Online. Black-sabbath.com.