Black Sabbath

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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
Touring members
Former touring members

Tours

Discography

Main article: Black Sabbath discography
Studio albums

See also

References

  1. ↑ Tour Dates – Black Sabbath Online. Black-sabbath.com.


External links

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