Black Sabbath

***Black Sabbath*** were an English rock 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. Black Sabbath are often cited as pioneers of heavy metal music, helping to define the genre. The band had multiple line-up changes, with Iommi being the only constant member throughout its history.

Formed in 1968 as the Polka Tulk Blues Band, a blues rock band, the group went through line up changes, renamed themselves as Earth, broke up and reformed. By 1969, they had named themselves Black Sabbath after the film Black Sabbath starring Boris Karloff, and began incorporating occult themes with horror-inspired lyrics and tuned-down guitars.

Osbourne's regular use of alcohol and other drugs 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 many 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 1991, Iommi and Butler rejoined Dio and drummer Vinny Appice to record *Dehumanizer* (1992). The original line-up reunited with Osbourne in 1997 and released a live album *Reunion*. Black Sabbath's final studio album and nineteenth overall, *13* (2013), features all of the original members but Ward, who left the band prior to the recording sessions due to a contract dispute. A year after embarking on a farewell tour, the band played their final concert in their home city of Birmingham on 4 February 2017, after which they broke up. Iommi has stated that he has not ruled out the possibility of new material or one-off shows under the Black Sabbath name.

### Pre-Sabbath

**1964-1965**: Tony Iommi is in the blues/rock band the Rockin' Chevrolets. The band had regular bookings and when they were offered work in Germany, Iommi decided to leave his factory job to take up the opportunity.

**1966-1967**: Iommi plays in a band named the Rest. It was in the Rest that Iommi first met future-Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward, who played drums and sang in the band.

**January, 1968-July, 1968**: Iommi was guitarist in Mythology, with Ward joining a month later in mid-February. During a raid in May, 1968 of the group's practice flat, cannabis resin was found and led to each band member being fined. Now viewed as drug users, some club owners refused to book them and so, after a gig in Silloth on July 13, 1968, Mythology split up.

**August, 1968**: At the same time as the break-up of Mythology, another Birmingham band called Rare Breed also broke up. Vocalist Ozzy Osbourne joined with Iommi and Ward. Requiring a bassist, Osbourne mentioned his former Rare Breed bandmate Geezer Butler, who was subsequently hired along with slide guitarist Jimmy Phillips and saxophonist Alan "Aker" Clarke. The six-piece band were named the Polka Tulk Blues Band. After just two gigs, Phillips and Clarke were dismissed from the band, and the name shortened to Polka Tulk.

**September, 1968**: Iommi, Butler, Ward and Osbourne renamed the band Earth. The same month, Iommi briefly departed to join Jethro Tull.

**November, 1968**: After only two performances with Jethro Tull, Iommi was back with Earth.

**August, 1969**: After being confused with another group named Earth (who had minor success in England), the group rename themselves Black Sabbath.

**August 30, 1969**: Black Sabbath play first live show in Workington.

**November, 1969**: Black Sabbath sign to Philips Records.

**January, 1970**: Black Sabbath release their first singe, "Evil Woman".

**February 13, 1970**: Black Sabbath release their debut album, *Black Sabbath* on Phillips' newly formed progressive rock label, Vertigo. And, yes, it was a Friday.

### Black Sabbath #1 (December, 1969 - November, 1977)

#### Tony Iommi

***Tony Iommi*** (born February 19, 1948) is an English guitarist, songwriter and producer. He was lead guitarist, and one of the four founder members, of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and has been the band's sole continual member and primary composer for nearly five decades.

While working in a factory as a teenager, Iommi lost the tips of the middle and ring fingers of his right hand in an accident; an event which crucially affected his playing style. Iommi briefly left Black Sabbath's forerunner, Earth, in 1968 to join Jethro Tull, after which he returned to Black Sabbath in 1969, recording their self-titled debut album.

**Find out more** at http://www.iommi.com.

#### Bill Ward

Bill Ward (born May 5, 1948) is an English musician and visual artist, best known as the original drummer of the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He also performed lead vocals on two Black Sabbath songs: "It's Alright" from the album *Technical Ecstasy* and "Swinging the Chain" from the album *Never Say Die!*. Ward is known for his very unorthodox style of playing the drums, often using snare-drills and tempo-drop to match both vocals and riff.

#### Ozzy Osbourne

***John "Ozzy" Osbourne*** (born December 3,1948) is an English singer, songwriter and actor. He rose to prominence during the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 and went on to have a successful solo career, releasing 11 studio albums, the first seven of which were all awarded multi-platinum certifications in the US. Osbourne has since reunited with Black Sabbath on several occasions. His longevity and success have earned him the informal title of "Godfather of Heavy Metal".

#### Geezer Butler

***Terence "Geezer" Butler*** (born July 17, 1949) is an English musician and songwriter. Butler is best known as the bassist and primary lyricist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He has also recorded with Heaven & Hell, GZR, and Ozzy Osbourne.

#### Terry Chimes

Craig Gruber

Ron Keel

Cozy Powell

Laurence Cottle

Neil Murray

Bobby Rondinelli