Originally known as Earth, the band Black Sabbath released their first, self-titled album in 1970. Like many English groups of that era, they were originally immersed in emulating American Blues. But after a few years of playing blues under the Earth name, the group had a revelation.
As legend has it, the band was rehearsing across the street for a movie house where the film Black Sabbath was playing. The group – Ozzy Osbourne on vocals, Bill Ward on drums, Tony Iommi on guitar, and Geezer Butler on bass – thought they’d take a stab at playing rock’n’roll that was influenced by horror music with dark lyrics.
The rest is history. The group’s new sound defined what would become known as heavy metal.
Black Sabbath – The Ozzy Osbourne Years
The band’s first, self-titled album, which maintained many improvisational “jam” elements of their previous direction, was followed by the album “Paranoid” that featured perhaps their most famous song of the same name.
A tour of North America quickly established the band; by the time the tour was completed, they had made headlines for their controversial sound and converted many fans with their unique sound. While bands like Led Zeppelin remained steeped in the blues, Black Sabbath used chord structures and riffs that went far beyond twelve bar blues.
As is often the case, the band had developed serious drug and alcohol problems over the years. These issues came to a head when singer Ozzy Osbourne was fired by the band in 1979. The albums released during this time were:
- Self-Titled - Black Sabbath (1970)
- Paranoid (1970)
- Master of Reality (1971)
- Volume 4 (1972)
- Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)
- Sabotage (1975)
- Technical Ecstasy (1976)
- Never Say Die (1978)
Black Sabbath – The Dio Years
The year 1979 also brought a new singer in the form of Ronnie James Dio, formerly of Rainbow and Elf.
Dio brought the band renewed focus and energy, not to mention his existing reputation as a powerful singer and performer. The next Black Sabbath album, Heaven and Hell, was extremely successful. This disc was followed by Mob Rules, and equally focused album, but one that did not share the success of the previous.
A live album called Live Evil was released as Dio exited the band amongst disagreements over money and control intensified. Drummer Bill Ward stopped touring with the group. The ablums released during the Dio period are:
- Heaven and Hell (1980)
- Mob Rules (1981)
- Live Evil (1983)
Black Sabbath – Later Years
Tony Iommi continued on with the Black Sabbath band, releasing many albums with many musician lineups of varying qualities (including one with Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan - worth seeking out). As the heavy metal genre grew and other bands became popular, Black Sabbath were all but forgotten.
In 1990, Ronnie James Dio rejoined Black Sabbath for an album and a tour. It was a successful reunion, but cut short by Dio’s return to his solo work.
In 1997, Black Sabbath reunited with Ozzy Osbourne and toured several times through 2005. Though Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler reunited with Dio as Heaven and Hell in 2007, the possibility remains for more touring with the original Black Sabbath lineup.
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