Rather than asking them to leave, they instead decided to break up and then quietly reformed the band as a four-piece. Iommi became concerned that Phillips and Clarke lacked the necessary dedication and were not taking the band seriously. and continued as a four-piece without Phillips and Clarke. After shortening the name to Polka Tulk, the band again changed their name to Earth (which Osbourne hated) Script error: No such module 'Footnotes'. The Polka Tulk Blues Band included slide guitarist Jimmy Phillips, a childhood friend of Osbourne's, and saxophonist Alan 'Aker' Clarke. Script error: No such module 'Footnotes'. or an Indian/Pakistani clothing shop the exact origin is confused. The new group was initially named the Polka Tulk Blues Band, the name taken either from a brand of talcum powder Script error: No such module 'Footnotes'. They enlisted bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, who had played together in a band called Rare Breed, Osbourne having placed an advertisement in a local music shop: 'OZZY ZIG Needs Gig – has own PA'. History Formation and early days (1968–1969) įollowing the break-up of their previous band Mythology in 1968, guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward sought to form a heavy blues rock band in Aston, Birmingham. 1.16 Possible reformation (2018–present).

1.15 Cancelled twentieth album, The End and disbandment (2014–2017).1.9 The Eternal Idol, Headless Cross and Tyr (1986–1990).1.6 Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules (1979–1982).1.5 Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die! (1976–1979).1.4 Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Sabotage (1973–1976).They have also won two Grammy Awards for Best Metal Performance, and in 2019 the band were presented a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. 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 sold over 70 million records worldwide. Rolling Stone magazine ranked them number 85 on their '100 Greatest Artists of All Time'. īlack Sabbath 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. During their farewell tour, the band played their final concert in their home city of Birmingham on 4 February 2017. Black Sabbath's final studio album and nineteenth overall, 13 (2013), features all of the original members except Ward. The original line-up reunited with Osbourne in 1997 and released a live album Reunion. In 1991, Iommi and Butler rejoined Dio and drummer Vinny Appice to record Dehumanizer (1992). 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. He was replaced by former Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Osbourne's regular use of drugs and alcohol led to his firing in 1979. The band's popularity grew, and by 1973's Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, critics were starting to respond favourably. Though it received a negative critical response, the album was a commercial success, leading to a follow-up record, Paranoid, later in 1970. Their debut album, Black Sabbath, was released the following month. Signing to Philips Records in November 1969, they released their first single, ' Evil Woman' in January 1970. They distinguished themselves through occult themes with horror-inspired lyrics and tuned-down guitars. The band had multiple line-up changes following Osbourne's departure in 1979, with Iommi being the only constant member throughout its history.Īfter previous iterations of the group called the Polka Tulk Blues Band and Earth, the band settled on the name Black Sabbath in 1969. The band helped define the genre with releases such as Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1970), and Master of Reality (1971).

They are often cited as pioneers of heavy metal music.

Black Sabbath were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne.

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