Black Sabbath’s influence on heavy metal is indisputable. With its roots firmly planted in Birmingham, England, the band came to life in 1968, casting a long and powerful shadow over the world of rock. In this article, we will dig deeper into the fascinating story of Black Sabbath, exploring 30 lesser-known facts about this iconic band.
- Black Sabbath is considered one of the pioneering bands of heavy metal. The band was formed in 1968 in Birmingham, England.
- The original members of the band were Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass), and Bill Ward (drums).
- Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut album was released on February 13, 1970. It’s often considered the first true heavy metal album.
- The band was originally named “Earth,” but they renamed themselves “Black Sabbath” after the 1963 horror film of the same name, directed by Mario Bava. The title inspired Geezer Butler to write the song “Black Sabbath”.
- Tony Iommi, the band’s guitarist, lost the tips of his middle and ring fingers in a factory accident before the band’s formation. He crafted makeshift prosthetics and used lighter gauge strings, which contributed to the band’s unique heavy sound.
- The band’s third album, “Master of Reality,” released in 1971, was one of the first albums to feature tuned down guitars, which became a common practice in heavy metal music.
- Ozzy Osbourne was fired from the band in 1979 because of his substance abuse problems. He was replaced by Ronnie James Dio, a move that marked a significant change in the band’s sound and direction.
- Black Sabbath’s song “Iron Man” was initially titled “Iron Bloke”. It has since become one of the band’s most popular songs, despite its unusual title.
- The song “Paranoid” was a last-minute addition to the album of the same name. It became one of the band’s biggest hits, reaching number 4 in the UK Singles Chart.
- Black Sabbath has had numerous lineup changes over the years. Tony Iommi is the only member to have been part of every album.
- In 2006, Black Sabbath was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- Black Sabbath’s final studio album, “13,” was released in 2013. The album debuted at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart and the Billboard 200, making it the band’s first album to top the US charts.
- The band announced their retirement in 2017 after completing their farewell tour, “The End”.
- Black Sabbath has sold over 70 million records worldwide, making them one of the most successful bands in history.
- The band’s distinctive logo, with its stylized, angular lettering, was designed by an artist named “Dennis the Menace” and first appeared on their 1975 album “We Sold Our Soul for Rock ‘n’ Roll”.
- In 2002, Ozzy Osbourne became a reality TV star with the MTV show “The Osbournes,” which featured his wife Sharon and two of their children.
- “War Pigs,” one of the band’s most famous songs, was originally titled “Walpurgis,” referring to the Witches’ Sabbath, and the lyrics were about a black mass.
- Despite being known as the “Prince of Darkness,” Ozzy Osbourne has been a vegetarian for several years.
- Geezer Butler, the band’s bassist, is a lifelong vegan and animal rights activist.
- In 2019, the city of Birmingham commemorated Black Sabbath’s legacy and contribution to music with a heavy metal bench and a bridge named after the band.
- “Black Sabbath” was the first heavy metal song to be aired on BBC Radio 1 when it was released in 1970.
- The band’s fourth studio album, “Vol. 4” (1972), was originally intended to be named “Snowblind”, as a reference to the band members’ struggle with cocaine addiction. However, the record company rejected this.
- Tony Iommi is credited with inventing the “power chord”, a key feature in heavy metal music, as a result of the accident that cost him the tips of his fingers.
- Bill Ward, the band’s original drummer, was also fired due to his alcoholism in the mid-1980s, mirroring Ozzy’s dismissal.
- After Ronnie James Dio, Black Sabbath had numerous other vocalists, including Ian Gillan (formerly of Deep Purple), Glenn Hughes, Ray Gillen, and Tony Martin.
- The band was managed in their early years by Jim Simpson, a local jazz musician and band manager, but they later moved on to be managed by Sharon Osbourne’s father, Don Arden.
- Black Sabbath’s music has been featured in various films and TV shows, including “Iron Man”, “School of Rock”, and “Supernatural”.
- In 2013, for the first time in their career, Black Sabbath earned a Grammy for Best Metal Performance for their single “God Is Dead?”
- The band originally practiced in a movie theater called the Starlight Ballroom, which was where they wrote and rehearsed many of their earliest songs.
- Black Sabbath has influenced numerous bands and musicians in heavy metal, including Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest, as well as bands in other genres like Nirvana and The Smashing Pumpkins.
