Black Sabbath were an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. After adopting the Black Sabbath name in 1969 (the band were previously named Polka Tulk Blues Band and then Earth), they distinguished themselves through occult themes with horror-inspired lyrics and down-tuned guitars. Their first three albums, Black Sabbath, Paranoid (both 1970), and Master of Reality (1971), were commercially successful, and are cited as pioneering albums in the development of heavy metal. Subsequent albums Vol. 4 (1972), Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973), Sabotage (1975), Technical Ecstasy (1976), and Never Say Die! (1978) saw the band explore more experimental and progressive styles. Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 and replaced by former Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio, who recorded three albums with the band, Heaven and Hell (1980), Mob Rules (1981), and their first authorised live album Live Evil (1983), the last two featuring drummer Vinny Appice replacing Ward. Following Dio and Appice's departures, Iommi and Butler recorded Born Again (1983) with Ward returning on drums, and Ian...
Extract from Wikipedia: “Black Sabbath” (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Concerts
Vinyl
2011 · Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
Black Sabbath Vol 4
Black Sabbath
1987 · Vinyl, LP, Album, Club Edition
The Eternal Idol
Black Sabbath
1983 · Vinyl, LP, Album
Born Again
Black Sabbath
1982 · Vinyl, LP, Album
Live Evil
Black Sabbath
1981 · Vinyl, LP, Album
Mob Rules
Black Sabbath
1980 · Vinyl, LP, Album
Heaven And Hell
Black Sabbath
1979 · Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue
Master Of Reality
Black Sabbath
1978 · Vinyl, LP, Album
Never Say Die!
Black Sabbath
1978 · Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Reissue
We Sold Our Soul For Rock 'N' Roll
Black Sabbath
1976 · Vinyl, LP, Album
Technical Ecstasy
Black Sabbath
1975 · Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Sabotage
Black Sabbath
1973 · Vinyl, LP, Album, Repress
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
1971 · Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Paranoid
Black Sabbath
— · Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Members
46 people from MusicBrainz
- 1968–1969Geezer Butler — bass guitar, original
- 1968–1969★Tony Iommi — guitar, original
- 1968–1969★Ozzy Osbourne — lead vocals, original
- 1968–1969★Ozzy Osbourne — harmonica, original
- 1968–1969Bill Ward — background vocals, original
- 1968–1969Bill Ward — drums (drum set), original
- 1969–1977★Ozzy Osbourne — lead vocals, original
- 1969–1977★Ozzy Osbourne — harmonica, original
- 1969–1979Geezer Butler — bass guitar, original
- 1969–1980Bill Ward — background vocals, drums (drum set), original
- 1969–2006★Tony Iommi — guitar, original
- 1977–1978Dave Walker — lead vocals
- 1979–1982Ronnie James Dio — lead vocals
- 1979–2004Geoff Nicholls — keyboard
- 1980–1982Vinny Appice — drums (drum set)
- 1982–1984Ian Gillan — lead vocals
- 1982–1985Bill Ward — background vocals, drums (drum set), original, percussion
- 1983–1984Bev Bevan — drums (drum set), percussion
- 1984–1984Ron Keel — lead vocals
- 1984–1985David Donato — lead vocals
- 1985–1986Glenn Hughes — lead vocals
- 1985–1987Eric Singer
- 1985–1987Eric Singer — drums (drum set)
- 1985–1987David Spitz — bass guitar
- 1986–1987Ray Gillen — lead vocals
- 1986–1986Bob Daisley — bass guitar
- 1987–1988Terry Chimes — membranophone
- 1987–1987Bev Bevan — drums (drum set), percussion
- 1987–1988Jo Burt — bass guitar
- 1987–1990Tony Martin — lead vocals
- 1988–1991Cozy Powell — drums (drum set)
- 1989–1991Neil Murray — bass guitar
- 1990–1994Geezer Butler — bass guitar, original, synthesizer
- 1991–1992Ronnie James Dio — lead vocals
- 1991–1993Vinny Appice — drums (drum set)
- 1993–1995Cozy Powell — drums (drum set)
- 1993–1996Tony Martin — lead vocals
- 1993–1996Bob Rondinelli — drums (drum set)
- 1994–1995Neil Murray — bass guitar
- 1997–1997Mike Bordin — drums (drum set)
- 1997–2012Bill Ward — background vocals, drums (drum set), original, percussion
- 1997–Geezer Butler — bass guitar, original, synthesizer
- 1997–★Ozzy Osbourne — lead vocals, original
- 1998–1998Vinny Appice — drums (drum set)
- 2007–2007Vinny Appice — drums (drum set)
- 2011–2017★Tony Iommi — guitar, original
Discography
220 releases from MusicBrainz · ★ 26 in my collection
Albums (20)
- 1970★Black Sabbath
- 1970★Paranoid
- 1971★Master of Reality
- 1972Vol 4
- 1973★Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
- 1975★Sabotage
- 1976★Technical Ecstasy
- 1978★Never Say Die!
- 1980★Heaven and Hell
- 1981★Mob Rules
- 1983★Born Again
- 1986★Seventh Star
- 1987★The Eternal Idol
- 1989Headless Cross
- 1990TYR
- 1992Dehumanizer
- 1994Cross Purposes
- 1995Forbidden
- 201313
- 2024Studio Outtakes 1969
EPs (1)
- 1999Black Mass
Singles (36)
- 1970Evil Woman
- 1970★Paranoid
- 1970The Wizard
- 1971Iron Man
- 1971Sweet Leaf
- 1972Children of the Grave
- 1972Tomorrow’s Dream
- 1973★Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
- 1975Iron Man / Paranoid
- 1976Am I Going Insane (Radio)
- 1976Gypsy
- 1976It’s Alright
- 1978Hard Road
- 1978★Never Say Die
- 1980Die Young
- 1980Neon Knights
- 1981★Mob Rules
- 1982Turn Up the Night
- 1986No Stranger to Love
- 1987The Shining
- 1989Black Moon
- 1989Devil and Daughter
- 1989Headless Cross
- 1990Feels Good to Me
- 1992I
- 1992Master of Insanity
- 1992TV Crimes
- 1995Get a Grip
- 1998Psycho Man
- 1998Selling My Soul
- 2007Shadow of the Wind
- 2007The Devil Cried
- 2013God Is Dead?
- 2024Evil Eye / Get a Grip
- 2024Headless Cross / Anno Mundi
- —WAR PIGS (Deep Notion bootleg)
More: singles, compilations, live & other releases
Lives (91)
- 1970Walpurgis: The Peel Session 1970
- 1975Gr’ndlepol
- 1980Live at Last
- 1980★Never Say Die
- 1982Best of the Biscuit
- 1982★Live Evil
- 1984Heavy Metal, Vol. 1
- 1990Metal Mess
- 19911970-12-20: War Pigs: Olympia, Paris, France
- 1991The Black Sabbath Story, Volume I: 1970–1978
- 1992Archangel Rides Again
- 1992Ozzy Meets the Priest
- 1993Black Bloody Black — 1992‐08‐09: Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA, USA
- 1993Black Sabbath – Live Murder Act I & II
- 1993Neon Nights
- 19941994-04-19: Muziekcentrum Vredenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands
- 1994Cross Box
- 1994Iron Men — 1994‐03‐03: Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- 1995Black Night in San Francisco
- 1995Burning the Cross — 1980‐11‐27: The Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Australia
- 1995Cross Purposes – Live
- 1995Killing Yourself to Die — 1977‐04‐21: Olympen, Lund, Sweden
- 1995The Ray Gillen Years
- 19961970-06-26: Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany
- 19961978‐06‐19: Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, UK
- 1996Black and Purple
- 1996Return to 1969
- 1996Wicked Sabbath — 1971‐07‐18: Beggars Banquet Festival, Borough of York Stadium, Toronto, ON, Canada
- 1997Parisian Bitch
- 1997Purple Sabbath — 1983‐11‐04: The Centrum, Worcester, MA, USA
- 1998Ozzy Rules Budapest — 1998‐06‐03: Kisstadion, Budapest, Hungary
- 1998★Paranoid
- 1998Reunion
- 1999Austrophobia * 1989-1998
- 1999The Last Supper
- 1999The Reunion of the Century
- 2000Hole in the Sky — 1976‐01‐13: Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, UK
- 2000One for the Nose — 1978‐09‐22: Selland Arena, Fresno, CA, USA
- 2001Diamonds in Devore — 2001‐06‐30: Glen Helen Blockbuster Amphitheater, Devore, CA, USA
- 2001Paranoid in New Jersey — 1975‐08‐05: Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ, USA
- 2002Past Lives
- 2002The Last Sacrament
- 2003Going Through Changes — 1973‐07‐01: Ngaruawahia Music Festival, Ngaruawahia, New Zealand
- 2003Headless in Vienna — 1989‐09‐24: Summer Arena, Vienna, Austria
- 2004Master of Winterland
- 2006Bringer of Evil
- 2007Live at Hammersmith Odeon
- 2008The Rules of Hell
- 2010Mob Finals
- 2011Montreux 1970
- 20122012‐05‐19: O₂ Academy, Birmingham, England, UK
- 2012Dark Knight
- 2012Eurolines
- 2012The Vinyl Collection: 1970–1978
- 2013Live… Gathered in Their Masses
- 2015California Jam 1974
- 2015Manchester 1989 Pre-FM Master
- 2016The End
- 2017Bassically / N.I.B. (live)
- 2017Live in Copenhagen 1971
- 2017November 16, 1969 - Dumfries
- 2017The End
- 2017War Pigs (live)
- 2018Definitive Chicago 1995
- 2018Masters of Reality 1970–75: The Legendary Broadcasts
- 2020Live in Lausanne, April 1970
- 2020Spiral Architect
- 2021Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath 1970–2017
- 2021Transmission Impossible
- 2022The Broadcast Collection 1970 – 1975
- 2022The Sunday Show
- 20231978-09-02: Civic Arena: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- 2023Children of the Sea (live) (2023 remaster)
- 2023Headless in Osaka
- 2023The Mob Rules (live) (2023 remaster)
- 2023Tokyo Heaven: Japan Broadcast 1980
- 2024Born Again in Paris
- 2025Black Sabbath Pittsburgh 1976–1978 (remastered, live on broadcasting)
- 2025Collection
- 2025Greatest Hits Broadcast Collection: Black Sabbath
- 2025The Legendary California Jam, 1974
- —1980‐05‐02: Colston Hall, Bristol, England, UK
- —1980‐08‐12: Providence Civic Center, Providence, RI, USA
- —1999-07-22: Desert Sky Pavilion, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- —2004‐08‐26: Tweeter Center, Camden, NJ, USA
- —2005‐06‐25: Rockwave Festival, Terra Vibe, Malakása, Greece
- —2013‐12‐22: The NIA, Birmingham, England, UK
- —Eternity’s Wings — 1987‐11‐25: Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany
- —Heaven and Hell in Hartford — 1980‐08‐10: Civic Center, Hartford, CT, USA
- —Love in Chicago — 1974‐02‐11: International Amphitheater, Chicago, IL, USA
- —Smoke on the Water: Reading Festival 1983 — 1983‐08‐27: Reading Festival, Little John’s Farm, Reading, England, UK
Soundtracks (1)
- 1992Time Machine
Compilations (62)
- 1970★Black Sabbath — compilation aka “Club Sonderauflage”
- 1972Attention! Black Sabbath!
- 1974Attention! Black Sabbath! Volume 2
- 1975Reflection
- 1976Black Sabbath / Paranoid
- 1976The Original Black Sabbath
- 1976★We Sold Our Soul for Rock ’n’ Roll
- 1977★Greatest Hits
- 1977Vol 4 / Master of Reality
- 1984Hand of Doom: 4 Record Set
- 1984The History of Rock: Volume Twenty Seven
- 1985The Sabbath Collection
- 1988Sabbath Bloody Sabbath / Black Sabbath
- 1989Backtrackin’
- 1989Blackest Sabbath: Black Sabbath 1970–1987
- 1990★Black Sabbath — USSR compilation
- 1990Black Sabbath / Judas Priest
- 1991The Black Sabbath Story
- 1991The Masters of Heavy Metal
- 1991The Ozzy Osbourne Years
- 1992Forever
- 1992Iron Man
- 1992The Ultimate in Heavy Metal
- 1993Between Heaven & Hell: The Best of Black Sabbath
- 1993The Gallery, Volume 6
- 1993The Very Best of Black Sabbath
- 1994Iron Man
- 1995Between Heaven and Hell: 1970–1983
- 1995The Best of Ozzy Osbourne Years
- 1996Best Ballads
- 1996Ozzy Osbourne Best Tracks
- 1996The Best of Black Sabbath
- 1996The Sabbath Stones
- 1996Under Wheels of Confusion: 1970–1987
- 1997Best Volume 1
- 1997Rock Giants
- 1998Best Of
- 1998Black Sabbath 1970–1973
- 1998Paranoid / Technical Ecstasy
- 1999The Collection
- 2000New Best Ballads
- 2000The Singles: 1970–1978
- 2001Rock Champions
- 2001The Complete 70’s Replica CD Collection: 1970–1978
- 2002Symptom of the Universe: The Original Black Sabbath 1970–1978
- 2004Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath 1970–1978
- 2006Greatest Hits 1970–1978
- 2007The Dio Years
- 2008Eternal Stars
- 2008★Greatest Hits
- 2009★Greatest Hits
- 2010Frantic / Paranoid
- 2010The Complete Ozzy Years: 1970–1978
- 2014The Complete Albums 1970–1978
- 2015The Very Best Of
- 2016The Ultimate Collection
- 2017The Ten Year War
- 2018Supersonic Years: The Seventies Singles Box Set
- 2022Ten Songs for You
- 2023Hand of Doom: 1970–1978
- 2024Anno Domini: 1989–1995
- —The Very Best of Black Sabbath With Ozzy Osbourne
Remixs (2)
- 2012Paranoid (Kozilek remix)
- —★Paranoid
Demos (6)
- 2001Born in the Studio
- 2001Star of India
- 2002Forbidden Rough Mix
- 20091969 Demo
- 2014The Eternal Idol Working Tracks
- 2017The End: Studio Sessions
Others (1)
- 2007Audiobiography