 
Description
The undesignated and undisputed creators of this entire genre called the Doom Metal on which our website is dedicated. Black Sabbath are an English rock band, formed in Birmingham in 1968 by Ozzy Osbourne (lead vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass), and Bill Ward (drums and percussion). The band has since experienced multiple lineup changes, with a total of twenty-two former members. Originally formed as a heavy blues-rock band named Earth, the band began incorporating occult- and horror-inspired lyrics with tuned-down guitars, changing their name to Black Sabbath and achieving multiple gold and platinum records in the 1970s. As one of the first and most influential heavy metal bands of all time, Black Sabbath helped define the genre with releases such as 1970s quadruple-platinum Paranoid. They were ranked by MTV as the "Greatest Metal Band" of all time, and have sold over fifteen million records in the United States alone.
Ozzy Osbourne was fired from the band in 1979, and while initially replaced by former Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio, Black Sabbath would see a revolving lineup in the 1980s and 1990s that included vocalists Ian Gillan, Glenn Hughes, Ray Gillen and Tony Martin. The original lineup reunited with Osbourne in 1997 and released a live album, Reunion, which spawned the Grammy Award-winning single "Iron Man" in 2000, thirty years after the song's initial release on the album Paranoid. The early 1980s line-up featuring Iommi, Butler, Dio, and Vinny Appice reformed in 2006 under the moniker Heaven & Hell, a title taken from the 1980 Black Sabbath song and album of the same name. Heaven & Hell released their debut album The Devil You Know, on 28 April 2009.
Members
Ozzy Osbourne
Tony Iommi
Geezer Butler
Bill Ward
Former/past members
Saxophone :
- Alan "Aker" Clarke
Guitar :
- Jimmy Phillips (The Prospectors)
Keyboards :
- Rick Wakeman (1973) (Yes, ABWH [stands for: Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe])
- Gerald "Jezz" Woodruffe (1975-1977, 1987)
- Don Airey (1978-May 1979) (Alaska (UK), Anthem (Jpn), Air Pavilion, Deep Purple, Divlje Jagode, Empire (Ger), Glenn Tipton, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Iommi, Rainbow, Sinner (Ger), The Cage, M.S.G., Whitesnake)
- Geoff Nicholls (May 1979-1987, 1987-Jun 2004) (Quartz, Tony Martin)
Vocals :
- Dave Walker (Oct 1977-Jan 1978) (Fleetwood Mac, Savoy Brown)
- Ronnie James Dio (May 1979-Nov 1982, Apr 1991-Nov 13 1992) (Rainbow, Hear 'n Aid, Munetaka Higuchi (Guest), Heaven And Hell (UK), Elf, The Vegas Kings, Ronnie & The Rumblers, Ronnie and The Red Caps, The Elves, Ronnie Dio & The Prophets)
- Ian Gillan (Jan 1983-Mar 1984) (Deep Purple, Ian Gillan Band, Episode Six, Sed Nove and Ann Wilson, Gillan & Glover, Garth Rockett & the Moonshiners, The Javelins)
- Dave Donato (sometime in 1984) (White Tiger)
- Ron Keel (sometime in 1984) (Steeler (US), Saber Tiger)
- Glenn Hughes (Sep 1985-Mar 1986) (Deep Purple, Erik Norlander, Aina, Iommi, Voodoo Hill, Mφtley Crόe, Quiet Riot, Trapeze, Finders Keepers, Hughes/Thrall, Phenomena, Phenomena II, Gary Moore, Jon Lord, Tommy Bolin, Pat Travers, 4 On The Floor, Climax Blues Band, Night Ranger, Heaven, Whitesnake, XYZ, Notorious, L.A. Blues Authority, The KLF, Lynch Mob, John Norum, Geoff Downes, Sister Whiskey, Mark Bonilla, George Lynch, Stevie Salas, Manfred Ehlert's Amen, Hank Davison, Brazen Abbot, Wet Paint, Richie Kotzen, Liesagang, Asia, Amen, Stuart Smith, The Bobaloos, Niacin, Tidewater Grain, Craig Erickson Project, Nikolo Kotzev, Max Magagni, Ape Quartet, Ellis, Hughes Turner Project, The Alchemist, Ryo Okumoto, Jeff Scott Soto, Chris Catena, Michael Men Project, Moonstone Project, The Lizards, Ken Hensley)
- Ray Gillen (Mar 1986-Aug 1987) (Sun Red Sun, Rondinelli, Badlands, F-66, (R.I.P. 1961 - 1993, Aids Related Complications)
- Tony Martin (Aug 1987-Apr 1991, Dec 1993-sometime in 1996) (Empire (Ger), Rondinelli, The Cage, M3, Giuntini Project)
- Rob Halford (Nov 14-20, 1992, August 26th 2004) (Judas Priest, Fight (US), Two, Hear 'n Aid)
Drums:
-Vinny Appice (Aug 1980-Nov 1982, Apr 1991-Nov 1992) (Heaven And Hell (UK), Dio, Rick Derringer, WWIII, Erik Norlander, Power Project, Minoru Niihara (Guest), Hear 'n Aid (Guest), 3 Legged Dogg, Axis, Circle Of Tyrants, War And Peace)
- Bev Bevan (Aug 1983-Mar 1984, Jun 1987-Oct 1987) (ELO)
- Eric Singer (Sep 1985-Jun 1987, Oct 1987-Jan 1988) (Kiss, Alice Cooper, E.S.P., Lita Ford, Stream (US), Avantasia, Drive)
- Terry Chimes (Nov 1987-May 1988) (The Clash, Hanoi Rocks, Generation X)
- Cozy Powell (Oct 1988-Oct 1990, Oct 1994-sometime in 1995) (Glenn Tipton, Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Rainbow, Tony Martin, Brian May, Graham Bonnet, Michael Schenker Group, Whitesnake) (R.I.P. April 5, 1998, single car accident).
- Bobby Rondinelli (Dec 1993-Oct 1994, 1995) (Rainbow, Sun Red Sun, Riot, Warlock (Ger), Doro, Quiet Riot, Scorpions, Blue Oyster Cult, The Lizards)
- Mike Bordin (Mar 1997-Jun 1997) (Faith No More, Ozzy Osbourne, Jerry Cantrell)
- Shannon Larkin (Jul 1 1997) (Wrathchild America, Souls At Zero, Ugly Kid Joe, Glenn Tipton, Godsmack)
Bass :
- Gordon Copley (Jan 1985-Sep 1985)
- Dave "The Beast" Spitz (Fall 1985-Spring 1987) (Americade, Impellitteri, Stream (US), White Lion, Great White)
- Bob Daisley (Aug 1986-Jan 1988) (Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Planet Alliance, Dio, guest for Jorge Salan, Stream (US))
- Jo Burt (Feb 1988-Mar 1988) (Virginia Wolf)
- Laurence "Lol" Cottle (Oct 1988-Jun 1989)
- Neil Murray (Jun 1989-Oct 1990, Oct 1994-sometime in 1996) (Empire (Ger), Brian May, Whitesnake, Gary Moore, M3, National Health, Company of Snakes, Bow Wow, Gogmagog (UK), Rondinelli, Driveshaft (Guest), Iommi (Guest), Tony Martin, Thomsen)
Discography
Studio albums
Year
| Album details
| Peak chart positions
| Certifications
[2][3][4]
| UK
[5]
| AUT
[6]
| NLD
[7]
| NOR
[8]
| SWE
[9]
| SWI
[10]
| US
[11]
| 1970
| Black Sabbath
- Released: 13 February 1970
- Label: Vertigo, Warner Bros.
- Format: CD, Cassette, LP
| 8
|
|
|
|
|
| 23
| Platinum (UK)
Platinum (US)
Gold (Canada)
| 1970
| Paranoid
- Released: 18 September 1970
- Label: Vertigo, Warner Bros.
- Format: CD, CS, LP
| 1
|
|
| 5
|
|
| 12
| 6Χ Platinum (UK)
4Χ Platinum (US)
Platinum (Canada)
| 1971
| Master of Reality
- Released: 21 July 1971
- Label: Vertigo, Warner Bros.
- Format: CD, CS, LP
| 5
|
|
| 12
|
|
| 8
| 3Χ Platinum (UK)
2Χ Platinum (US)
Platinum (Canada)
| 1972
| Black Sabbath, Vol. 4
- Released: 25 September 1972
- Label: Vertigo, Warner Bros.
- Format: CD, CS, LP
| 8
|
|
| 7
|
|
| 13
| 2Χ Platinum (UK)
Platinum (US)
Gold (Canada)
| 1973
| Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
- Released: 1 December 1973
- Label: World Wide Artists, Warner Bros.
- Format: CD, CS, LP
| 4
|
|
| 6
|
|
| 11
| 3Χ Platinum (UK)
Platinum (US)
Gold (Canada)
| 1975
| Sabotage
- Released: 28 July 1975
- Label: Nems, Warner Bros.
- Format: CD, CS, LP
| 7
| 9
|
| 6
|
|
| 28
| Platinum (UK)
Gold (US)
| 1976
| Technical Ecstasy
- Released: 25 September 1976
- Label: Vertigo, Warner Bros.
- Format: CD, CS, LP
| 13
|
|
|
| 33
|
| 51
| Platinum (UK)
Gold (US)
| 1978
| Never Say Die!
- Released: 28 September 1978
- Label: Nems, Warner Bros.
- Format: CD, CS, LP
| 12
|
|
|
| 37
|
| 69
| Platinum (UK)
Gold (US)
| 1980
| Heaven and Hell
- Released: 25 April 1980
- Label: Nems, Warner Bros.
- Format: CD, CS, LP
| 9
|
|
| 22
| 25
|
| 28
| 2Χ Platinum (UK)
Platinum (US)
Gold (Canada)
| 1981
| Mob Rules
- Released: 4 November 1981
- Label: Vertigo, Warner Bros.
- Format: CD, CS, LP
| 12
|
|
|
| 30
|
| 29
| Platinum (UK)
Gold (US)
Gold (Canada)
| 1983
| Born Again
- Released: 7 August 1983
- Label: Vertigo, Warner Bros.
- Format: CD, CS, LP
| 4
|
|
| 14
| 7
|
| 39
|
| 1986
| Seventh Star
- Released: 28 January 1986
- Label: Vertigo, Warner Bros.
- Format: CD, CS, LP
| 27
|
|
| 17
| 11
|
| 78
|
| 1987
| The Eternal Idol
- Released: 1 November 1987
- Label: Vertigo, Warner Bros.
- Format: CD, CS, LP
| 66
|
|
|
|
|
| 168
|
| 1989
| Headless Cross
- Released: 1 April 1989
- Label: I.R.S.
- Format: CD, CS, LP
| 10
|
|
|
| 22
| 23
| 115
|
| 1990
| Tyr
- Released: 20 August 1990
- Label: I.R.S.
- Format: CD, CS, LP
| 24
| 24
|
|
| 24
| 24
| 117
|
| 1992
| Dehumanizer
- Released: 22 June 1992
- Label: I.R.S.
- Format: CD, CS, LP
| 28
| 7
|
|
| 12
| 13
| 44
| Platinum (UK)
| 1994
| Cross Purposes
- Released: 31 January 1994
- Label: I.R.S.
- Format: CD, CS, LP
| 41
| 23
| 85
|
| 9
| 41
| 122
|
| 1995
| Forbidden
- Released: 8 June 1995
- Label: I.R.S.
- Format: CD, CS, LP
| 71
| 40
| 86
|
| 19
| 48
| 199
|
| "" denotes albums that did not chart.
|
Live albums
Year
| Album details
| Peak chart positions
| Certifications
[2][3][4]
| UK
[5]
| FIN
[12]
| FRA
[13]
| SWE
[9]
| US
[11]
| 1982
| Live Evil
- Released: December 1982
- Label: Vertigo, Warner Bros.
- Format: CD, LP
| 13
|
|
| 15
| 37
| Platinum (UK)
| 1995
| Cross Purposes Live
- Released: 1995
- Label: I.R.S.
- Format: CD
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1998
| Reunion
- Released: 20 October 1998
- Label: Epic
- Format: CD
| 41
| 29
| 65
| 11
| 11
| Platinum (US)
Platinum (Canada)
| 1999
| Black Mass EP
- Released: 1999
- Label: NMC Limited
- Format: CD
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2002
| Past Lives
- Released: 20 August 2002
- Label: Sanctuary
- Format: CD
|
|
|
|
| 114
|
| 2007
| Live at Hammersmith Odeon
- Released: 1 May 2007
- Label: Rhino Handmade
- Format: CD
|
|
|
|
|
|
| "" denotes albums that did not chart.
|
Compilation albums
Year
| Album details
| Peak chart positions
| Certifications
[2][3]
| UK
[5]
| NOR
[8]
| SWE
[9]
| US
[11]
| 1975
| We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll
| 35
|
| 21
| 48
| Silver (UK)
2Χ Multi-Platinum (US)
| 1996
| The Sabbath Stones
|
|
|
|
|
| 2002
| Symptom of the Universe: The Original Black Sabbath 1970-1978
|
|
|
|
|
| 2004
| Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath (1970-1978)
|
|
|
|
|
| 2006
| Greatest Hits 1970-1978
|
|
|
| 96
|
| 2007
| Black Sabbath: The Dio Years
|
| 35
| 32
| 54
|
| 2008
| The Rules of Hell
|
|
|
|
|
| "" denotes albums that did not chart.
|
Singles
Year
| Single
| Peak chart positions
| Album
| UK
[5]
| AUT
[6]
| NOR
[8]
| SWI
[10]
| US
[11]
| US Main
[11]
| 1969
| "Evil Woman"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Black Sabbath
| 1970
| "Black Sabbath"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| "N.I.B."
|
|
|
|
|
|
| "The Wizard"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| "Paranoid"
| 4
| 3
| 6
| 2
| 61
|
| Paranoid
| 1971
| "Iron Man"
|
|
|
|
| 52
|
| "War Pigs"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| "Fairies Wear Boots"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| "Sweet Leaf"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Master of Reality
| "Children of the Grave"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1972
| "After Forever"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| "Snowblind"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Black Sabbath, Vol. 4
| "Tomorrow's Dream"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1973
| "Supernaut"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| "Changes"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
| 1974
| "Sabbra Cadabra"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1975
| "Am I Going Insane (Radio)"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sabotage
| "Hole in the Sky"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| "Symptom of the Universe"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1976
| "Rock 'n' Roll Doctor"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Technical Ecstasy
| "Dirty Women"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1978
| "Never Say Die!"
| 21
|
|
|
|
|
| Never Say Die!
| "A Hard Road"
| 33
|
|
|
|
|
| 1980
| "Neon Knights"
| 22
|
|
|
|
| 17
| Heaven and Hell
| "Die Young"
| 41
|
|
|
|
|
| 1981
| "The Mob Rules"
| 46
|
|
|
|
|
| Mob Rules
| 1982
| "Turn up the Night"
| 37
|
|
|
|
| 24
| "Voodoo"
|
|
|
|
|
| 46
| 1983
| "Trashed"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Born Again
| 1986
| "No Stranger to Love"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Seventh Star
| 1987
| "The Shining"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The Eternal Idol
| 1989
| "Headless Cross"
| 62
|
|
|
|
|
| Headless Cross
| "Devil and Daughter"
| 81
|
|
|
|
|
| 1990
| "Feels Good to Me"
| 79
|
|
|
|
|
| Tyr
| 1992
| "TV Crimes"
| 33
|
|
|
|
|
| Dehumanizer
| 1994
| "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cross Purposes
| 1998
| "Psycho Man"
|
|
|
|
|
| 3
| Reunion
| 1999
| "Selling My Soul"
|
|
|
|
|
| 17
| 2007
| "The Devil Cried"
|
|
|
|
|
| 37
| Black Sabbath: The Dio Years
| "" denotes singles that did not chart.
|
Videos
Year
| Video
| Certifications
[4][14][15]
| 1978
| Never Say Die
- Released: 1978
- Label: Sanctuary
- Format: VHS, DVD
|
| 1980
| Black and Blue
- Released: 1980
- Label:
- Format: VHS, DVD
|
| 1992
| The Black Sabbath Story, Vol. 1
- Released: 1992
- Label: Sanctuary
- Format: VHS, DVD
| Platinum (US)
Gold (Canada)
Gold (Australia)
| The Black Sabbath Story, Vol. 2
- Released: 1992
- Label: Sanctuary
- Format: VHS, DVD
| Gold (US)
| 1995
| Cross Purposes Live
- Released: 1995
- Label: Picture
- Format: VHS, DVD
|
| 1999
| The Last Supper
- Released: 1999
- Label: Sony
- Format: VHS, DVD
|
| Inside Black Sabbath - 1970-1992
- Released: 1999
- Label: Sony
- Format: VHS, DVD
|
| 2005
| Black Sabbath's Paranoid
- Released: 2005
- Label: Navarre Corporation
- Format: DVD
|
| Black Sabbath - Rock Review
- Released: 2005
- Label:
- Format: DVD
|
| 2007
| In Their Own Words
- Released: 2007
- Label:
- Format: DVD
|
|
Links and Contact
http://www.black-sabbath.com
http://www.heavenandhelllive.com
http://www.iommi.com
http://www.geezerbutler.com
http://www.billward.com
http://www.ozzy.com/
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