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.
In the 1970s, Black Sabbath practically invented heavy metal, evolving from a blues-rock quartet into the “darkest” band in the world. Their decade was defined by a run of eight studio albums that moved from groundbreaking success to drug-fueled decline.
Their self-titled debut, Black Sabbath (1970), introduced a heavy, sludgy sound influenced by Tony Iommi’s industrial accident, which forced him to use detuned strings and thimbles. Paranoid (1970) hit #1 in the UK and birthed anthems like “Iron Man” and “War Pigs.” Master of Reality (1971) and Vol. 4 (1972) cemented their status, with the former reaching double-platinum status despite initial critical backlash. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973) saw the band integrate synthesizers and more complex arrangements, while Sabotage (1975) was recorded amidst a grueling legal battle with their former manager.
By the mid-to-late 1970s, extreme substance abuse and internal friction led to a dip in quality. Technical Ecstasy (1976) and Never Say Die! (1978) struggled to match the impact of their earlier work. In 1979, the tension peaked, and Ozzy Osbourne was fired from the band. While many thought this was the end, it actually led to two legendary paths: Ozzy’s massive solo career and the recruitment of Ronnie James Dio, which revitalized the band for the 1980s.
Black Sabbath was part of the “Unholy Trinity” of British hard rock alongside Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. While Zeppelin enjoyed more mainstream airplay and critical acclaim, Sabbath maintained a more “underground” and controversial reputation, often unfairly associated with Satanism.
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