Black Sabbath

Profile:
Considered by many to be the first heavy metal band, Black Sabbath was formed in 1968 by Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward in Birmingham, UK.
The band's original name was the Polka Tulk Blues Band (later shortened to Polka Tulk) and later on changed to Earth (12) before becoming Black Sabbath inspired by an Italian horror movie of the same name.

The original line-up lasted until 1979, after which Osbourne was fired and replaced by Ronnie James Dio. The line-up changes would continue, with no line-up remaining intact for consecutive studio releases. Throughout the changes, only Tony Iommi and keyboardist Geoff Nicholls, who also joined the band in 1979, would remain with Black Sabbath, although Nicholls would not always be credited as a full member. In 1997, Iommi, Butler, Ward, and Osbourne reunited, touring and releasing a live album in 1998, although a long-rumored studio release did not appear (the group attempted to record a new album in 2001 with producer Rick Rubin but the sessions were scrapped). After that, the group periodically reunited to tour with Ozzy's "Ozzfest" tour. In 2004, longtime keyboardist Geoff Nicholls was replaced by Adam Wakeman for an Ozzfest tour. No reason was given for the replacement. In 2006, the original line-up was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame.

In 2007, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Ronnie James Dio, and drummer Vinny Appice (who were featured on 1981's "Mob Rules" and 1992's "Dehumanizer") announced that they would tour together as Heaven & Hell (2) (with Iommi, who owns the Black Sabbath name, deciding to keep the Black Sabbath name solely for the original line-up in light of their Rock 'n' Roll HOF induction) to support a Dio-era greatest hits release, which also featured 3 new Dio/Iommi compositions. A brand new live album was released under the Heaven & Hell name that same year, followed by a studio album in 2009.

In 2009, Osbourne sued Iommi over control of the Black Sabbath name. The lawsuit was settled the following year. In late 2011, it was announced that the original line-up would be recording and touring. Shortly, afterward, Bill Ward dropped out, stating he had been given a contract that was "unsignable". The three remaining members opted to continue without him. In 2013, the band released "13", their first studio album with Osbourne in 34 years. The band played their final live show in Birmingham, UK, on February 4, 2017. Although the band has announced that full-scale touring is done, Tony Iommi has stated that the door is still open for future music and possible live appearances. During the years 1968 to 2017, Black Sabbath has recorded 19 studio albums.

Line-Ups:
Guitar:
Tony Iommi - 1968-2017

Vocals:
Ozzy Osbourne - 1968-1977, 1978-1979, 1997-2017
Dave Walker (6) - 1977-1978 (rehearsals and a TV appearance only)
Ronnie James Dio - 1979-1982, 1991-1992
Ian Gillan - 1983-1984
Glenn Hughes - 1985-1986
Ray Gillen - 1986-1987 (live only)
Tony Martin - 1987-1991, 1993-1996

Bass:
Geezer Butler - 1968-1984, 1991-1994, 1997-2017
Craig Gruber - 1979 (rehearsals only while Butler contemplated leaving the band, the extent of his participation has been disputed)
Gordon Copley -1985 (rehearsals and one studio track only)
Dave Spitz "The Beast" - 1985-1986, 1987 (live appearances only in 1987)
Bob Daisley - 1987 (studio only)
Jo Burt - 1987 (live only)
Laurence Cottle - 1988 (studio only)
Neil Murray - 1989-1992, 1995-1996

Drums:
Bill Ward - 1968-1980, 1983 (studio only in 1983), 1994 (live appearances), 1997-2011
Vinny Appice - 1981-1982, 1991-1992, 1998 (live only in 1998, filling in for a sick Bill Ward)
Bev Bevan - 1983-1984, 1987 (live only)
Eric Singer - 1985-1987
Terry Chimes - 1987-1988 (live only)
Cozy Powell - 1988-1991, 1994-1995
Bobby Rondinelli - 1993-1994, 1995 (live appearances only in 1995)
Mike Bordin - 1997 (live only, not a full member)
Brad Wilk - 2013 (studio only, not a full member)
Tommy Clufetos - 2012-2017 (live only, not a full member)

Keyboards:
Rick Wakeman - 1973 (studio only, not a full member)
Jezz Woodroffe - ?-1977 (not a full member)
Don Airey - 1978 (not a full member)
Geoff Nicholls - 1979-2004
Adam Wakeman - 2004-2017 (live only, not a full member)
Sites:
Aliases:
Members:
Variations:

Artist

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Albums

VO 6, 847 903 VTY Black Sabbath — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Black Sabbath (Album, Single) Vertigo, Vertigo VO 6, 847 903 VTY Italy 1970 Sell This Version
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7138011 Paranoid — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Paranoid (Album) Vertigo 7138011 France 1970 Sell This Version
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BS 2562 Master Of Reality — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Master Of Reality (Album, Comp) Vertigo BS 2562 US 1971 Sell This Version
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6360 071 Black Sabbath Vol 4 — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Vol 4 (Album) Vertigo 6360 071 Brazil 1972 Sell This Version
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6366 201 A Sabbath Bloody Sabbath — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Album) WWA Records, WWA Records 6366 201 A Italy 1973 Sell This Version
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L9B 2822 Sabotage — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Sabotage (Album, Single) NEMS L9B 2822 UK 1975 Sell This Version
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9124 100 Technical Ecstasy — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Technical Ecstasy (Album) Vertigo 9124 100 Netherlands 1976 Sell This Version
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M8-3186 Never Say Die! — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Never Say Die! (Album) Vertigo M8-3186 USA & Canada 1978 Sell This Version
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BST 001 Live At Last... — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Live At Last... (Album) Nems, Nems BST 001 Ireland 1980 Sell This Version
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6302 017 Heaven And Hell — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Heaven And Hell (Album, Comp) Vertigo 6302 017 Scandinavia 1980 Sell This Version
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306 King Biscuit Flower Hour [Airdate: September 14, 1980] — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath / Blue Oyster Cult* Black Sabbath / Blue Oyster Cult* - King Biscuit Flower Hour [Airdate: September 14, 1980](2xLP, Transcription) D.I.R. Broadcasting Corp. 306 US 1980 Sell This Version
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BSK 3605 Mob Rules — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Mob Rules (Album, Comp) Vertigo BSK 3605 US 1981 Sell This Version
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S234601 Live Evil — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Live Evil (Album) Warner Bros. Records S234601 US 1982 Sell This Version
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RR-82-36 Untitled — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Untitled(LP, Transcription) Clayton Webster Corporation RR-82-36 US 1982 Sell This Version
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CL 1383 Captured Live! — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Captured Live! Rko Radio Networks CL 1383 US 1983 Sell This Version
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1-23978, 9 23978-1 Born Again — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Born Again (Album) Vertigo, Vertigo 1-23978, 9 23978-1 US 1983 Sell This Version
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CL 1383 Captured Live! — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Captured Live!(LP, Transcription + LP, S/Sided, Transcription) Rko Radio Networks CL 1383 US 1983 Sell This Version
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32PD-103(826 704-2) Seventh Star — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Featuring Tony Iommi Black Sabbath Featuring Tony Iommi - Seventh Star (Album) Vertigo, Vertigo 32PD-103(826 704-2) Japan 1986 Sell This Version
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IC-86-10 In Concert — Black Sabbath Mötley Crüe / Black Sabbath Mötley Crüe / Black Sabbath - In Concert(2xLP, Transcription) Westwood One IC-86-10 US 1986 Sell This Version
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832 708-4 The Eternal Idol — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath The Eternal Idol (Album) Vertigo, Vertigo 832 708-4 Turkey 1987 Sell This Version
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405194 4 Headless Cross — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Headless Cross (Album) I.R.S. Records 405194 4 Australasia 1989 Sell This Version
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EIRSACD1038, EIRSACD 1038 Tyr — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Tyr (Album) I.R.S. Records EIRSACD1038, EIRSACD 1038 UK 1990 Sell This Version
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7131551 Dehumanizer — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Dehumanizer (Album) I.R.S. Records, I.R.S. Records, I.R.S. Records, I.R.S. Records, I.R.S. Records 7131551 Brazil 1992 Sell This Version
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2SK 6544, 6544 The Bible According To Black Sabbath. Old And New Testaments — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath & Various Black Sabbath & Various - The Bible According To Black Sabbath. Old And New Testaments(2xCD, Comp, Promo, RM) Columbia, Columbia, Concrete Planet 2SK 6544, 6544 US 1994 Sell This Version
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07777 13222 4 2 Cross Purposes — Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Cross Purposes (Album) I.R.S. Records, I.R.S. Records, I.R.S. Records 07777 13222 4 2 Netherlands 1994 Sell This Version

Add Review

hellhippie

hellhippie

December 17, 2022
There are so many more eps released than what’s on discogs I own about 50 more than what they show as released. I’m not talking recent releases either I’m talking from the 70s . Shame because discogs is supposed to be a discography site as well
See 4 replies
mnmont

mnmont

July 23, 2022
Black sabbath was the band that most influenced heavy rock in the world. There are some "analysts" out there who want to put it in our understanding that the led zeppelin had the same importance, it didn't!!! besides being a very good band by the way, but they "sucked" a lot of the blues compositions of others (not always admitted) they had a heavy marketing with hotel breakers and etc.. just see 99% of current bands paying tribute to those who ? to the sabbath (see metallica for ex.)
See 9 replies
CuddlyREDRUM

CuddlyREDRUM

March 8, 2021
Just about as overrated as they are underrated. A lot of the tracks early on are sloppy and of bad fidelity. Their drummer for at least the first five years was really bad. I am from the school that all great rock bands have great drummers, which is why I easily place Zeppelin far above acts like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and others.
There are reasons why they never get mentioned as GOATs, it is their music and lifespan. Perhaps the only more overrated band is The Beatles.
Cheers.
See 23 replies
vinyl-saviour

vinyl-saviour

February 13, 2020
HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY TO THE ONE AND ONLY ! ! !
wretched_spawn

wretched_spawn

December 14, 2019
Black Sabbath, Master of Reality & Headless Cross - 3 best Sabbath albums
See 2 replies
Andrew_Lawson

Andrew_Lawson

August 20, 2019
The remasters done back in 2016 for CD releases are extremely well done. I think these remasters were also used for the 2012 vinyl releases as well. I'd recommend listening to those now over the originals any day.
alterbridge

alterbridge

February 23, 2019
edited over 3 years ago
Dio with sabs was a blessing to Rock music in 81. reached a high that no one seen coming!!! LONG LIVE ROCK AND ROLL!!!!!! The World is full of Kings and Queens that blind your Eyes and steal your dreams it Heaven and Hell!!!!!!!
See 1 reply
horror84

horror84

October 20, 2018
Could not agree with you more on what you had typed, never cared for the Dio Years....still good but nothing that came close to the first six-seven albums in my opinion.
See 3 replies
chunkyricesushi

chunkyricesushi

August 25, 2018
The first 6 LP's are phenomenal. Black Sabbath created such amazing music they can be considered the Beatles of heavy music. Their influence has now probably outstripped that of Led Zeppelin, in terms of the genres they inadvertently inspired and spawned.
It's hard to conceive of any other heavy band with catchier riffs and a better band chemistry, each original member was so vital to the sound and impact of their music.
Sadly, once Ozzy departed, they failed to hit the same heights, though, as people are often keen to impress on each other, there were some gems hidden amongst the straw of their varied post-Ozzy output.
See 7 replies
Rich.C

Rich.C

December 22, 2016
edited over 6 years ago
Black Sabbath kicked loose rock that's still setting off avalanches of creativity across the musical landscape, the harbingers of heavy metal in all its glory! Their phenomenal first four albums -- Black Sabbath, Paranoid, Master of Reality, and Vol. 4 -- remain the clearest articulations of heavy metal vocabulary to date. Bassist Geezer Butler, the man responsible for the lion's share of Sabbath's early hits, focused his lyrics on social ills, self-destructive behavior, fantasy and the occult, setting forth the primary concerns which continue to preoccupy Metal bands from velocity addicts Venom and Napalm Death to sludge fiends such as Monster Magnet. Lead guitarist Tony Iommi's loose tunings revolutionized the craft of electric guitar by uncovering unsuspected fuzzy depths. And, of course, Ozzy Osbourne's manic live performances introduced an element of pure theatricality that remains central to Metal's identity. Beginning with '75's Sabotage, Sabbath's credibility has been constantly imperiled by failed experiments in Prog-ish rock. With the exception of the Ronnie James Dio albums of the early '80s (Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules), the moments when Sabbath play up to their ability have been few and far between. Perhaps aware of this themselves, they convinced Ozzy to return to the fold in the late '90s for a series of penitential performances focusing on their glorious early material
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