Black Sabbath is a pioneering British rock band that formed in Birmingham in 1968. The band is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential in the history of heavy metal music.
Fact 1 - The band's original name was "Earth," but they changed it to "Black Sabbath" in 1969, inspired by a horror film with the same name.
The band's original lineup consisted of vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. Their early music was marked by Iommi's heavy, blues-inspired guitar riffs, Butler's dark, occult-themed lyrics, and Osbourne's powerful, charismatic vocals.
Black Sabbath's debut album, also called "Black Sabbath", was released in 1970 and is widely considered to be the first true heavy metal album. The band's follow-up albums, "Paranoid" and "Master of Reality" solidified their place as one of the biggest and most influential bands in rock music.
Fact 2 - The band's most successful album is "Paranoid," which was released in 1970 and has been certified 4x platinum in the United States.
The band's dark, occult-themed lyrics and imagery were a major influence on the development of the heavy metal genre, and their music continues to inspire countless other bands and musicians to this day.
Fact 3 - Ozzy Osbourne left the band in 1979, but rejoined for a reunion tour in 1997 and again for various tours between 2011-2018.
Black Sabbath went through many lineup changes over the years, with Osbourne being the only constant member. Despite this, the band has continued to tour and release music, and they are still considered one of the most important bands in the history of heavy metal music.
Fact 4 - Black Sabbath has sold over 70 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time.
In 2017, the band members announced their farewell tour, "The End Tour" which was concluded in Feb 4, 2017.
Fact 5 - Their song "Iron Man" was used in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and TV series.
Overall, Black Sabbath's music and influence continue to be felt in the world of rock and metal music, and they are considered one of the greatest bands of all time.
Fact 6 - Tony Iommi, the band's guitarist, lost the tips of his middle and ring fingers on his right hand in a factory accident before joining the band, but he adapted his playing style to accommodate his injury.