History Music / BlackSabbath

* OdeToIntoxication: "Sweet Leaf" is a pro-marijuana song, and opens with a loop of Tony Iommi coughing immediately after taking a hit. The band were on pretty much ''every drug'' throughout the early and mid-'70s; Iommi later stated he had once taken [=LSD=] every day for ''two and a half years straight'' during that time.
** "Snowblind" was about guess what. Originally the plan was for Ozzy to scream "COCAINE!" between the verses to make it obvious, but ExecutiveMeddling nixed that idea. It is still audibly whispered at about 0:43 into the song, and he continued to scream it when performed live though.

* SurprisinglyGentleSong: "Changes"
** They have several examples, actually, including "Planet Caravan", "Orchid", "Solitude", "Laguna Sunrise", and "Fluff". "Changes" is just the best known of them.

** "Snowblind" was about guess what. Originally the plan was for Ozzy to scream "COCAINE!" between the verses to make it obvious what the song was about, but ExecutiveMeddling nixed that idea and he only whispers it at one point. It still appears when performed live though.

** "Snowblind" was about guess what. Originally the plan was for Ozzy to scream "COCAINE!" between the verses to make it obvious what the song was about, but ExecutiveMeddling nixed that idea and he only whispers it at one point.

* Determinator: Tony Iommi. First he loses 2 fingertips on his fretting hand- no big deal, melt down soap bottles to make fake ones and downtune your guitar (and create music history in the process). Then some 50 years later he gets lymphoma. No big deal, go back to England to continue treatment, ship your bandmates out there with you so you can still work on the album, ''and still plan to tour that summer''. BadAss incarnate right there.

In 1979, Ozzy Osbourne was fired from the band as his increasingly erratic behavior rendered him generally unreliable. On the advice of the band's manager, Sharon Arden (who would later become Sharon Osbourne), the group recruited Music/RonnieJamesDio, formerly of HeavyMithril bands Elf and Music/{{Rainbow}}, as their new lead singer. [[TooGoodToLast Dio's tenure lasted only three years,]] but he was generally regarded as a brilliant frontman in his own right (to the point of pretty much being the [[FaceOfTheBand Other Face Of The Band]]), and his 1980 debut with the band ''Heaven and Hell'' is an all-time classic. The band saw several line-up changes (including a reunion of the Dio-era lineup in 1991) until the original four reunited in 1997. As Ozzy again drifted away from the band in the mid-2000s to focus on his solo career and semi-retirement, the other members reunited with Dio and performed under the name Heaven and Hell (which is taken from a Black Sabbath album in the Dio era) until Dio's death in 2010. The band found itself in a state of limbo since Dio's death, though hope springs eternal - the original lineup of the group has [[AndTheFandomRejoiced officially confirmed its reunion, with a new album on the way.]] In early 2012 Tony Iommi was diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma - [[{{Determinator}} the band has stated that they do not expect this to impede their work on the album or their plans to tour in 2012]].

In 1979, Ozzy Osbourne was fired from the band as his increasingly erratic behavior rendered him generally unreliable. On the advice of the band's manager, Sharon Arden (who would later become Sharon Osbourne), the group recruited Music/RonnieJamesDio, formerly of HeavyMithril bands Elf and Music/{{Rainbow}}, as their new lead singer. [[TooGoodToLast Dio's tenure lasted only three years,]] but he was generally regarded as a brilliant frontman in his own right (to the point of pretty much being the [[FaceOfTheBand Other Face Of The Band]]), and his 1980 debut with the band ''Heaven and Hell'' is an all-time classic. The band saw several line-up changes (including a reunion of the Dio-era lineup in 1991) until the original four reunited in 1997. As Ozzy again drifted away from the band in the mid-2000s to focus on his solo career and semi-retirement, the other members reunited with Dio and performed under the name Heaven and Hell (which is taken from a Black Sabbath album in the Dio era) until Dio's death in 2010. The band found itself in a state of limbo since Dio's death, though hope springs eternal - the original lineup of the group has [[AndTheFandomRejoiced officially confirmed its reunion, with a new album on the way.]] In early 2012 Tony Iommi was diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, though [[{{Determinator}} the band has confirmed that they do not expect this to impede their work on the album or their plans to tour in 2012]].)

In 1979, Ozzy Osbourne was fired from the band as his increasingly erratic behavior rendered him generally unreliable. On the advice of the band's manager, Sharon Arden (who would later become Sharon Osbourne), the group recruited Music/RonnieJamesDio, formerly of HeavyMithril bands Elf and Music/{{Rainbow}}, as their new lead singer. [[TooGoodToLast Dio's tenure lasted only three years,]] but he was generally regarded as a brilliant frontman in his own right (to the point of pretty much being the [[FaceOfTheBand Other Face Of The Band]]), and his 1980 debut with the band ''Heaven and Hell'' is an all-time classic. The band saw several line-up changes (including a reunion of the Dio-era lineup in 1991) until the original four reunited in 1997. As Ozzy again drifted away from the band in the mid-2000s to focus on his solo career and semi-retirement, the other members reunited with Dio and performed under the name Heaven and Hell (which is taken from a Black Sabbath album in the Dio era) until Dio's death in 2010. The band has been in a state of limbo since Dio's death, though Ozzy and Iommi have suggested that a reunion of the original lineup may be possible in the near future. [[AndTheFandomRejoiced The reunion has been officially confirmed on 11-11-11, with a new album on the way.]] The proposed world tour in the summer of 2012 might be in jeopardy, with Tony Iommi being diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma. (The band has confirmed that they will continue to record the new album.)

* EpicRiff: So many. "Iron Man", "Paranoid", "Sweet Leaf", "Into the Void", "Supernaut"...
** RobZombie once said that any metal band ever is ripping off of Black Sabbath, because any good metal riff out there, Sabbath wrote it first, either in a slightly different key, or faster, or slower. Most metal guitarists will say this is pretty much true.

** [[{{Irony}} Oddly enough]] however, while the song itself is about the use of marijuana, the title of it comes from a cigarette packet of Geezer Butler's, which claimed that tobacco was the "sweat leaf".

In 1979, Ozzy Osbourne was fired from the band as his increasingly erratic behavior rendered him generally unreliable. On the advice of the band's manager, Sharon Arden (who would later become Sharon Osbourne), the group recruited Music/RonnieJamesDio, formerly of HeavyMithril bands Elf and Music/{{Rainbow}}, as their new lead singer. [[TooGoodToLast Dio's tenure lasted only three years,]] but he was generally regarded as a brilliant frontman in his own right (to the point of pretty much being the [[FaceOfTheBand Other Face Of The Band]]), and his 1980 debut with the band ''Heaven and Hell'' is an all-time classic. The band saw several line-up changes (including a reunion of the Dio-era lineup in 1991) until the original four reunited in 1997. As Ozzy again drifted away from the band in the mid-2000s to focus on his solo career and semi-retirement, the other members reunited with Dio and performed under the name Heaven and Hell (which is taken from a Black Sabbath album in the Dio era) until Dio's death in 2010. The band has been in a state of limbo since Dio's death, though Ozzy and Iommi have suggested that a reunion of the original lineup may be possible in the near future. [[AndTheFandomRejoiced The reunion has been officially confirmed on 11-11-11, with a new album on the way.]]

* WatchItStoned: "Sweet Leaf" is a pro-marijuana song, and opens with a loop of Tony Iommi coughing immediately after taking a hit. The band were on pretty much ''every drug'' throughout the early and mid-'70s; Iommi later stated he had once taken [=LSD=] every day for ''two and a half years straight'' during that time.

* WordSaladLyrics: Dominant from ''Volume 4'' and onwards, likely a result of the band deciding that WatchItStoned.

* EverythingsBetterOnDrugs: "Sweet Leaf" is a pro-marijuana song, and opens with a loop of Tony Iommi coughing immediately after taking a hit. The band were on pretty much ''every drug'' throughout the early and mid-'70s; Iommi later stated he had once taken [=LSD=] every day for ''two and a half years straight'' during that time.

* WordSaladLyrics: Dominant from ''Volume 4'' and onwards, likely a result of the band deciding that EverythingsBetterOnDrugs.

In 1979, Ozzy Osbourne was fired from the band as his increasingly erratic behavior rendered him generally unreliable. On the advice of the band's manager, Sharon Arden (who would later become Sharon Osbourne), the group recruited Music/RonnieJamesDio, formerly of HeavyMithril bands Elf and Music/{{Rainbow}}, as their new lead singer. [[TooGoodToLast Dio's tenure lasted only three years,]] but he was generally regarded as a brilliant frontman in his own right (to the point of pretty much being the [[FaceOfTheBand Other Face Of The Band]]), and his 1980 debut with the band ''Heaven and Hell'' is an all-time classic. The band saw several line-up changes (including a reunion of the Dio-era lineup in 1991) until the original four reunited in 1997. As Ozzy again drifted away from the band in the mid-2000s to focus on his solo career and semi-retirement, the other members reunited with Dio and performed under the name Heaven and Hell (which is taken from a Black Sabbath album in the Dio era) until Dio's death in 2010. The band has been in a state of limbo since Dio's death, though Ozzy and Iommi have suggested that a reunion of the original lineup may be possible in the near future. [[AndTheFandomRejoiced The reunion has been officially confirmed on 11-11-11]]

* AlbumFiller: "Paranoid" subverts this. Originally it was a quick filler Tony Iommi threw together for the album they wanted to call ''War Pigs''. Then the company made them change the title. It ended as one of the band's (and, by extension, HeavyMetal's) anthems.

* TropeCodifier: For the entire HeavyMetal genre.

* HandicappedBadass: Tony Iommi, who made the most of the loss of his fingertips by tuning down his guitar, and invented [[HeavyMetal a whole new style]] in the process.

* UrExample: Although bands like Music/LedZeppelin and DeepPurple paved the way, many people consider Black Sabbath to be the world's first true HeavyMetal band.

* Bill Ward - drums, occasional vocals (1969-1980, 1983, 1985, 1994, 1997-1998, 1999-2006)

* Vinny Appice - drums (1980-1982, 1991-1992, 1998-1999, 2007-present)

In 1979, Ozzy Osbourne was fired from the band as his increasingly erratic behavior rendered him generally unreliable. On the advice of the band's manager, Sharon Arden (who would later become Sharon Osbourne), the group recruited Music/RonnieJamesDio, formerly of HeavyMithril bands Elf and Music/{{Rainbow}}, as their new lead singer. [[TooGoodToLast Dio's tenure lasted only three years,]] but he was generally regarded as a brilliant frontman in his own right (to the point of pretty much being the [[FaceOfTheBand Other Face Of The Band]]), and his 1980 debut with the band ''Heaven and Hell'' is an all-time classic. The band saw several line-up changes (including a reunion of the Dio-era lineup in 1991) until the original four reunited in 1997. As Ozzy again drifted away from the band in the mid-2000s to focus on his solo career and semi-retirement, the other members reunited with Dio and performed under the name Heaven and Hell (which is taken from a Black Sabbath album in the Dio era) until Dio's death in 2010. The band has been in a state of limbo since Dio's death, though Ozzy and Iommi have suggested that a reunion of the original lineup may be possible in the near future.

* Music/OzzyOsbourne - vocals, harmonica (1969-1979, 1997-2005)

* CompletelyMissingThePoint: People argue that Black Sabbath's music is violent and psycho. While many of their songs are, when War Pigs is cited as an example it is a prime example of this trope, combined with ComplainingAboutShowsYouDontWatch.
** Also exemplified in regards to moral guardians accusing the band of Satanism, when the bulk of their output is from a pro-Christian/anti-occult stance.
** To note, ''War Pigs'' is a giant anti war anthem, telling all the politicians and generals (the eponymous "War Pigs") that they're all going to hell for sending people to die in pointless wars.
---> ''[[EndOfAnAge No more war pigs of the power]];''
---> ''Hand of God has struck the hour.''
---> ''Day of judgment, God is calling''
---> ''On their knees the war pigs' crawling.''
---> ''[[PleaseIWillDoAnything Begging mercy for their sins]],''
---> ''[[OhCrap Satan, laughing, spreads his wings]].''
* DidNotDoTheResearch: The biography by Joel [=McIver=] contains some mistakes regarding metal history.

** To note, ''War Pigs'' is a giant anti war anthem, telling all the politicians and generals (the titular "War Pigs") that they're all going to hell for sending people to die in pointless wars.

** 1987 - ''The Eternal Idol'': "LostForever", "The Shining"

** 1995 - ''Forbidden'': "Can't Close Enough", "Shaking Off the Chains", "Sick and Tired", "Kiss Of Death"

Black Sabbath is a band from Birmingham, England that are considered to be the pioneers of heavy metal (sharing credit with Music/LedZeppelin and Music/DeepPurple), formed by singer [[OzzyOsbourne John "Ozzy" Osbourne]], guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Terrence "Geezer" Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. They started out in 1968 as a blues band called "Earth" until changing their style to a darker tone. Apocryphally, this was the result of one of the band members seeing a queue for a horror film at a cinema and commenting how people pay to be scared. Their first two albums, ''Black Sabbath'' and ''Paranoid'' (both released in 1970) brought them great popularity with songs like "Black Sabbath", "War Pigs", "Paranoid" and "Iron Man". Due to their darker style, they initially received no radio play, and Vertigo Records had to bribe radio stations to play "Iron Man", which scraped the US charts. Their next albums ''Master of Reality'' and ''Volume 4'' spawned a new batch of classics such as "Sweet Leaf", "Children of the Grave", "Into the Void", "Supernaut" and "Snowblind". It wasn't until their fifth album ''Sabbath Bloody Sabbath'' that they finally got positive reviews from the mainstream media (even if critics have reversed themselves and [[RetCon retroactively praised]] the other four albums).

* UrExample: Although bands like LedZeppelin and DeepPurple paved the way, many people consider Black Sabbath to be the world's first true HeavyMetal band.