!   Formed in Birmingham, UK in 1968 by Ozzy Osbourne (lead vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass guitar), and Bill Ward (drums).

!   Originally called Polka Tulk before changing to Earth !   Began incorporating occult- and horror-inspired lyrics with tuned-

down guitars, changing their name to Black Sabbath and achieving multiple platinum records in the 1970s.

!   Total of 22 musicians have at one time been members of Black Sabbath.

!   Despite an association with occult and horror themes, Black Sabbath also composed songs dealing with social and political issues such as drugs and war.

!   Black Sabbath is generally considered both the first and greatest heavy metal band.

The Dark Side !   Geezer Butler noted people lining up for the Boris

Karloff horror film “Black Sabbath” –  Osbourne and Butler wrote the lyrics for a

song called "Black Sabbath", which was inspired by the work of occult writer Dennis Wheatley

!   Band changes name to Black Sabbath in August 1969, decides to focus on writing similar material, and create the musical equivalent of horror films.

!   Making use of the musical tri-tone (aka "The Devil's Interval“) along with Iommi’s heavy, ominous guitar, and dark lyrics, the band pushed in a darker direction

!   Self-titled “Black Sabbath” released in February 1970 –  #8 in the UK Albums Chart, reached #23 on the Billboard

200

Guitarist Tony Iommi !   In 1966, Iommi suffers workplace accident,

losing the tips of two fingers on his right hand.

!   Almost gave up music, but was urged by a friend to listen to Django Reinhardt, a jazz guitarist who lost the use of two fingers.

!   Iommi creates two thimbles made of plastic and leather to cap off his missing fingers.

!   The guitarist began using lighter strings, and detuning his guitar, to better grip the strings with his prosthesis, a move which inadvertently gave the music a darker feel

!   Left handed guitarist ROCK

Paranoid – The Album !   Band quickly returned to the studio in

June 1970, only 4 months after “Black Sabbath” was released.

!   Released in September 1970, band’s 2nd studio album

!   Commonly identified as the band's magnum opus. –  Certified four times platinum by the

RIAA and contains some of the band's best-known tracks, including the title track, "Iron Man" and "War Pigs".

!   Originally named "War Pigs", which was critical of the Vietnam War.

Track List !   Side one

–  "War Pigs" – 7:55 * –  "Paranoid" – 2:47 –  "Planet Caravan" – 4:30 –  "Iron Man" – 5:58

!   Side two –  "Electric Funeral" – 4:47 –  "Hand of Doom" – 7:07 –  "Rat Salad" – 2:29 –  "Fairies Wear Boots" – 6:13 *

* On the North American edition of the album, the songs "War Pigs" and "Fairies Wear Boots" were entitled "War Pigs/Luke's Wall" and "Jack The Stripper/Fairies Wear Boots", respectively.

Album Cover Trivia

A.  The view from Shannon’s room, again under siege from Adam, circa 1982.

B.  The band's visual interpretation of a "war pig" was featured on the cover; a distorted, eerie photograph of a bearded man wielding a sword, and shield jumping out from behind a tree.

What was the inspiration for the Album Cover?

“Paranoid” – The Single

!   "Paranoid" was written in the studio at the last minute.

–  As (drummer) Bill Ward explains: "We didn't have enough songs for the album, and Tony just played the (Paranoid) guitar lick and that was it. It took 20-25 minutes from top to bottom.“

–  The single was released ahead of the album in September 1970 and reached #4 on the UK charts, remaining Black Sabbath's only top ten hit.

Legacy !   Black Sabbath helped define the heavy metal genre, one of

the first and most influential hard rock bands

!   Ranked by MTV as the "Greatest Metal Band" of all time

!   Second in VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" list, behind Led Zeppelin.

!   Over 15 million records sold in the United States alone, 100 million worldwide

!   Rolling Stone touted band as the heavy-metal kings of the '70s

Legacy-- Devil Hands

Legacy !   Metallica inducts Black Sabbath into the Rock and Roll Hall of

Fame in 2006 –  Ulrich: "Black Sabbath is and always will be synonymous with

heavy metal“ –  Hetfield: "Sabbath got me started on all that evil-sounding shit,

and it's stuck with me. Tony Iommi is the king of the heavy riff.“

!   Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash said of the Paranoid album: –  "There's just something about that whole record that, when you're

a kid and you're turned onto it, it's like a whole different world. It just opens up your mind to another dimension...Paranoid is the whole Sabbath experience; very indicative of what Sabbath meant at the time.

!   Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian: –  "I always get the question, 'What are your top five metal albums?'

I make it easy for myself and always say the first five Sabbath albums

Plan B’s Take

!   Album Kicks Ass! !   Great album experience !   15+ album plays since purchase !   Loved the down-tuned guitar before

learning what that was !   Instrumentation creates “Musical

Multiplier” !   Appreciation for innovation and success

despite mainstream media !   What’s with the British angst in the 70’s?