Band: Black Sabbath
It's doubtful that any band has contributed more to heavy metal than Black Sabbath, indeed it would be fair to say that few bands have made such an indelible mark in the music world overall. The archetypal metal band, Sabbath has influenced artists in virtually all areas of rock music, with bands from punk, hardcore and other alternative styles citing them as major influences at some point of their career. Discussion of the band's origins and sound is probably moot as any with even a casual interest in metal would be aware of the group's working-class beginnings. Black Sabbath's first six albums are undeniable classics and fans and critics alike argue to this day over which is the best. The next couple of albums suffered from boiling tensions and creative differences which ultimately led to Ozzy Osbourne's departure and bitter fifteen-year feud with the rest of the band. The Dio albums returned the band to favour for a number of years, with the lyrical focus turning toward fantasy realms and the singer's penchant for nonsense but the music was strong as ever. After Dio left the band slid from favour again; Ian Gillan split midway through the Born Again tour to join the reformed Deep Purple and Black Sabbath all but ceased to be at that point. Tony Iommi stumbled through the 80s with various line-ups but somehow Black Sabbath always maintained high quality output. The original members reformed for a tour in 1997 and there was talk of another album but this has not eventuated as various members once again explore separate paths. Black Sabbath's influence on music will be long-lasting and their legacy is never to be forgotten.
The discography below is selective, and includes only those releases actually sanctioned by the band. There are dozens of unofficial Black Sabbath compilations and live recordings.
The Mob Rules line-up reformed under the name Heaven And Hell in 2006 to tour throughout 2007.
Current (or Last Known) Lineup
Musician | Instruments | Currently Also In | Used To Be In | Guest Appearances |
---|---|---|---|---|
Geezer Butler | Bass | G/Z/R | Heaven and Hell, Ozzy Osbourne | Ozzy Osbourne |
Tony Iommi | Guitar | Iommi | Heaven and Hell | Diamond Head, Girlschool, Ozzy Osbourne |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals | Ozzy Osbourne | Bill Ward, Black Label Society, Alice Cooper, Iommi, Motörhead, Rob Zombie | |
Bill Ward | Drums | Bill Ward | Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne |
Past Lineup (Members Who Never Appeared on an Album)
Musician | Instruments | Currently Also In | Used To Be In |
---|---|---|---|
Tony Chimes | Drums | ||
Dave Donato | Vocals | ||
Ray Gillen | Vocals | Badlands, Rondinelli, Savatage, Sun Red Sun | |
Dave Walker | Vocals |
Discography (40 Releases)
2007 - Live at Hammersmith Odeon (live) by Black Sabbath
Vinny Appice | Drums |
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Ronnie James Dio | Vocals |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
2004 - Black Box (box set) by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass, Mellotrone |
Tony Iommi | Guitar, Keyboard, Piano, Organ, Flute, Bag pipes |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals, Harmonica |
Bill Ward | Drums, Percussion |
2002 - Symptom of the Universe: The Original Black Sabbath 1970 - 1978 (comp.) by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals |
Bill Ward | Drums |
2002 - Past Lives (live comp.) by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals |
Bill Ward | Drums |
2001 - The Complete 70s Replica CD Collection (box set) by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass, Mellotrone |
Tony Iommi | Guitar, Keyboard, Piano, Organ, Flute, Bag pipes |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals, Harmonica |
Bill Ward | Drums |
2000 - The Best of Black Sabbath (Comp) by Black Sabbath
Vinny Appice | Drums |
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Ronnie James Dio | Vocals |
Ian Gillan | Vocals |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1998 - Reunion (live) by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1996 - The Sabbath Stones (Comp) by Black Sabbath
Vinny Appice | Drums |
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Laurence Cottle | Bass |
Ronnie James Dio | Vocals |
Ian Gillan | Vocals |
Glenn Hughes | Vocals |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Tony Martin | Vocals |
Neil Murray | Bass |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
Cozy Powell | Drums |
Bobby Rondinelli | Drums |
Eric Singer | Drums |
Dave Spitz | Bass |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1996 - Live at Last (live) by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1996 - Under Wheels of Confusion 1970 - 1987 (box set) by Black Sabbath
Vinny Appice | Drums |
Bev Bevan | Drums |
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Bob Daisley | Bass |
Ronnie James Dio | Vocals |
Ian Gillan | Vocals |
Glenn Hughes | Vocals |
Tony Iommi | Guitar, Keyboard, Flute |
Tony Martin | Vocals |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals |
Cozy Powell | Drums |
Eric Singer | Drums |
Dave Spitz | Bass |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1995 - Forbidden by Black Sabbath
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Tony Martin | Vocals |
Neil Murray | Bass |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
Cozy Powell | Drums |
1995 - Cross Purposes Live (live) by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Tony Martin | Vocals |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
Bobby Rondinelli | Drums |
1994 - Cross Purposes by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Tony Martin | Vocals |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
Bobby Rondinelli | Drums |
1992 - Dehumanizer by Black Sabbath
Vinny Appice | Drums |
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Ronnie James Dio | Vocals |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
1990 - Feels Good to Me (single) by Black Sabbath
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Tony Martin | Vocals |
Neil Murray | Bass |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
Cozy Powell | Drums |
1990 - Tyr by Black Sabbath
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Tony Martin | Vocals |
Neil Murray | Bass |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
Cozy Powell | Drums |
1989 - Headless Cross (single) by Black Sabbath
Laurence Cottle | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Tony Martin | Vocals |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
Cozy Powell | Drums |
1989 - Headless Cross by Black Sabbath
Laurence Cottle | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Tony Martin | Vocals |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
Cozy Powell | Drums |
1987 - The Eternal Idol by Black Sabbath
Bev Bevan | Percussion |
Bob Daisley | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Tony Martin | Vocals |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
Eric Singer | Drums |
1986 - Seventh Star by Black Sabbath
Gordon Copley | Bass |
Glenn Hughes | Vocals |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
Eric Singer | Drums |
Dave Spitz | Bass |
1983 - Born Again by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Ian Gillan | Vocals |
Tony Iommi | Guitar, Flute |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1983 - Live Evil (live) by Black Sabbath
Vinny Appice | Drums |
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Ronnie James Dio | Vocals |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1982 - Turn Up the Night (single) by Black Sabbath
Vinny Appice | Drums |
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Ronnie James Dio | Vocals |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
1981 - Mob Rules (single) by Black Sabbath
Vinny Appice | Drums |
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Ronnie James Dio | Vocals |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
1981 - Mob Rules by Black Sabbath
Vinny Appice | Drums |
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Ronnie James Dio | Vocals |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Geoff Nicholls | Keyboard |
1980 - Die Young (single) by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Ronnie James Dio | Vocals |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1980 - Heaven and Hell by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Ronnie James Dio | Vocals |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1978 - Never Say Die! by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals |
Bill Ward | Vocals, Drums |
1977 - Greatest Hits (comp) by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1976 - Technical Ecstacy by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals |
Bill Ward | Vocals, Drums |
1975 - We Sold Our Souls for Rock n Roll (comp) by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar, Keyboard |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1975 - Sabotage by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar, Piano |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1973 - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass, Mellotrone |
Tony Iommi | Guitar, Piano, Organ, Flute, Bag pipes |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1972 - Vol. 4 by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar, Keyboard |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1972 - Tomorrow's Dream (single) by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1971 - Master of Reality by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar, Keyboard |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1970 - Paranoid (single) by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1970 - Paranoid by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar, Flute |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1970 - Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar, Keyboard |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals, Harmonica |
Bill Ward | Drums |
1970 - Evil Woman (single) by Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler | Bass |
Tony Iommi | Guitar |
Ozzy Osbourne | Vocals |
Bill Ward | Drums |