Black Sabbath (formed 1968 - split 2006; reformed 2011)
Black Sabbath are a British heavy metal band famous for the songs 'Iron Man' and 'Paranoid'. Members are Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Ozzy Osbourne.
Formation: Black Sabbath was initially intended to be a blues rock band when it formed with guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, being named various things including Polka Tulk Blues Band, then Polka Tulk, then Earth. The original line-up also featured slide guitarist Jimmy Phillips and saxophonist Alan Clarke. Phillips and Clarke soon left and the rest of the band were managed by Jim Simpson. Iommi briefly left the band to join Jethro Tull, but soon returned to Black Sabbath (or Earth as it was then still called). They soon changed their name to their current moniker, naming themselves after a 1963 horror movie.
Musical career: Black Sabbath signed to Philips Records in 1969, releasing debut single 'Evil Woman' through its subsidiary Fontana Records the following year. Their self-titled debut album soon followed, reaching number 8 in the UK Chart. Their second album, 'Paranoid', was released that same year and featured the single of the same name which became their biggest hit reaching number for in the UK and number 1 in Germany. They followed the release with a US tour during which they became immensely popular in America despite lack of radio airplay. The album's second single was 'Iron Man'. Their third album, 'Master of Reality', dropped the following year and was certified platinum a decade later. They went on tour the following year before finally taking a short break. They reunited soon after for their fourth album 'Black Sabbath Vol. 4', but tensions were high due to Ward's drug abuse during recording. The album was soon certified gold despite critical scepticism. The first single was 'Tomorrow's Dream' and, as well as a US tour, the band hit Australia and Europe to promote the release. Drug abuse affected the band once again when Iommi failed to generate any ideas for the fifth album and so the band returned to the UK where they recorded in a spooky castle in the country. It was here Iommi wrote the riff for 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' which became the title single for their next release; a highly praised album that became their fifth US platinum record. They toured the world in 1974 before signing up with a new manager, Don Arden. This led to contractual problems which were handled over a two year court case. Their sixth album, 'Sabotage', was released in 1975 and was co-produced by Mike Butcher, though it met cooler reviews than their previous efforts. They soon followed with a greatest hits album entitled 'We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll'. Keyboardist Gerry Woodruffe joined the band for seventh release 'Technical Ecstasy', released to mixed reviews in 1976. During this time, Osbourne took treatment at the Stafford County Asylum. Osbourne left Black Sabbath in 1977 and was briefly replaced by Dave Walker before rejoining the following year before they were due to hit the studio. Iommi and the rest of the band were forced to abandon material they'd written with Walker when Osbourne refused to sing it. Recording 'Never Say Die!' took a long time to record due to drug abuse among various band members. The album featured the songs 'Never Say Die' and 'Hard Road' and was soon followed by another tour. Osbourne's drug abuse got progressively worse leading to his dismissal from the band in 1979. Ronnie James Dio replaced Osbourne at the suggestion of Don Arden's daughter Sharon Arden (later Sharon Osbourne). Geezer Butler took a hiatus from the band and was temporarily replaced by Craig Gruber and then Geoff Nicholls. Butler returned with Nicholls moving onto keyboards. They released 'Heaven and Hell' in 1980 which reached number 9 in the UK. They subsequently toured with Blue Öyster Cult and re-released 'Paranoid'. Ward left the band that year, struggling to cope with Osbourne in the band, and was replaced by Vinny Appice. They released next album 'Mob Rules' in 1981, but it received poor reviews from critics. The following year, Iommi and Butler had a dispute with Dio, accusing him of secretly raising the volume of his voice in the recording of live album 'Live Evil'. Dio and Appice left in 1982, with the album being released just two months later at the same time as Osbourne's solo debut 'Speak of the Devil', which became a platinum hit. Ian Gillan replaced Dio and Bill Ward rejoined for their next album 'Born Again', which was slammed by critics. Ward soon left again before the subsequent tour with Bev Bevan joining on drums. Both Bevan and Gillan soon left, and Butler followed having become bored with the constantly changing line-up. In 1985, the original band members briefly united for Live Aid, before the Tony Iommi and his newest line-up unveiled new album 'Seventh Star'. After three more releases, Butler and Dio rejoined for 1992's 'Dehumanizer', but it wasn't long before they left once more. Black Sabbath took a hiatus after 1995's 'Forbidden', but Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Ozzy Osbourn had a brief reunion again for 1997's Ozzfest before coming together for their 2013 album '13'. The track 'God Is Dead?' landed them their first Grammy in 14 years.
Biography by Contactmusic.com
Rammstein will headline next year’s Download Festival along with Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden.
Belgium
Jabberwocky (August 15th-16th)
