--- title: "Black Sabbath" type: "MusicGroup" url: "https://themetalnet.com/band/black-sabbath" genre: "Heavy Metal" country: "United Kingdom" formed: 1968 disbanded: 2025 --- # Black Sabbath **Black Sabbath** is a heavy metal band, from United Kingdom, active 1968 to 2025. Black Sabbath were an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. After adopting the Black Sabbath name in 1969, they distinguished themselves through occult themes with horror-inspired lyrics and down-tuned guitars. Their first three albums, Black Sabbath, Paranoid, and Master of Reality (1971), were commercially successful, and are cited as pioneering albums in the development of heavy metal. Subsequent albums Vol. 4 (1972), Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973), Sabotage (1975), Technical Ecstasy (1976), and Never Say Die! (1978) saw the band explore more experimental and progressive styles. Biography source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sabbath ## Facts | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Name | Black Sabbath | | Genre | Heavy Metal | | Parent genre | Heavy Metal | | Origin | Birmingham, United Kingdom | | Formed | 1968 | | Disbanded | 2025 | | Releases in catalog | 21 | ## Genres [Heavy Metal](https://themetalnet.com/genre/heavy-metal) · [Doom Metal](https://themetalnet.com/genre/doom-metal) · [Traditional Doom Metal](https://themetalnet.com/genre/traditional-doom) ## Line-up | Musician | Instruments | Years | Status | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Geezer Butler](https://themetalnet.com/musician/geezer-butler) | Synthesizer, Bass guitar | 1968 to present | Current | | [Bob Rondinelli](https://themetalnet.com/musician/bob-rondinelli) | Drums (drum set) | 1993 to 1996 | Former | | [Vinny Appice](https://themetalnet.com/musician/vinny-appice) | Drums (drum set) | 1980 to 2007 | Former | | [Bob Daisley](https://themetalnet.com/musician/bob-daisley) | Bass guitar | 1986 to 1986 | Former | | [Cozy Powell](https://themetalnet.com/musician/cozy-powell) | Drums (drum set) | 1988 to 1995 | Former | | [Ronnie James Dio](https://themetalnet.com/musician/ronnie-james-dio) | Lead vocals | 1979 to 1992 | Former | | [Bill Ward](https://themetalnet.com/musician/bill-ward) | Background vocals, Percussion, Drums (drum set) | 1968 to 2012 | Former | | [Eric Singer](https://themetalnet.com/musician/eric-singer) | Drums (drum set) | 1985 to 1987 | Former | | [Glenn Hughes](https://themetalnet.com/musician/glenn-hughes) | Lead vocals | 1985 to 1986 | Former | | [Ian Gillan](https://themetalnet.com/musician/ian-gillan) | Lead vocals | 1982 to 1984 | Former | | [Neil Murray](https://themetalnet.com/musician/neil-murray) | Bass guitar | 1989 to 1995 | Former | | [Ray Gillen](https://themetalnet.com/musician/ray-gillen) | Lead vocals | 1986 to 1987 | Former | | [Ron Keel](https://themetalnet.com/musician/ron-keel) | Lead vocals | 1984 to 1984 | Former | | [Tony Iommi](https://themetalnet.com/musician/tony-iommi) | Guitar | 1968 to 2017 | Former | | [Tony Martin](https://themetalnet.com/musician/tony-martin) | Lead vocals | 1987 to 1996 | Former | | [Geoff Nicholls](https://themetalnet.com/musician/geoff-nicholls) | Keyboard | 1979 to 2004 | Former | | [Mike Bordin](https://themetalnet.com/musician/mike-bordin) | Drums (drum set) | 1997 to 1997 | Former | | [Bev Bevan](https://themetalnet.com/musician/bev-bevan) | Percussion, Drums (drum set) | 1983 to 1987 | Former | | [Dave Walker](https://themetalnet.com/musician/dave-walker) | Lead vocals | 1977 to 1978 | Former | | [David Donato](https://themetalnet.com/musician/david-donato) | Lead vocals | 1984 to 1985 | Former | | [David Spitz](https://themetalnet.com/musician/david-spitz) | Bass guitar | 1985 to 1987 | Former | | [Jo Burt](https://themetalnet.com/musician/jo-burt) | Bass guitar | 1987 to 1988 | Former | | [Ozzy Osbourne](https://themetalnet.com/musician/ozzy-osbourne) | Lead vocals, Harmonica | 1968 to 1977 | Former | | [Terry Chimes](https://themetalnet.com/musician/terry-chimes) | Membranophone | 1987 to 1988 | Former | ## Discography | Year | Release | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | 1970 | [Black Sabbath](https://themetalnet.com/album/826c9743-a3f0-3479-bf06-8df2e140ef1d) | Album | | 1970 | [Paranoid](https://themetalnet.com/album/cc053745-c447-3566-8f27-bed5438c9133) | Album | | 1971 | [Master of Reality](https://themetalnet.com/album/e51e9779-2edc-3b39-959c-299fdb5ed940) | Album | | 1972 | [Vol 4](https://themetalnet.com/album/8c292627-3459-3852-8ebc-226c12db175d) | Album | | 1973 | [Sabbath Bloody Sabbath](https://themetalnet.com/album/dd9bd473-0232-3a12-b51e-742de1aca5ca) | Album | | 1975 | [Sabotage](https://themetalnet.com/album/8ef6fc58-d87a-46cf-ab9d-077291784ada) | Album | | 1976 | [Technical Ecstasy](https://themetalnet.com/album/de117377-2f09-3502-8959-e1eca1b583a8) | Album | | 1978 | [Never Say Die!](https://themetalnet.com/album/eb8c8e6c-b554-31d3-bae0-1c4ea64336d0) | Album | | 1980 | [Heaven and Hell](https://themetalnet.com/album/43ac82b5-eceb-3909-a153-3c00ea9c7b9a) | Album | | 1981 | [Mob Rules](https://themetalnet.com/album/35cb9c0a-3cce-3efd-ac19-014f4811620d) | Album | | 1983 | [Born Again](https://themetalnet.com/album/de7de788-0f31-338a-9d82-8a09108e429f) | Album | | 1986 | [Seventh Star](https://themetalnet.com/album/9ff01b54-79d5-343b-9a52-242e5627d652) | Album | | 1987 | [The Eternal Idol](https://themetalnet.com/album/fb123ba6-4a78-3ed3-bee3-cf939fac6411) | Album | | 1989 | [Headless Cross](https://themetalnet.com/album/230fa643-0fdf-34a4-b6e4-3cf8563dcf11) | Album | | 1990 | [TYR](https://themetalnet.com/album/00f64d57-aeaf-3925-ac5e-072fdcb7c3f6) | Album | | 1992 | [Dehumanizer](https://themetalnet.com/album/0db80cc3-becc-3ee7-8abe-de42d368ca54) | Album | | 1994 | [Cross Purposes](https://themetalnet.com/album/0a321887-9d3d-3600-90d1-67540a409177) | Album | | 1995 | [Forbidden](https://themetalnet.com/album/dcb2536b-a011-33d3-b364-a4e724e5a7a8) | Album | | 1999 | [Black Mass](https://themetalnet.com/album/22a75db3-b3cd-30d0-89f4-854477888728) | EP | | 2013 | [13](https://themetalnet.com/album/5cbae3a0-6d55-497b-97b3-6c30a3264313) | Album | | 2024 | [Studio Outtakes 1969](https://themetalnet.com/album/7ac28c31-ed36-4176-bc98-7f20c54c85b4) | Album | ## Related bands - [Led Zeppelin](https://themetalnet.com/band/led-zeppelin) (listened together) - [Metallica](https://themetalnet.com/band/metallica) (listened together) - [Deep Purple](https://themetalnet.com/band/deep-purple) (listened together) - [Nirvana](https://themetalnet.com/band/nirvana) (listened together) - [Ozzy Osbourne](https://themetalnet.com/band/ozzy-osbourne) (listened together) - [Judas Priest](https://themetalnet.com/band/judas-priest) (listened together) - [Motörhead](https://themetalnet.com/band/motorhead) (listened together) - [Aerosmith](https://themetalnet.com/band/aerosmith) (listened together) - [Van Halen](https://themetalnet.com/band/van-halen) (listened together) - [Red Hot Chili Peppers](https://themetalnet.com/band/red-hot-chili-peppers) (listened together) - [System of a Down](https://themetalnet.com/band/system-of-a-down) (listened together) - [Dio](https://themetalnet.com/band/dio) (listened together) ## Official and external links - metal archives: https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Black_Sabbath/99 - spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5M52tdBnJaKSvOpJGz8mfZ - instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacksabbath/ - x: https://twitter.com/BlackSabbath - deezer: https://www.deezer.com/artist/647 - facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackSabbath - apple music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/165907 - website: https://www.blacksabbath.com/ - youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrx-X329UKv0Y06VhfpFVvw --- Source: [TheMetalNet https://themetalnet.com/band/black-sabbath](https://themetalnet.com/band/black-sabbath). Catalog data from MusicBrainz and Metal Archives. Full site index: https://themetalnet.com/llms.txt