Black Sabbath Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath on stage on December 16, 1999
Background information
Origin	Birmingham, England
Genres	Heavy metal, hard rock, blues rock
Years active	1968-present

Members	Tony Iommi Ozzy Osbourne Geezer Butler

Black Sabbath was a very important English heavy metal band. They are known for helping to create the heavy metal music style in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their music was often dark and powerful, which was new for the time. They have sold over 100 million albums around the world, making them one of the best-selling bands ever.

The original members of Black Sabbath were Ozzy Osbourne (who sang), Tony Iommi (who played guitar), Terence "Geezer" Butler (who played bass guitar), and Bill Ward (who played drums).

Who Are Black Sabbath?
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Who Are Black Sabbath?

Black Sabbath is a famous rock band from Birmingham, England. They are often called the "godfathers of heavy metal" because their sound was so new and different. They mixed loud guitars, strong drums, and deep bass lines with unique singing. Their songs often had themes about fantasy, science fiction, and sometimes even scary stories, which made their music very exciting.

How They Started

The band first formed in 1968. Before they were called Black Sabbath, they were known as Earth. They played blues rock music. However, they soon changed their name to Black Sabbath after seeing a horror movie. They realized that people liked to be scared, and they decided to make music that sounded scary and heavy. This new sound became what we now call heavy metal.

Their Unique Sound

Black Sabbath's music was different from other bands at the time. Tony Iommi, the guitarist, had an accident that damaged his fingertips. This made him play the guitar in a special way, using lighter strings and tuning his guitar lower. This created a very heavy and dark sound. Geezer Butler's bass lines were also very strong and often followed the guitar, making the music feel even heavier. Ozzy Osbourne's singing style was unique and helped make their songs memorable.

Famous Albums and Songs

Black Sabbath released many important albums that helped define heavy metal. Their first album, called Black Sabbath, came out in 1970. It had a very dark and spooky sound. Later that same year, they released Paranoid, which became one of their most famous albums. It included hit songs like "Iron Man" and "Paranoid". These songs are still very popular today and are often played on rock radio stations.

Other important albums include Master of Reality, Vol. 4, and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Each of these albums helped to develop the heavy metal sound and inspired many other bands.

Changes in the Band

Over the years, Black Sabbath had some changes in its members. After the first few albums, Ozzy Osbourne left the band. Other singers joined, including Ronnie James Dio, who was also very famous. He sang on albums like Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules. Later, other musicians like Ian Gillan and Tony Martin also sang for the band. Even with different members, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler were usually still part of the group, keeping the Black Sabbath sound alive.

Reunions and Final Tour

The original members of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler, reunited several times over the years. Fans were always excited to see them play together again. In 2011, they announced they would reunite for a new album and a final tour. Their last tour was called "The End" and it finished in 2017 in their home city of Birmingham. This was a big event for their fans around the world.

Black Sabbath left a huge mark on music. Many bands today say that Black Sabbath inspired them. Their heavy sound and dark themes changed rock music forever.

Images for kids

Black Sabbath at Piccadilly Circus, London in 1970 (left to right: Iommi, Ward, Osbourne, Butler)
Black Sabbath original lineup in 1973 (left to right: Osbourne, Butler, Iommi, Ward)
Black Sabbath at the Madison Square Garden, New York City, 1977
Ronnie James Dio's first stint as the singer of Black Sabbath lasted from 1979 to 1982.
Black Sabbath performing in Cardiff, Wales, in 1981
Ian Gillan recorded one album with Black Sabbath, 1983's Born Again.
Black Sabbath in 1986 (left to right: Dave Spitz, Glenn Hughes, Tony Iommi, Eric Singer, and Geoff Nicholls)
Tony Martin was the band's lead vocalist from 1987 to 1991 and again from 1993 to 1997.
Geezer Butler performing with Black Sabbath in 1995
Black Sabbath on stage in Stuttgart in December 1999 (left to right: Butler, Osbourne, Iommi, Ward)
Tony Iommi in 2007 with Heaven & Hell
Black Sabbath live in Brazil, 2013 (left to right: Tommy Clufetos, Butler, Osbourne, Iommi)
Black Sabbath at the Genting Arena, Birmingham, at the end of their final concert as a band, February 2017
Black Sabbath bench on Black Sabbath Bridge on Broad Street in the band's home city Birmingham

Black Sabbath facts for kids

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