Members
Edit
Geezer Butler
current member-
bass guitar:
- 1969-1985,
- 1990-1994,
- 1997-
Tony Iommi
current member-
guitar:
- 1969-
Bill Ward
current member-
drums:
- 1984-1985,
- 1992,
- 1994,
- 1997-
-
drums, percussion, vocals:
- 1969-1980
Ozzy Osbourne
current member-
lead vocals, harmonica (1969–1979, 1997–present):
- 1969-
-
lead singer:
- 1978-1979,
- 1985,
- 1992,
- 1997-2006
Vinny Appice
current member-
drums:
- 1991-1992,
- 1998,
- 2006-
-
drums (1980–1982, 1991–1992, 1998, 2006):
- 1980-2006
Scott Warren
current member-
keyboard:
- 2007-
Adam Wakeman
-
keyboard:
- 2004-2006
Ronnie James Dio
-
lead singer (1979–1982, 1991–1992, 2006):
- 1979-2006
-
lead singer:
- 1991-1992
Rob Halford
-
lead singer:
- 1992,
- 2004
Tony Martin
-
lead singer (1987–1991, 1993–1997):
- 1987-1997
-
lead singer:
- 1991,
- 1993-1995
Neil Murray
-
bass guitar:
- 1994-1995
-
bass guitar (1989–1991, 1994–1995):
- 1989-1995
Bob Rondinelli
-
drums:
- 1994-1995
-
drums (1993–1994, 1995):
- 1993-1995
Cozy Powell
-
drums:
- 1988-1991,
- 1994-1995
Laurence Cottle
-
bass guitar:
- 1988-1989
Terry Chimes
-
drums:
- 1987-1988
In the News
( 3 stories between 22nd February 2009 and 21st April 2011 )Metal, Metal, Everywhere
Apr, 21 2011
Do you ever experience similar things in seemingly un-related batches, as though the universe is presenting you with a message? Sometimes I see the same words wherever I look; sometimes it is the time on a clock. On one trip to California, every time we turned on the radio, we heard Billy Squier. That was pretty uncool of the universe, but recently heavy metal has been on my radar, so now I am sharing with you. Maybe you will glean the message that eludes me.
This map of metal provides a historical look at the genesis and evolution of the heavy metal genre from the 1960’s through today. You can navigate the landscape of metal and all of its sub-genres (noted as small towns) while visiting the shores of punk rock. Music samples from each decade and serve as your sonic guide.
If you are looking for something a bit more cerebral, check out this concise discussion of the parallels in origin and ideology between gangsta rap and black metal.
If you are looking to go the opposite direction and are looking for pure entertainment, consider these questions. Do you like metal? Do you like cats? If so, here’s a site you should probably be wasting time on right now.
What does it all mean? Perhaps I should break out my Black Sabbath vinyl and get back to basics.
-Court
Black Sabbath
Jun, 4 2009
The legacy of Black Sabbath cannot be understated in terms of influencing the shape of much of the heavy metal that followed, and though the band itself had weathered the usual divisions and arguments, it finally claimed its place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. These days, fans of the band can pay to see the much loved Dio-fronted incarnation of the band, but they tour as Heaven and Hell, partly because an Ozzy-fronted, but album-less, tour-less and virtually silent version of Black Sabbath still exists. Now Ozzy has filed a law suit against band-mate Tony Iommi over royalties and the rights to use the Black Sabbath name. He believes that the name of Black Sabbath was "literally in the toilet" prior to the Ozzy fronted reunion in 1997, and that consistent merchandising since that date has restored the brand to "worldwide prestige" – this, in spite of no live performances since 2006. There is every indication that Iommi is unlikely to crumble easily; he pointed out that he is the sole member of the band to last the full 41 years of tenure and that his bandmates relinquished their rights to the name in the 1980s. In a statement to the press Ozzy noted that “We're all in our 60's now. The Black Sabbath legacy should live on long after we have all gone,” and it probably will, though this action is likely to leave the memory more than just a little tarnished.
Black Sabbath
Feb, 22 2009
The Dio fronted Sabbath are often considered to be the second choice line-up after the behemoth of the classic Ozzy fronted band. Nonetheless, second best was plenty good enough for Sabbath fans hungry for a reunion, and Heaven and Hell – ostensibly the Dio Sabbath line-up – sold well during its recent tour. However, it looks like the two incarnations of the band will be going head to head in the Spring. Plans to re-release an expanded edition of the seminal, multi-platinum, classic line-up Paranoid album on April 6 means that it will be competing for sales with the forthcoming album of new material from Heaven and Hell, The Devil You Know, on April 28. Whichever album does best at the stores, there’s little doubt that the real winners will be the Sabbath fans.
