Black Sabbath's Hits Return To The Charts After More Than A Decade

Forbes

12 hours ago

Black Sabbath reunites for a final concert in Birmingham, U.K., sparking chart returns for hit songs ... More like "War Pigs," "Iron Man," and "Paranoid." LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath performs at Ozzfest 2016 at San Manuel Amphitheater on September 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo byfor ABA)
Earlier this month, Black Sabbath reformed in its classic lineup to perform what was billed as the band's final concert. The aging rock outfit — credited as one of the inventors of heavy metal — played to tens of thousands of fans in Birmingham, England, where the group got its start. The show wasn't just a farewell performance for Black Sabbath, but likely for Ozzy Osbourne as well.
Fans across the United Kingdom have loved Osbourne and the legendary band for decades, so this moment is bittersweet, as the group says goodbye. Several famous Black Sabbath tunes return to the charts as consumption of the band's entire catalog rises in something of a tribute.
Black Sabbath Scores Multiple Rock Hits
Black Sabbath fills three spaces on the Official Rock and Metal Singles chart this week. Both "War Pigs" and "Iron Man" return to the tally, coming in at Nos. 26 and 33, respectively. Those two tracks have spent about two months on the list and have previously broken into the top 10.
More Than a Decade Away
Neither "War Pigs" nor "Iron Man" has appeared on the Official Rock and Metal Singles chart for at least a decade. "Iron Man" debuted in May 2010 and last landed on the list in June 2012. "War Pigs," meanwhile, launched in March 2014 and ran for half a dozen frames before disappearing, and it hasn't been seen since.
Only a Few Black Sabbath Songs Have Charted in the U.K.
Despite being one of the most famous rock acts in U.K. history, Black Sabbath has only ever sent five songs to the Official Rock and Metal Singles tally. Two of those are versions of "Paranoid," so really, the count is just four different compositions.
Speaking of "Paranoid," that cut can also be found on the genre-specific ranking as it advances from No. 14 to No. 5. That marks a new peak for one take on the Black Sabbath classic, though the original version previously rose as high as No. 3.
Fans Revisit the Band's Full-Lengths
When it comes to U.K. fans listening to Black Sabbath, it's clear the focus isn't on one track or another, but rather the band's albums. Half a dozen full-lengths appear on at least one chart across the Atlantic, with several debuting or rising to new peak positions. A handful of the studio efforts are present on multiple tallies at the same time.