07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Fans are only just learning how Black Sabbath got its name
Before they became the titans of heavy metal, Black Sabbath were just another act striving to make their mark in Birmingham's smoke-filled pubs and working men's clubs. And now the tale of how they coined what some fans believe to be the best band name ever has been revealed.
Formed in 1968, before they ever reached legendary status, they didn't just experiment with sound; they went through their fair share of quirky names as well. It started when Mythology, Tony Iommi's and Bill Ward's previous group, split up.
Eager to keep rocking the heavy blues scene, the two soon teamed up with fellow local rockers Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler, who had previously worked together in Rare Breed. A simple ad that Ozzy put up in the local music shop kickstarted it all: "OZZY ZIG Needs Gig – has own PA." That modest advert would set the stage for what would become one of the most pioneering bands in music history.
The band's original line-up went by the name The Polka Tulk Blues Band, which included the main four plus slide guitarist Jimmy Phillips and saxophonist Alan 'Aker' Clarke. The name itself hinted at a playful and offbeat vibe, but Tony grew concerned about the band's direction, reports the Daily Record.
Feeling that the additional members weren't fully committed, he opted for a roundabout solution: the band disbanded and came back as a four-piece known as Earth, ditching the original name. It was as Earth that the band began to craft their unique sound with early demos like Song for Jim and landing gigs across the Midlands. Tony Iommi and Ozzy Osbourne and on stage as Earth
They caught the eye of local club owner and trumpet player Jim Simpson, who offered them regular spots at his Henry's Blueshouse. But there was a catch - they'd be paid in free t-shirts instead of cash.
By 1969, Earth was making waves, yet they hit a snag: another band in England was already using the name Earth, leading to confusion. The group knew it was time for a change.
Right across from their Birmingham rehearsal spot, a cinema was screening the 1963 horror flick Black Sabbath featuring Boris Karloff. Geezer Butler, the band's bassist, observed the moviegoers queuing up and mused: "Isn't it strange that people spend so much money to see scary movies?".
This observation sparked creativity in Geezer and Ozzy, who quickly composed a song titled Black Sabbath, drawing inspiration from horror author Dennis Wheatley and a spine-chilling experience Geezer had with a shadowy figure at his bedside. Their music incorporated the tritone, an interval once dubbed diabolus in musica or 'the Devil's Interval', creating a sound that was utterly distinct from anything else on the airwaves in 1969.
The track Black Sabbath marked a pivotal moment for the band. Realising they had tapped into something monumental, they decided to shed the name Earth and, in August 1969, they embraced a new identity: Black Sabbath. Black Sabbath, 1970s: Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne (Image: Chris Walter/WireImage)
Their inaugural performance under the new moniker took place on August 30 in Workington. From that point forward, they embraced more sinister themes and started to craft a sound that was more influenced by horror films than the psychedelic or flower power movements that were ruling the charts at the time.
Black Sabbath launched their eponymous debut album in February 1970. The majority of critics were either perplexed or dismissive, but the fans backed their endeavours, and the album sold quickly, laying the foundation for a legacy they can proudly claim today.
