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Edinburgh Live
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Fans just finding out how iconic rockers Black Sabbath got their name
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Before Black Sabbath became a legendary name in music history, they were just another band trying to make their mark in the smoky pubs and working men's clubs of Birmingham. Now, fans are delving into the origins of what some claim to be the greatest band name ever. The group, formed in 1968, didn't just experiment with sound; they also went through a series of unique names. The journey started after Mythology, a short-lived band featuring guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward, disbanded. Keen to keep playing heavy blues rock, the duo soon joined forces with two other local talents - Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler, who had previously played together in Rare Breed. Ozzy's ad in a local music shop was the catalyst: "OZZY ZIG Needs Gig – has own PA." This simple note would lead to the formation of one of the most iconic bands in history, reports the Daily Record. Their initial lineup was somewhat chaotic: The Polka Tulk Blues Band not only included the four future members of Black Sabbath but also slide guitarist Jimmy Phillips and saxophonist Alan 'Aker' Clarke. The name itself hinted at a whimsical and offbeat vibe, but Tony quickly grew concerned about the band's direction. Feeling that the additional members weren't fully committed, Tony chose an indirect approach to address the issue. The band disbanded and discreetly reformed as a quartet, adopting a new moniker: Earth. As Earth, the band began to carve out their unique sound, laying down early tracks such as Song for Jim and securing performances across the Midlands. Their efforts didn't go unnoticed; they drew the eye of local club owner and trumpet player Jim Simpson, who offered them a regular spot at his venue, Henry's Blueshouse. The catch? They'd be paid in free t-shirts rather than cash. By 1969, Earth was on the rise, but they hit a snag: another band in England was already using the name Earth, leading to confusion. It was clear they needed a new identity to continue their ascent. Just across from their Birmingham rehearsal space, 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 remarked, "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 chilling experience Geezer had with a shadowy figure at his bedside. The track incorporated the tritone, an interval once dubbed diabolus in musica or 'the Devil's Interval', setting their sound apart from anything else on the airwaves in 1969. (Image: Chris Walter/WireImage) The creation of the song Black Sabbath marked a pivotal moment for the group. Realising the potent allure of their new direction, they decided to shed the name Earth and, in August 1969, they embraced the moniker Black Sabbath, under which they would become legendary. 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.
Irish Daily Mirror
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.
Daily Record
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Black Sabbath fans just realising where name comes from as very different original revealed
The heavy metal pioneers tried it all before settling on the name that made them worldwide superstars and fans are only just realising where it came from Before Black Sabbath crashed into music history, they were just another rock group trying to stand out in the smoky pubs and working men's clubs of Birmingham - and now fans are tracing their name's origins, with some calling it the best of all time. Formed in 1968, the band went through more than just sonic experimentation - they cycled through a number of unusual band names too. It all began after the breakup of Mythology, a short-lived band featuring guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward. The pair were determined to continue playing heavy blues rock, and soon linked up with two other local musicians - Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler - who had previously played together in a band called Rare Breed. Ozzy had placed an ad in a local music shop that read: 'OZZY ZIG Needs Gig – has own PA.' That tiny scrap of paper led to one of the most influential bands of all time. Their first version was chaotic: The Polka Tulk Blues Band included not only the core four, but also slide guitarist Jimmy Phillips and saxophonist Alan 'Aker' Clarke. The group's name alone suggested something light-hearted and eccentric - though Tony soon had doubts about the band's focus. Believing that the extra members weren't taking things seriously enough, Tony decided not to ask them to leave directly. Instead, the band broke up and quietly reformed as a four-piece under a new name: Earth. As Earth, the group began to find their sound, recording early demos like Song for Jim and scoring gigs around the Midlands. They caught the attention of local club owner and trumpet player Jim Simpson, who offered them regular slots at his venue, Henry's Blueshouse - on the condition that they get free t-shirts instead of payment. By 1969, Earth was gaining traction, but there was a problem. There was already another band in England with the same name. The mix-up was becoming a headache, and the group needed a fresh start. Across the street from their rehearsal space in Birmingham, a local cinema was showing the 1963 horror film Black Sabbath, starring Boris Karloff. Bassist Geezer Butler reportedly looked at the crowds lining up to see the film and said: 'Isn't it strange that people spend so much money to see scary movies?' Geezer and Ozzy soon penned a song titled Black Sabbath, inspired by horror writer Dennis Wheatley and a terrifying vision the former once had of a dark, hooded figure standing at the foot of his bed. The music featured the tritone - an interval historically known as diabolus in musica, or 'the Devil's Interval', and it was unlike anything else on the radio in 1969. The song Black Sabbath became a turning point. The band realised they'd stumbled on something powerful. They decided to abandon the name Earth and officially became Black Sabbath in August 1969. Their first gig under the new name took place on August 30 in Workington. From then on, they leaned into darker themes and began to shape a sound that drew more from horror films than from the psychedelic or flower power movements dominating the charts at the time. Black Sabbath released their self-titled debut album in February 1970. Most critics were baffled or dismissive, but the fans endorsed their efforts, and the album sold rapidly, starting a legacy they can boast about today.
