Abu Dhabi: Black Sabbath are touching down on our shores for their debut gig in the Middle East. Considered legends, the 46-year-old band’s influence can be seen in the entire cosmos of heavy metal. With the huge success of their recently released 13, their 19th studio album, the godfathers of heavy metal have proved they are a still a force to reckon with. However, how much do we know about the famous band members? Here are a few facts that you never would have guessed.
1. Ozzy Osbourne the comedian
Frontman Ozzy Ozbourne has a knack for the comedy scene starting with his skit ad campaign for I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter in 2006. His talents emerged in 1983 when he played a religious pastor who hates music in Trick or Treat. How ironic! The Black Sabbath band members also recently appeared in an episode of CSI.
2. Tony Iommi’s charity rock
Leady guitarist Tony Iommi collaborated with Ian Gillan of Deep Purple and many other rock artists to form a supergroup, titled WhoCares, in 2011. They participated in a charity project to raise money to rebuild a music school in Armenia. The school was demolished when the city of Gyumri was hit by an earthquake in 1988.
3. Jazz inspired musicians
When Tony injured his fingers, he was inspired by the jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt to continue playing and so he developed a love for jazz music. It’s not all about the metal, the band themselves started out as a jazz-blues band named Polka Tulk, later called Earth. In early 1969, the group changed its name to the now iconic Black Sabbath.
4. Hall of fame
In 2005, Black Sabbath were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame by friend and music icon Brian May. They had been overlooked 7 times, prompting Ozzy to ask that the band be taken off the list. The following year, they were inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
5. Ozzy’s first career ambition
Ozzy’s first career ambition wasn’t in the realm of music. Allegedly, when Ozzy was around 15 years old, he became a plumber’s apprentice, as that was the profession he was interested in at the time. Obviously, it didn’t pan out – and we’re not complaining
6. Geezer and Tom Hanks friendship
Bassist Geezer Butler is good friends with Hollywood actor Tom Hanks, having bonded over their mutual love for Premier League strugglers Aston Villa, sometimes attending games together.
7. Ozzy’s solo music saves autistic boy
An eight-year-old autistic boy in Twin Peaks, California ran away into the woods due to parental abuse and was lured back into police protection after they played his favourite song No More Tears.
8. The band that comes and goes
Before their reunion in 2012, the group has had 22 different members over the years. Tony Iommi has been the only ever-present member, but he did quit the then Earth for a brief stint with Jethro Tull in 1968. Additionally, there were many members shared between Black Sabbath, Rainbow and Deep Purple. Ronnie James Dio, who replaced Ozzy as frontman when the latter began his solo career in 1978, was the vocalist for Rainbow.
9. Historic debut
The band’s self-titled debut was done in a single day, much of it in a single take, and cost a mere £800 to record. The first title on the album? Black Sabbath.
10. MR. GEEZER Born Terence Michael Joseph Butler, Geezer got his nickname for his preference of calling his classmates “Geezer” at school, a British slang for “guy” or “dude”.
