Black Sabbath

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Michael Anthony, Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward

Van Halen's Michael Anthony recalls watching Ozzy Osbourne set Bill Ward on fire: "He didn't even flinch. He just kept drinking his beer"

By Liz Scarlett published

Former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony looks back on the time his band toured with Black Sabbath, as well as the sometimes dangerous shenanigans that took place on the road

Bill Ward and Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath in 2015

“Everybody wants to do it”: Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler also hopes to do one more show with original drummer Bill Ward

By Matt Mills published

Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi have recently said they want to do one last concert with the classic Black Sabbath lineup to draw the band to a close

Black Sabbath in 1989 backstage with an inset of Ozzy Osbourne

“You could have anyone from Dio to Pavarotti, and it will never be Sabbath. Don’t belittle that band, Tony, move on”: the furious open letter Ozzy Osbourne sent to Tony Iommi telling him to end Black Sabbath

By Classic Rock published

In the brand new issue of Classic Rock, Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi looks back on the band’s late 80s ‘wilderness period’ – and a war of words with Ozzy Osbourne

Leif Edling

“Nothing sounded like it at the time. Nothing sounds like it now. It’s a beast!”: meet the doom metal legend who obsessively collects vinyl versions of Black Sabbath‘s debut album

By Dave Everley published

Candlemass bassist Leif Edling owns way more copies of Black Sabbath’s debut album than you

Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath appear at a press conference to announce their first new album in 33 years and a world tour in 2012 at the Whisky a Go Go on November 11, 2011 in West Hollywood, California

After Ozzy admits he'd love to play one final Black Sabbath show with Bill Ward, Tony Iommi describes it as a "nice idea"

By Stef Lach published

Ozzy recently said he'd like to give "unfinished" Black Sabbath a proper send-off and Tony Iommi is not ruling it out

Tony Iommi onstage in 2012 and Eddie Van Halen onstage in 2015

Tony Iommi remembers co-writing a Black Sabbath song with Eddie Van Halen: “I said, ‘You’re playing that wrong’”

By Matt Mills published

Van Halen’s record label stopped him from getting a Black Sabbath songwriting credit in 1994

Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi, Cozy Powell, Tony Martin and Neil Murray

Black Sabbath's Get A Grip: Watch the official upgraded video

By Fraser Lewry published

Get A Grip comes from a new single released to celebrate the upcoming Tony Martin-era box set Anno Domini 1989-1995

Classic Rock issue 328 - front cover with Black Sabbath

The untold story of Black Sabbath's unlikely resurrection: Only in the new issue of Classic Rock

By Sian Llewellyn published

Also in this issue: Jon Bon Jovi, Triumph, Bryan Adams, Praying Mantis, FM, New England, Al Jourgensen, Masters Of Reality, Chris Spedding, Cock Sparrer, Bad Nerves and more

Black Sabbath/Black Bear

"If he starts banging his head, we've got a problem." Watch rangers attempt to scare a bear away from a residential area using Black Sabbath classic Iron Man (it did not work)

By Rich Hobson published

In the battle of Black Sabbath vs black bear, there was a clear winner

Ronnie James Dio studio portrait

"I insist upon being great. You don’t always reach that pinnacle, but I insist upon it": The A-Z of Ronnie James Dio

By Jerry Ewing published

In his decades fronting Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and more, the little man with the huge voice made a great many friends – and more than a few enemies

Ozzy Osbourne onstage in 2002, next to a picture of Queen Elizabeth II

Watch Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Phil Collins serenade the Queen with Black Sabbath’s Paranoid in 2002

By Matt Mills published

In 2002, The Prince Of Darkness cleaned up his act for one night only, performing a Black Sabbath classic to help mark Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee

A montage of Freddie Mercury, Kurt Cobain, David Bowie and Jim Morrison

The first and last lyrics sung on record by 20 legendary bands

By Dave Everley published

From The Beatles and Bowie to Freddie Mercury and Kurt Cobain and, these are the first and last lines sung on record by rock’s biggest bands

Ozzy Osbourne onstage in 2013

Ozzy Osbourne names the best guitarist he’s ever played with: “Others do the notes, but it’s not the same”

By Matt Mills published

Watch The Prince Of Darkness shower praise on one of his most legendary bandmates

Ozzy Osbourne onstage in 2017 and Dolly Parton in 2023

What would it sound like if Black Sabbath recorded Dolly Parton’s Jolene? This Youtuber answers the question you never asked

By Matt Mills published

Youtuber Moonic Productions has given country legend Dolly Parton the ’70s metal treatment

Ozzy in a tank

"I wanted to see the world and shoot as many people as possible": Before he joined Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne tried to join the British Army. His application was not accepted

By Paul Brannigan last updated

Ozzy Osbourne once wanted to join the British Army. Fortunately for heavy metal, the British Army did not want Ozzy in their ranks

Cindy & Bert performing Paranoid on TV

Watch German pop duo Cindy & Bert perform a Sherlock Holmes-themed version of Black Sabbath's Paranoid with a cute dog in 1971

By Fraser Lewry published

Watch German pop duo Cindy & Bert perform a Sherlock Holmes-themed version of Paranoid in 1971

Dancers perform during dress rehearsal of "Black Sabbath - The Ballet" at Birmingham Hippodrome on September 23, 2023 in Birmingham, England

Black Sabbath Ballet announces international dates after huge success of UK run

By Stef Lach published

Black Sabbath – The Ballet is headed for the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany and the USA

Ronnie James Dio onstage in 1972

“We wore silly hats, but in those days, you did silly things”: Listen to the doo-wop bands Ronnie James Dio sang in before becoming a metal star with Black Sabbath and Rainbow

By Stephen Hill published

Before Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Dio, one of heavy metal’s most powerful voices sang in skiffle and doo-wop groups. This is what they sounded like…

Tony Iommi and James Hetfield in 1992

"I used to hate the sight of Ozzy. I couldn’t stand him, and I used to beat him up whenever I saw him": Tony Iommi in conversation with James Hetfield

By Brad Tolinski published

In the year of our Lord 1992, the Master Of Reality met the Master Of Puppets: The day Metallica’s James Hetfield and Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi sat down together for the first time

Deep Purple’s In Rock album cover with an inset of Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi

“It shows every member of the band doing what they did best – Gillan’s vocals, Jon Lord’s keyboards”: the In Rock classic that’s Tony Iommi‘s favourite Deep Purple song

By Classic Rock published

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi reveals his favourite song by fellow rock pioneers Deep Purple