When guitarist Tony Iommi departed to join the more established Jethro Tull in 1969, Black Sabbath nearly disbanded before releasing a single song, but he changed his mind. 1)
The name Black Sabbath was allegedly inspired by an old horror movie poster, although the debut album by American psych-rockers Coven (issued months before Sabbath's debut) had a song titled “Black Sabbath,” and its bassist was named Oz Osborne! 2)
Nobody knows the identity or whereabouts of the mystery woman seen on the cover of Sabbath's debut album. 3)
The artwork for the 'Paranoid' album has also baffled fans because the blurred neon warrior pictured alluded to the album's original intended title, 'War Pigs,' before it was renamed at the last minute. 4)
The song 'Fairies Wear Boots' was inspired by a confrontation with combat boot-wearing skinheads who disrupted one of Sabbath's early gigs. 5)
Bill Ward made a name for himself by smashing his drum kit with reckless abandon and power, although his primary influences were big band jazz greats like Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich (both of whom can be heard on Sabbath's first LP). 6)
In order to fine-tune their sound for 1973's 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,' the band enlisted the help of Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman, whose booze consumption was as renowned as his musical abilities. 7)
Hipgnosis, a recognized art designer, was commissioned by Black Sabbath to create a sophisticated cover for 1976's 'Technical Ecstasy,' but Ozzy subsequently derided it as “two robots screwing on an escalator”. 8)
Ozzy Osbourne officially left Sabbath in 1979, but the singer had already left in late 1977, forcing the band to rely on former Savoy Brown singer Dave Walker for a single TV appearance. 9)
Ronnie James Dio was recommended as Ozzy's replacement by whom? Sharon Arden, daughter of band manager Don Arden… afterward known as Sharon Osbourne! 10)
When Deep Purple's Ian Gillan joined Sabbath in 1983, the intention was to form a new band. 11)
The lineup for 'Seventh Star' is rarely remembered, although it includes Deep Purple alum Glenn Hughes, future Badlands and Kiss drummer Eric Singer, and bassist Dave 'The Beast' Spitz, brother of Anthrax's Dan Spitz. 12)
Another future Badlands member, singer Ray Gillen, recorded all of the vocal tracks for Black Sabbath's 1987 LP, 'The Eternal Idol,' but these were replaced with Tony Martin's vocals after his departure.13)
Tony Iommi was once engaged to be married to metal princess Lita Ford. However, after the record he made for her was postponed indefinitely, Lita called it quits and was soon singing a duet with Ozzy on the tune 'Close My Eyes Forever. 14)
Brian May of Queen performs lead guitar on a Black Sabbath song: the extremely dark and evil-sounding ‘When Death Calls' from 1989's 'Headless Cross' album. 15)