BLACK SABBATH
By Carlos Zaldívar
Polka Tulk Blues Band. Then “Earth”. These were the names for four young guys called in 1969 and then by a suggestion of Bill Ward, they took the name from a english novel: Black Sabbath. Tony Iommi, Guitar; John “Ozzy” Osbourne, Vocals, “Geezer” Butler, Bass Guitar and Bill Ward, Drums were those english guys.
They released their self-titled debut album in 1970 (February and soon will be the 30th Anniversary for “Black Sabbath” album) giving birth to a new era of rock & roll.
Black Sabbath is chief influence for many rock bands until now, such as White Zombie, Metallica, Type O Negative and more.
For nearly a decade, Black Sabbath reigned over the 70´s hard rock scene. Then in 1978, lead vocalist Ozzy Osbourne was asked to leave the band for good. Prior to this occasion, Ozzy had left and returned to Black Sabbath twice. It has been said that Ozzy simply “lost interest” in what Sabbath was doing. As everyone knows, Ozzy then went on to a legendary solo career. Over the next 17 years, Sabbath recruited an impressive lot of musicians that each made own unique contributions to the band. Some of them were: Ronnie James Dio, Vinnie Appice, Ian Gillan, Glenn Hughes, Eric Singer, Cozy Powell, Tony Martin, Ray Gillen, Rob Halford and others.
Then in the final of decade or 80´s was the rumor of Black Sabbath coming to MEXICO CITY. First they were been playing in Leon, Guanajuato. But there were too much problems with the local government and the church. Finally the city of San Luis Potosi, was the venue for that concert. I was there. In the day of the concert, and at last, the local government and the church qualified them as Satanics and didn’t let them play. Too much riot in San Luis and got to get back home. Sad.
And God is Enormous. Finally in 1992 Black Sabbath went to the IRON DOME in Mexico City. The Tour: Dehumanizer. The date: October 8th. I was there too.
The line up of that concert was: Ronnie James Dio, Vocals; Tony Iommi, Guitar, Vinnie Appice, Drums and Geezer Butler in the Bass Guitar.
And much more in 1995 in the same precinct in Mexico City, Ozzy Osbourne went with his band to play the greatest hits of Black Sabbath, besides his own hits. Thanks God!
Well but if you want to be a Black Sabbath’s fan, just buy the official discography including the recent album “Reunion” (1998) with the return of Ozzy. It brings Us the pleasure of the original line-up as in 1969. And buy the DVD “The Last Supper” released in this 2000, with some extra photos with Jesus in the painting of Da Vinci.
BLACK SABBATH (1970), PARANOID (1970), MASTER OF REALITY (1971), VOLUME 4 (1972), SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH (1974), SABOTAGE (1975), WE SOLD OUR SOUL FOR ROCK & ROLL (1976), TECHNICAL ECSTASY (1976), NEVER SAY DIE (1978), HEAVEN & HELL (1980), MOB RULES (1981), LIVE EVIL (1982), BORN AGAIN (1983), SEVENTH STAR (1986), THE ETERNAL IDOL (1987), HEADLESS CROSS (1989), TYR (1990), DEHUMANIZER (1992), CROSS PURPOSES (1994), CROSS PURPOSES LIVE (1995), FORBIDDEN (1995), THE SABBATH STONES (1996), REUNION (1998) and the great DVD: THE LAST SUPPER (2000).
