Black Sabbath

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Black Sabbath at the California Jam, April 6, 1974

"Our manager gave us each $1000 and put us on the plane, economy class. We later found out we had received $250,000 for the show: he kept it all." The true story behind Black Sabbath's biggest show ever

By Paul Brannigan published

On April 6, 1974, Black Sabbath performed for 250,000 rock fans at the first California Jam festival. It was a gig that would live long in the memory for all involved, for reasons both good and bad

Metallica in 2014, Black Sabbath in 2016 and Ghost in 2023

“If it wasn’t for those four guys, we might still be wandering around in the dark”: While Kirk Hammett hails Black Sabbath as metal’s founders, Ghost’s Tobias Forge names the “neglected” aspect of their sound

By Matt Mills published

As the build-up to Black Sabbath’s farewell show continues, Metallica’s guitarist and Ghost’s mastermind explain why the Birmingham four-piece are so special

Tom Morello

"We have a very, very simple goal, to make this the greatest day in the history of heavy metal." Tom Morello reveals what we can expect from Black Sabbath's Back To The Beginning mega-gig, teases added surprise from "huge superstars"

By Paul Brannigan published

As if we weren't already excited enough for Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's final show

Ozzy Osbourne, Paul McCartney, Robert Plant, Jim Morrison and Joe Strummer onstage

The greatest gig I've ever seen: 24 writers pick the most memorable live show of their lives

By Classic Rock Magazine published

24 life-changing live shows from 60 years of gigs

Black Sabbath posing for a photograph with singer Ian Gillan in 1983

“I agreed to join the band when I was drunk. I’ve not much recollection of what went on!”: The chaotic story of Black Sabbath’s Born Again and the tour that inspired Spinal Tap

By Malcolm Dome published

Black Sabbath’s Born Again: flawed classic or total disaster? Ian Gillan has opinions

Zakk Wylde and Ozzy Osbourne

"Everybody's gonna be playing Sabbath songs, it's gonna be pretty mindblowing." Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde says that Black Sabbath's Back To The Beginning homecoming will be "special for everybody", but he hopes it won't be Ozzy's last show

By Paul Brannigan published

Zakk Wylde is excited for Ozzy and Black Sabbath's final bow this summer, but would be up for another Ozzy tour

Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi onstage with Black Sabbath in 1985

“I had a dreadful hangover, so I put my dark glasses on and we played Children Of The Grave, Iron Man and Paranoid”: What happened when Black Sabbath reunited for one day only at Live Aid 1985

By Matt Mills published

Back To The Beginning won’t be the first time Black Sabbath’s founding lineup briefly got back together to raise money for charity…

Papa V Perpetua of Ghost in 2025, next to the Black Sabbath Back To The Beginning poster

“All of a sudden, it’s like, ‘We want to announce now, what do we say?’”: Ghost’s Tobias Forge explains why Papa V Perpetua was unveiled on the Black Sabbath farewell show poster

By Matt Mills published

The world got its first look at Ghost’s ‘new’ frontman last week, but Papa V Perpetua was first named on February posters for Black Sabbath’s Back To The Beginning event

Black Sabbath posing against a wall in 1975

"Flashes of utter brilliance mixed with too many extra-curricular activities and bad management." Black Sabbath's Sabotage is the end of a golden age - and the point cracks are beginning to show

By Classic Rock Magazine published

The final entry into Black Sabbath's original golden run, Sabotage is often hailed as the band's heaviest and most fearless album. But is it really?

Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi posing for a photograph in 2010

“I lost the tips of two fingers in an accident when I was 17. Doctors told me that I had no hope of playing guitar again. I refused to accept that”: The life and times of Tony Iommi, metal’s indestructible dark lord

By Malcolm Dome published

If it wasn’t for Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, the world would sound very, very different

Ozzy and Andrew Watt

"Ozzy is the real life Iron Man." Ozzy Osbourne's producer Andrew Watt gives an update on the singer's health as the countdown to his final show continues

By Paul Brannigan published

Good news for those who managed to score tickets for Ozzy and Black Sabbath's farewell bow in Birmingham

Black Sabbath in 1989

The best Black Sabbath songs that don’t feature Ozzy Osbourne or Ronnie James Dio

By Chris Chantler published

Ozzy and Dio may be Sabbath’s best-known singers, but these bangers with less-famous voices deserve their share of the love

Ozzy Osbourne

“The last six years have been full of some of the worst times I’ve been through”: A documentary about Ozzy Osbourne will hit Paramount Plus later this year

By Matt Mills published

Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape From Now is currently in production and chronicles the Black Sabbath singer’s life since he suffered a spinal injury in 2019

Ozzy Osbourne onstage

Black Sabbath's Live... Gathered In Their Masses concert film is now free to watch on YouTube

By Fraser Lewry published

The footage was recorded on Black Sabbath's 13 tour of Australia in 2013

Black Sabbath posing for a photograph in 1970

“With the success came all the trappings and we tried every one of them. The drugs, the travel, the women. Our lives were forever changed”: The chaotic story of Black Sabbath, the band who did more than anyone to invent heavy metal

By Dom Lawson, Amit Sharma published

No Black Sabbath, no heavy metal as we know it

Oasis/Ticket error

I used to work in concert ticketing. When did it become such an utter hellscape?

By Rich Hobson published

From the agony of trying to get Black Sabbath tickets to the ongoing Oasis reunion ticketing fiasco, buying tickets to big shows has got worse than ever - here's how to try and navigate the madness

A mockup of Ozzy as Captain Jack Sparrow

"He would have been perfect! Maybe it's not too late!": Ozzy was once asked to audition for Pirates Of The Caribbean but Sharon wouldn't let him

By Fraser Lewry published

Sharon Osbourne says turning down the Pirates Of The Caribbean opportunity was her biggest mistake

Black Sabbath

Staying in Birmingham to see Black Sabbath? Local hotels have increased their prices by up to 725%

By Matt Mills published

According to a local paper, Birmingham hotels are starkly raising their prices around Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell show

Ozzy Osbourne performing live in 2022

Everything you need to know about the Black Sabbath reunion and Ozzy Osbourne’s final concert

By Matt Mills published

Why are Black Sabbath coming back? Who else is on the bill? Can I still get tickets? We answer all your questions about this summer’s Back To The Beginning extravaganza

Black Sabbath Back To The Beginning poster

Tool, Guns N' Roses and Rival Sons added to Black Sabbath's Back To The Beginning final show line-up

By Liz Scarlett published

New bands have been added to Black Sabbath's all-day festival in July