The heavy metal pioneers tried it all before settling on the name that made them worldwide superstars and fans are only just realising where it came from
Before Black Sabbath crashed into music history, they were just another rock group trying to stand out in the smoky pubs and working men’s clubs of Birmingham – and now fans are tracing their name’s origins, with some calling it the best of all time. Formed in 1968, the band went through more than just sonic experimentation – they cycled through a number of unusual band names too.
It all began after the breakup of Mythology, a short-lived band featuring guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward. The pair were determined to continue playing heavy blues rock, and soon linked up with two other local musicians – Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler – who had previously played together in a band called Rare Breed.
Ozzy had placed an ad in a local music shop that read: “OZZY ZIG Needs Gig – has own PA.” That tiny scrap of paper led to one of the most influential bands of all time.
Their first version was chaotic: The Polka Tulk Blues Band included not only the core four, but also slide guitarist Jimmy Phillips and saxophonist Alan ‘Aker’ Clarke. The group’s name alone suggested something light-hearted and eccentric – though Tony soon had doubts about the band’s focus.
Believing that the extra members weren’t taking things seriously enough, Tony decided not to ask them to leave directly. Instead, the band broke up and quietly reformed as a four-piece under a new name: Earth.
As Earth, the group began to find their sound, recording early demos like Song for Jim and scoring gigs around the Midlands. They caught the attention of local club owner and trumpet player Jim Simpson, who offered them regular slots at his venue, Henry’s Blueshouse – on the condition that they get free t-shirts instead of payment.
By 1969, Earth was gaining traction, but there was a problem. There was already another band in England with the same name. The mix-up was becoming a headache, and the group needed a fresh start.
Across the street from their rehearsal space in Birmingham, a local cinema was showing the 1963 horror film Black Sabbath, starring Boris Karloff. Bassist Geezer Butler reportedly looked at the crowds lining up to see the film and said: “Isn’t it strange that people spend so much money to see scary movies?”
Geezer and Ozzy soon penned a song titled Black Sabbath, inspired by horror writer Dennis Wheatley and a terrifying vision the former once had of a dark, hooded figure standing at the foot of his bed. The music featured the tritone – an interval historically known as diabolus in musica, or ‘the Devil’s Interval’, and it was unlike anything else on the radio in 1969.
The song Black Sabbath became a turning point. The band realised they’d stumbled on something powerful. They decided to abandon the name Earth and officially became Black Sabbath in August 1969.
Their first gig under the new name took place on August 30 in Workington. From then on, they leaned into darker themes and began to shape a sound that drew more from horror films than from the psychedelic or flower power movements dominating the charts at the time.
Black Sabbath released their self-titled debut album in February 1970. Most critics were baffled or dismissive, but the fans endorsed their efforts, and the album sold rapidly, starting a legacy they can boast about today.
