Legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath rocked fans by officially calling it quits after 49 years and 19 albums, according to Billboard.
After recently completing their aptly titled “The End” tour last month, the band posted this graphic on their Facebook page yesterday:
Three-quarters of the band’s classic lineup featured Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tommy Iommi (guitar/songwriter) and Geezer Butler (bass/lyricist) just finished a reunion and farewell tour. Original drummer Bill Ward, however, was replaced for the tour’s entirety by Tommy Cufletos.
Though most classic rock radio listeners will know the band’s widest-played cuts like “Paranoid,” “War Pigs,” and “Iron Man” best, the band produced an incredible 19 studio albums over a two-era career. The first featured frontman Osbourne, who left the band in 1979 to launch a highly successful solo career (and later reality TV series). After Osbourne’s exit, the band hired Ronnie James Dio, who stood in as frontman for a handful of years with the band before also quitting to launch a successful solo turn.
One of the most influential bands in metal history, Black Sabbath has been cited by bands such as Metallica, Nirvana, and Van Halen as an inspiration.
Below, watch the band’s classic lineup perform “Iron Man” live.
—RealClearLife
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