Formed in Birmingham in 1968, Black Sabbath is widely regarded as the band that founded heavy metal. Originally featuring Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, the quartet introduced a dark, crushing and groundbreaking sound from their self-titled 1970 debut.

With landmark records like Paranoid, Master of Reality and Vol. 4, they laid the blueprint for an entire genre: monolithic riffs, ominous atmospheres and a mystical edge. Their influence spans every corner of metal, from classic strains to more extreme offshoots, inspiring generations of musicians.

Ozzy’s magnetism, Iommi’s riffcraft and the band’s chemistry forged a living legend. Their final studio album, 13 (2013), marked a back-to-roots return embraced by fans. Continue the journey through our Heavy Metal and Metal sections, and explore genre cornerstones like Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden.

On MusikMachine, find an official Black Sabbath selection: embroidered patches (including a large backpatch), a T-shirt paying tribute to the 1978 US tour, a decorative flag, collector guitar picks, pins and an exclusive sticker — essentials for fans of metal history.