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METAL NERDERY HISTORIES
BLACK SABBATH
NOT YOUR NORMAL SABBATH HISTORY
Black Sabbath has a long and storied history, which everyone knows by now. This is an attempt to shed light on the 37 other musicians who have contributed to the legacy of The Godfathers of Metal.
TONY IOMMI < 1968-- >
Performed on all Sabbath releases
Also performed with Jethro Tull a few times towards the end of 1968. So far has released 3 solo albums and 3 albums with Black Sabbath subgroup Heaven & Hell.
BILL WARD <1968-1980 / 1983-1984 / 1994 / 1997-2006 / 2011-2012>
Performed on all Sabbath releases from Black Sabbath to Heaven and Hell, Born Again, Reunion, The Last Supper and Past Lives.
Also performed with Ozzy on Live & Loud and The Ozzman Cometh, and has had 3 solo albums.
TERENCE “GEEZER” BUTLER <1968–1979 / 1979-1984 / 1987 / 1990-1994 / 1997-2017>
Performed on all Sabbath releases from Black Sabbath to Born Again, Dehumanizer, Cross Purposes, Cross Purposes Live and all releases from Reunion to 13.
Also performed with Ozzy on Just Say Ozzy, Live & Loud and Ozzmosis, he’s had 3 solo albums over the years and 3 albums with Heaven & Hell.
OZZY OSBOURNE <1968–1977 / 1978-1979 / 1997-2006 / 2011-2017>
Performed on all Sabbath releases from Black Sabbath to Never Say Die!, Reunion, The Last Supper, Past Lives and 13.
Also released 11 solo albums.
DAVE WALKER <1977-1978> VOCALS
Performed on no Sabbath releases. Brought in to replace Ozzy when he quit after the Technical Ecstasy album. Wrote lyrics for what was to become Never Say Die! And performed War Pigs and an early version of what would become Juniors Eyes on a BBC show in 1978. He’s done short stints in lots of bands before his time in Sabbath. The two most notable were Savoy Brown, who I’ve heard of but not familiar with their music at all. He recorded 2 albums with them from 1971-1972. He also recorded the album Penguin with Fleetwood Mac in 1973 which was their highest charting U.S. album to date, but was asked to leave later that year before the recording of the next album.
RONNIE JAMES DIO <1979–1982 / 1991-1992 / 2006-2010> VOCALS
Performed on Heaven and Hell, Mob Rules, Live Evil, Dehumanizer, The Dio Years, and The Devil You Know.
Also performed with Ronnie & The Red Caps, Ronnie Dio and The Prophets - 1 album, The Electric Elves, The Elves, Elf - 3 albums, and Rainbow - 3 albums. He also released 10 solo albums.
GEOFF NICHOLS <1979-2004> KEYBOARD, BASS, RHYTHM GUITAR
Performed on all Sabbath releases from Heaven and Hell to The Last Supper, and The Dio Years.
He was originally brought in as 2nd guitarist when Sabbath doubted they would continue to use that name. He switched to bass when Geezer left briefly and then to keyboards when Geezer returned and they decided to continue using the Sabbath name.
Also performed with former Sabbath singer Tony Martin in Tony Martin’s Headless Cross, recording 2 albums and performing on those tours.
CRAIG GRUBER <1979> BASS
Performed on no Sabbath releases. He was in on the early recording sessions for Heaven and Hell, co-writing Die Young, until Geezer heard Dio and returned to the band.
Also performed with Dio in Elf and then Rainbow, performed on a live Gary Moore album and formed and band in the early 80’s called Bible Black that featured Joey Belladonna before he left to join Anhrax.
VINNY APPICE <1980–1982 / 1991-1992 / 1998 / 2006-2010> DRUMS
Performed on Mob Rules, Live Evil, Dehumanizer, The Dio Years.
He joined Sabbath during the Heaven and Hell tour in 1980 to replace Bill Ward who left due to personal issues. He had to learn the songs while performing on stage using hastily written notes for unfamiliar songs. At age of 16 with his original band BOMF, he met John Lennon and they were his backing band for several performances, including the final one before his death. He recorded 2 albums for Rick Derringer in 1976-77. He has also performed with a host of other bands including Dio, World War 3, Kill Devil Hill and Last In Line along with a host of others.
IAN GILLAN <1982-1984> VOCALS
Performed on Born Again.
Replaced Dio, he had a hard time remembering the lyrics to the older Sabbath material and would write all the lyrics down and keep them on the state floor and turned the pages with his feet. All the dry ice would make it hard for him to read the lyrics and he would frequently be seen on the floor reading the next set of lyrics. During this time the band would play Smoke on the Water as their encore.
Also performed with Deep Purple releasing 15 albums. He had variations of his own band, Ian Gillan Band and Gillan releasing 10 albums total. Gillan employed Janick Gers for 2 albums under the Gillan moniker. He has also released 7 solo albums.
BEV BEVAN <1983-1984 / 1987> DRUMS
Performed on The Eternal Idol - Scarlet Pimpernel and The Eternal Idol only, and the Born Again reissue bonus live tracks.
He served as the touring drummer for the Born Again tour and played percussion on The Eternal Idol album. He also appeared in the videos for Trashed and Zero the Hero.
He was one of the founding members of Electric Light Orchestra and ELO Part II.
RON KEEL <1984> VOCALS
Performed on no Sabbath releases. He was brought in when Ian Gillan left after the Born Again tour. He was supposed to go into rehearsals with them but Bev Bevan and Bill Ward were both unavailable at the time. Keel then went back to Keel and the rest is history.
He also formed Steeler and had Yngwie Dick Malmsteen on guitar and released 2 albums. He released 7 albums under the name Keel among other projects. Did a country rock stint under the name Ronnie Lee Keel and portrayed Ronnie Dunn in a Brooks & Dunn tribute band.
DAVE DONATO <1984> VOCALS
Performed on no Sabbath releases. He was brought in after Ron Keel, rehearsed with them writing songs for about 6 months and everything kind of fell apart.
Also performed with White Tiger along with Mark St. John after his brief stint with KISS.
ERIC SINGER <1985-1987> DRUMS
Performed on Seventh Star and The Eternal Idol.
He replaced Vinny Appice who left after the Live Evil! to join Dio.
His first big gig was as touring drummer for Lita Ford and then he joined Sabbath. After Sabbath he toured with Gary Moore. After that tour he was invited to join former Sabbath colleague Ray Gillen and former Ozzy guitarist Jake E. Lee to join Badlands. He was then Paul Stanley’s touring drummer and appeared in a video for Olivia Newton-John. He then joined Alice Cooper for 3 albums and touring and had his own group ESP with former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick and former Motley Crue singer John Corabi. He’s also toured with Queen guitarist Brian May. He’s probably best known for being the drummer for KISS since 1991, off and on between Peter Criss’s appearences. He has appeared on over 75 albums and 11 EPs.
JEFF FENHOLT <1985> VOCALS
Performed on no Sabbath Releases.
Was brought in after David Donato. Worked on pre-production recordings for Seventh Star. Said he left because he had a fight with their manager Don Arden, didn’t like Iommi’s bad habits or the dark lyrical subject matter as he as a born again Christian.
He performed as Jesus in the Original Broadway Production of Jesus Christ Superstar. He was also briefly a member of M.A.R.S., a project that included Rudy Sarzo, Tommy Aldridge and Tony MacAlpine. Other than his brief stint in metal he’s had a pretty successful Christian music career.
GORDON COPLEY <1985> VOCALS
Performed on Seventh Star on the song No Stranger To Love only.
Also performed as Lita Ford’s touring bassist in 1985 and later featured on Bill Ward’s album, Ward One: Along The Way.
DAVE SPITZ <1985-1987> BASS
Performed on Seventh Star.
Has also been a member of Great White, White Lion, Nuclear Assault and many others. He is also a member of McBrain Damage featuring Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden who tours with this band when he has time off. He is the older brother of Dan Spitz from Anthrax.
GLENN HUGHES <1985-1986 / 2010> VOCALS
Performed on Seventh Star.
He was brought in to record a solo album by Iommi while waiting for Ozzy to take a break to do a new Sabbath album. It was turned into a Sabbath album anyway. He put in a great vocal performance but had to be replaced only six shows into the tour by Ray Gillen after a fight with Sabbaths production manager and his drug and alcohol addictions.
He also performed with funk rock pioneers Trapeze, Deep Purple as part of the Mk. 3 and 4 versions, Gary Moore, Black Country Communion with Joe Bonamassa and many others.
RAY GILLEN <1986-1987> VOCALS
Performed on Seventh Star tour and Seventh Star and The Eternal Idol reissue bonus tracks.
Was brought in to replace Glenn Hughes after his fight with Sabbath's tour manager. He recorded The Eternal Idol but due to mismanagement and miscommunication, he and drummer Eric Singer left the band before the album was released. He then joined John Sykes to form and sing for Blue Murder. He recorded demos but left after Sykes decided to sing on the album himself. He then formed Badlands with former Ozzy guitarist Jake E. Lee and Eric Singer from Sabbath. He then formed several other bands over the years but died in 1993.
BOB DAISLEY <1986> BASS
Performed on The Eternal Idol.
He was brought in to play on this album as Dave Spitz had other personal commitments. Daisley was offered the role permanently but turned it down due to his commitment to Gary Moore.
He also performed with Mungo Jerry, Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, and Uriah Heep. He has also contributed to albums by Yngwie Malmsteen, Bill Ward, Jeff Watson of Night Ranger and many others.
TONY MARTIN <1987-1991 / 1993-1997> VOCALS
Performed on all Sabbath releases from The Eternal Idol to Forbidden except Dehumanizer.
He was brought in to re-record Ray Gillen’s vocal tracks. He had been contacted the previous year to replace Glenn Hughes. He was offered the role after a successful audition to the track The Shining. He returned to the studio to begin work on Dehumanizer when things were not working out with Dio, but Warner Bros. had paid a huge advance and wanted either Ozzy or Dio on the record. Martin was ousted in favor of Dio.
He has also released several solo albums and contributed to many other projects by many other artists.
TERRY CHIMES <1987-1988> DRUMS
Performed on no Sabbath releases.
He was brought in to replace Bev Bevan when he refused to play shows in South Africa during the Apartheid era. He also appeared in the video for The Shining from The Eternal Idol.
He was also the drummer and founding member of The Clash. He’s also performed with Hanoi Rocks, Gen X alongside Billy Idol and with Billy Idol's band. He is now a chiropractor with his own clinic.
JO BURT <19897-1988> BASS
Performed on no Sabbath releases.
He was brought in to replace the recently reinstalled Butler when he quit again before The Eternal Idol tour began.
He also performed with Jason Bonham in Virginia Wolf, on Freddie Mercury’s solo album, The Troggs, Brian Setzer, Bob Geldof, Roger Taylor, Sweet and many more.
COZY POWELL <1988-1991 / 1994-1995> DRUMS
Performed on Headless Cross, Tyr, and Forbidden.
Iommi contacted him to see if he would join Sabbath.
He also performed with The Jeff Beck Group, Rainbow, Michael Schenker Group, Whitesnake, Emerson, Lake & Powell, The Brian May Band, Yngwie Malmsteen, and many others throughout his career. He appeared on at least 66 albums before his death in 1998.
LAURENCE COTTLE <1988> BASS
Performed on Headless Cross.
Wrote and performed all bass parts on Headless Cross and appeared in the video for Headless Cross. He never performed live or toured with the band. He’s also performed with The Alan Parsons Project and Van Morrison. His solo albums have been mostly jazz and jazz fusion.
NEIL MURRAY <1989-1990 / 1994-1997> BASS
Performed on Tyr and Forbidden.
He was asked to join Sabbath by Cozy Powell when Geezer refused to join the current line up for the Headless Cross tour. He toured with the band in support of that album. He also recorded the Tyr album and toured in support of it. He and Powell were out in 1992 when the Mob Rules lineup was reformed. They re-joined in 1994 to record and tour in support of the Forbidden album.
He was a long time member of Whitesnake, recording 10 albums with them. He has also performed with The Brian May Band, Michael Schenker Group, Graham Bonnet, Jon Lord, Gary Moore, Fastway
TOURING MUSICIANS
MIKE BORDIN <1997> DRUMS
Performed on no Sabbath releases.
Was brought in to replace Bill Ward who was having health issues during touring.
His first band was called EZ Street with Cliff Burton. He was a founding member of Faith No More and has performed on all of their albums. He has also performed with Primus, Ozzy, Korn, and Jerry Cantrell.
ADAM WAKEMAN <2004-2006 / 2011-2017> KEYBOARDS, GUITAR
Performed on Live..Gathered in Their Masses, The End (live tracks only) and The End: Live in Birmingham. Performed off stage. Son of Rick Wakeman, who he has recorded and toured with.
SCOTT WARREN <2006-2010> KEYBOARDS, PIANO
Performed on all Heaven & Hell releases.
He’s also performed with Dio, Warrant, Keel, Berlin and Type O Negative. He is currently a member of Dio Disciples which includes surviving members of the final Dio line-up along with former Lynch Mob vocalist Oni Logan.
TONY CLUFETOS <2012-2017> DRUMS
Performed on Live...Gathered In Their Masses, The End EP, The End (live tracks only), The End: Live in Birmingham.
He was brought in to replace Bill Ward during the Black Sabbath reunion tour and on their final tour. He’s also performed with Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, John 5, Rob Zombie and others.
ROB HALFORD <1992 / 1994> VOCALS
He replaced Dio for 2 nights in 1992 when Dio refused to open a show for Ozzy. He also replaced Ozzy 1 night in 2004 because Ozzy had bronchitis.
He’s obviously most famous as the front-man for Judas Priest. He’s also had his own bands Fight, Halford, and 2wo, which was a more industrial sounding project produced by Trent Reznor. He’s also appeared on albums by Krokus, Ugly Kid Joe, Skid Row, Queens of The Stone Age, Five Finger Death Punch and others.
SHANNON LARKIN <1997> DRUMS
He substituted for touring drummer Mike Bordin who was unavailable for a show in 1997.
He is best known as the drummer for Godsmack. He has also performed with Wrathchild America, Sous At Zero, Ugly Kid Joe, Amen, Candlebox, Snot, Stone Sour, Vanilla Ice and others.
JORN LANDE <2010> VOCALS
He was included in the line-up of Heaven & Hell when the remaining members played a one off tribute show to Dio at the High Voltage festival.
He has released 12 solo albums and performed with Vagabond, The Snakes, Masterplan and others.
SESSION MUSICIANS
RICK WAKEMAN <1973> PIANO, SYNTHESIZERS
Performed on Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Sabbra Cadabra only.
He’s best known for performing with Yes. He’s also performed with David Bowie, Elton John, Ozzy, Lou Reed, Trevor Rabin, Cat Stevens and many others. He’s also released over 90 solo albums.
GERALD JEZZ WOODROFFE <1976> KEYBOARD
Performed on Technical Ecstasy.
Also performed and recorded with Robert Plant and Phil Collins on Plants first solo album. Was also a member of the Geezer Butler Band and others. He’s also composed music to many video games.
DON AIREY <1978> KEYBOARDS
Performed on Never Say Die!
He’s also performed with Deep Purple, Rainbow, Ozzy, ELO, Gary Moore, Judas Priest, Whitesnake, Bruce Dickinson, Jethro Tull, Saxon, Steve Vai, Michael Schenker, Thin Lizzy, Cozy Powell, Brian May, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Helix, Fastway, UFO, Uli Jon Roth and many others.
JON ELSTAR <1978> HARMONICA
Performed on Never Say Die!, Swinging the Chain Only.
BRIAN MAY <1988> GUITAR
Performed on Headless Cross, guitar solos on When Death Calls.
He’s best known as the guitarist for Queen. He’s also performed with Billy Squier, Meat Loaf, Extreme, Cozy Powell, Tony Martin, Foo Fighters, Guns N’ Roses, Lady Gaga, Motorhead and more.
ICE-T <1994> VOCALS
Performed on Forbidden, The Illusion of Power only. His guitarist Ernie C from his metal band Body Count produced, recorded and mixed the album.
He’s also released 8 studio albums and has to many acting credits to list as well as many other musical collaborations.
BRAD WILK <2012> DRUMS, PERCUSSION
Performed on 13 and The End, studio tracks only.
Best known as drummer for Rage Against The Machine, AudioSlave and Prophets of Rage. He’s also performed with Pearl Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins, Juliette Lewis and others. He has also done some acting.