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Line diagram

Black Sabbath

1968 to 2017, a reunion in 2025

Black Sabbath's stationSee Hard rock on the network

The line diagram

Each member is a lane on the year axis, in the colour of the line the band was on. A filled station marks a joining, an open one a departure, a square a death. The dotted rail is a reunion. A dotted branch leads to a band that grew out of this one, or in from a band its members came from. The table below lists the same spells.

Members

MemberRoleYears
Ozzy Osbournevocals1968 to 1979
Bill Warddrums1968 to 1980
Geezer Butlerbass1968 to 1984
Tony Iommiguitar1968 to 2017
Dave Walkervocals1977 to 1978
Ronnie James Diovocals1979 to 1982
Geoff Nichollskeyboards1979 to 2004
Vinny Appicedrums1980 to 1982
Bill Warddrums1982 to 1983
Ian Gillanvocals1982 to 1984
Bev Bevandrums1983 to 1984
Bill Warddrums1984 to 1984
Glenn Hughesvocals1985 to 1986
Dave Spitzbass1985 to 1987
Eric Singerdrums1985 to 1987
Bob Daisleybass1986 to 1986
Ray Gillenvocals1986 to 1987
Geezer Butlerbass1987 to 1987
Bev Bevandrums1987 to 1987
Jo Burtbass1987 to 1987
Tony Martinvocals1987 to 1991
Neil Murraybass1988 to 1990
Cozy Powelldrums1988 to 1991
Geezer Butlerbass1990 to 1994
Ronnie James Diovocals1991 to 1992
Vinny Appicedrums1991 to 1992
Tony Martinvocals1992 to 1997
Bobby Rondinellidrums1993 to 1994
Bill Warddrums1994 to 1994
Cozy Powelldrums1994 to 1995
Neil Murraybass1994 to 1997
Bobby Rondinellidrums1995 to 1997
Ozzy Osbournevocals1997 to 2006
Bill Warddrums1997 to 2006
Geezer Butlerbass1997 to 2017
Vinny Appicedrums1998 to 1998
Adam Wakemankeyboards (touring)2004 to 2006
Bill Warddrums2011 to 2012
Ozzy Osbournevocals2011 to 2017
Adam Wakemankeyboards (touring)2011 to 2017
Tommy Clufetosdrums (touring)2012 to 2017
Tony Iommiguitar2025 to 2025
Ozzy Osbournevocals2025 to 2025
Geezer Butlerbass2025 to 2025
Bill Warddrums2025 to 2025

The lines

  1. Hard rock1968 to 1970

    Earth, then Black Sabbath

    Four from Aston in Birmingham, playing blues as Earth in 1968, renamed after a horror film in 1969. The first album was recorded in a day in late 1969.

    Key album: Black Sabbath, 1970

    Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Black Sabbath (opens in a new tab)

  2. Heavy metal1970 to 2017

    Paranoid to the final show

    Paranoid in 1970 set the template for heavy metal. Ozzy Osbourne was sacked in 1979 and Ronnie James Dio sang Heaven and Hell; a long revolving door followed, with Ian Gillan, Glenn Hughes and Tony Martin at the microphone and Tony Iommi the one constant. The originals reunited in 1997, made 13 in 2013 and ended the touring band in 2017. The last show, in Birmingham on 5 July 2025, was seventeen days before Osbourne died.

    Key album: Paranoid, 1970

    Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Black Sabbath (opens in a new tab)

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, List of Black Sabbath band members (opens in a new tab)
  2. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Black Sabbath (opens in a new tab)
  3. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Black Sabbath (opens in a new tab)

Cite this page

The Metro Map of Music, ‘Black Sabbath: line diagram’, /line-ups/black-sabbath.