Photo Gallery: Black Sabbath Members Throughout the Years

Posted 10/19/2011 at 1:49pm | by Tony Grassi

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When people think of heavy metal, they usually think of one band: Black Sabbath. No other band before Sabbath was as dark, brooding and downright scary as the quartet from Birmingham, England. Thanks to lead singer Ozzy Osbourne's manic shrills and stage persona, as well as a freak accident that severed guitarist Tony Iommi's fretting fingertips, forcing him to use plastic prosthetics and down-tune his Gibson SG, Black Sabbath forged a path into darkness countless other bands would follow.

Black Sabbath has seen a myriad of lineup changes since Osbourne, Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward came together in 1968. This original lineup reunited in 1997, recording and performing until 2006. At that time Iommi, Butler, drummer Vinny Appice and singer Ronnie James Dio reformed under the name Heaven and Hell and performed until Dio's death in 2010.

Today the state of Black Sabbath is uncertain. Rumors have circulated of another original lineup reunion, but no official word has been released. In the meantime, check out a member's history below of the definitive heavy metal band.

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Black Sabbath Members Throughout the Years

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Ozzy Osbourne: Vocals
Active: 1968-79; 1985; 1997-2005
Contributions: All releases from Black Sabbath to Never Say Die, Reunion, Past Lives
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Tony Iommi: Guitar
Active: 1968-2006
Contributions: All Black Sabbath releases.
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Geezer Butler: Bass
Active: 1968-1985; 1990-1994; 1997-2006
Contributions: All releases from Black Sabbath to Born Again, Dehumanizer, Cross Purposes, Reunion, Past Lives, The Dio Years, Live at Hammersmith Odeon
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Bill Ward: Drums
Active: 1968-1980; 1982-1983; 1985; 1997-2006
Contributions: All Black Sabbath releases from Black Sabbath to Heaven and Hell, Born Again, Reunion, Past Lives
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Ronnie James Dio: Vocals
Active: 1979-1982; 1991-1992; 2006
Contributions: Heaven and Hell, Mob Rules, Live Evil, Dehumanizer, The Dio Years, Live at Hammersmith Odeon
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Vinny Appice: Drums
Active: 1980-1982; 1991-1992; 1998; 2006
Contributions: Mob Rules, Live Evil, Dehumanizer, The Dio Years, Live at Hammersmith Odeon
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Bob Daisley: Bass
Active: 1986
Contributions: The Eternal Idol
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Bev Bevan: Drums
Active: 1983-1984; 1987
Contributions: Born Again World Tour, The Eternal Idol
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Cozy Powell: Drums
Active: 1988-1991; 1994-1995
Contributions: Headless Cross, Tyr, Forbidden
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Eric Singer: Drums
Active: 1985-1987
Contributions: Seventh Star, The Eternal Idol
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Mike Bordin: Drums
Active: 1997
Contributions: None
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Tony Martin: Vocals
Active: 1987-1991; 1993-1997
Contributions: The Eternal Idol, Headless Cross, Tyr, Cross Purposes, Cross Purposes Live, Forbidden
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Bobby Rondinelli: Drums
Active: 1993-1994; 1995
Contributions: Cross Purposes, Cross Purposes Live
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Jo Burt: Bass
Active: 1987
Contributions: None
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Neil Murray: Bass
Active: 1989-1991; 1994-1995
Contributions: Tyr, Forbidden
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Laurence Cottle: Bass
Active: 1988-1989
Contributions: Headless Cross
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Terry Chimes: Drums
Active: 1987
Contributions: None
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Ray Gillen: Vocals
Active: 1986-1987
Contributions: None
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Glenn Hughes: Vocals
Active: 1985-1986
Contributions: Seventh Star
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Dave Spitz: Bass
Active: 1985-1986; 1987
Contributions: Seventh Star
Note: Spitz appeared only on Seventh Star; few photos of the bassist exist
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Ian Gillan: Vocals
Active: 1982-1984
Contributions: Born Again
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Geoff Nicolls: Keys
Active: 1980-2004
Contributions: All Black Sabbath releases from Heaven and Hell to Live at Hammersmith Odeon