Black Sabbath’s early demos coming soon.
Sabbath’s Legendary Lost Tapes to be released on Big Bear Records on July 25, 2025.
R.I.P. Ozzy. Two weeks after his final performance with the original Black Sabbath at Villa Park, Birmingham, just 13 days after this post, Sabbath’s legendary frontman, John Michael ‘Ozzy’ Osbourne, sadly passed away, aged 76, on Tuesday morning, July 22, 2025. Said a statement issued by Sharon and their children: “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time”.
Posted Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi: “My dear friend Ozzy has passed away only weeks after our show at Villa Park. It’s just such heart-breaking news that I can’t really find the words. Geezer, Bill and myself have lost our brother. My thoughts go out to Sharon and all the Osbourne family. Rest in peace Oz. Tony.”
Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler said: “Goodbye dear friend – thanks for all those years – we had some great fun. 4 kids from Aston – who’d have thought, eh? So glad we got to do it one last time back in Aston. Love you.”
Sabbath drummer Bill Ward said: “Where will I find you now? In the memories, our unspoken embraces, our missed phone calls, no, you’re forever in my heart. Deepest condolences to Sharon and all family members. RIP Sincere regrets to all the fans. Never goodbye. Thank you forever.” Bill Ward.
Said Sir Elton John: ‘He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods – a true legend. He was one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. I will miss him dearly. To Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love. Elton xx.”
Ronnie Wood, who performed at the farewell gig said: I am so very say to hear of the death of Ozzy Osbourne. What a lovely goodbye concert he had at ‘Back to the Beginning’.”
Metallica, who also performed, posted a picture of them with Ozzy and the image of a broken heart.
Queen guitarist Sir Brian May said: So sad to hear of Ozzy’s passing. His last appearance at Villa Park was a glorious way to say goodbye – the love in that place for him was gigantic. I am grateful to have a few quiet words with him after the show. And happy to know he passed peacefully with his loving family close by. But the world will miss Ozzy’s unique talent. My heartfelt consolations to Sharon and their great family. And to Bill and Geezer and my dear friend Tony – for this is family – I know only too well. REST IN PEACE dear Ozzy. Bri.”
Above and below is said to be a very early Black Sabbath pic from 1968, when they were still called Earth. “I hated the name Earth and persuaded the band to change it to Black Sabbath” said original manager Jim Simpson, who’s releasing the lost recordings under the title ‘Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes’ on his Big Bear Records, Britain’s oldest independent record label founded in 1968.
It was Geezer Butler who came up with name, said Jim, inspired by the 1963 Italian horror movie, Black Sabbath.
The original Earth/Sabbath line up is below. Left to right: lead guitarist Tony Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward. They looked just as they did when, managing their support band, I witnessed one of their very first gigs as Black Sabbath in 1969.
But sadly, 56 years on, Ozzy performed with Black Sabbath for the very last time on July 5, at Birmingham’s Villa Park, at their much anticipated ‘Back to the Beginning’ concert. He sang four beloved tracks: “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “N.I.B.” and “Paranoid” one final time. Seated on a black throne, Ozzy thanked fans, saying, “You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Over 40,000 metal heads packed the Aston Villa football stadium (Sabbath are from the Birmingham suburb of Aston) with another five million plus viewing online at $29.99 a pop. Streaming the concert alone raised an estimated $150 million for Cure Parkinson’s, the Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice, amongst other deserving institutions. Also on the bill were Metallica, Slayer, Alice in Chains, plus a host of other metal icons. It proved, indeed, to be the greatest heavy metal show ever, as Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, the event’s music director, had predicted, covered on news bulletins around the world.
An online auction for the same great causes included two signed Gibson guitars, a Guns N’ Roses pinball machine, and framed gold record displays including Black Sabbath’s ‘Paranoid’, Led Zeppelin’s ‘Physical Graffiti’, and Metallica’s ‘Master of Puppets’. As Sabbath’s set neared its end, Ozzy looked out into the crowd and said, “It’s the last song ever. Your support has enabled us to live an amazing lifestyle. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
But back to the REAL beginning.
Sabbath didn’t release the 1969 recordings at the time, said Jim, because “their style was evolving so quickly. Any release during that period would have quickly become unrepresentative of what they were then currently producing. Now, some 57 years later they assume a greater importance, illustrating how these four young men from Birmingham, barely out of their teens, were excellent musicians and a fine band, fully deserving of all the success that was to come their way.
“Three tracks are straight from their time as a blues band, followed by two versions of Song For Jim, one with Tony on guitar, the other with Tony playing flute in a brief excursion into jazz.” Indeed, it sounds like modern jazz to me.
“These recordings are particularly interesting, capturing, as they do, the development of this band as they progressed from playing the blues to the very brink of super-stardom”, said Jim. “What follows, is a steady but inexorable journey that takes us to the very threshold of metal.”
Here’s the ‘Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes’ track list.
Side A:
- Blue Suede Shoes
- Evenin’
- Wee Wee Baby
- “Untitled”
- Free Man
Side B:
- Song For Jim (Guitar Version)
- Song For Jim (Flute Version)
- Wicked World
- Warning
In my previous post, Jim Simpson, now an amazing 87, told me how he discovered Earth in Birmingham when running his music club, Henry’s Blueshouse. Jim’s latest press release regarding the lost tapes reiterates this. “One night, two local youngsters joined the club, one a singer, the other a guitarist, mentioning that they were in a blues band, recently re-named Earth.”
Before Earth, Sabbath were the Polka Tulk Blues Band, named after Ozzy’s mum’s favourite talcum powder.
Ozzy on his black throne at Villa Park on July 5, during his final appearance as Black Sabbath’s vocalist.
Jim continues. “An intermission spot was fixed, the band members foregoing the normal fee of £5 for a Henry’s T-shirt each. Earth’s debut at Henry’s, supporting Ten Years After, made an instant impact. They were immediately rebooked and soon promoted to the headline spot, quickly becoming Henry’s leading attraction. When the guys in Earth asked if I would become their manager, I agreed with alacrity.
“Thanks to the UK and European contacts I had already built up, I was able to immediately put them on the road through UK and Europe playing, not just clubs, but also radio and TV in Europe. These recordings clearly demonstrate what excellent musicians these four young men were and what fine music they produced right from the very beginning of their career.
“They trace the development of Earth, from their days as a blues band through an experimental period to the very threshold of the music that propelled these four young men into the spotlight and defined Heavy Metal.”
Amen to that.
Sabbath’s guitarist in the Villa dressing room holding his Tony Iommi Aston Villa shirt with Sharon Osbourne holding her husband’s Ozzy Osbourne shirt.
