After previous iterations of the group – the Polka Tulk Blues Band and Earth – the band settled on the name Black Sabbath in 1969. They distinguished themselves through occult themes with horror-inspired lyrics and down-tuned guitars. Signing to Philips Records in November 1969, they released their first single, "Evil Woman", in January 1970, and their debut album, Black Sabbath, was released the following month. Though it received a negative critical response, the album was a commercial success, leading to a follow-up record, Paranoid, later that year. The band's popularity grew, and by 1973's Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, critics were starting to respond favourably.
Osbourne's excessive substance abuse led to his firing in 1979. He was replaced by former Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Following two albums with Dio, Black Sabbath endured many personnel changes in the 1980s and 1990s that included vocalists Ian Gillan, Glenn Hughes, Ray Gillen and Tony Martin, as well as several drummers and bassists. Martin, who replaced Gillan in 1987, was the second-longest serving vocalist and recorded three albums with Black Sabbath before his dismissal in 1991. That same year, Iommi and Butler were rejoined by Dio and drummer Vinny Appice to record Dehumanizer (1992). After two more studio albums with Martin, who replaced Dio in 1993, the band's original line-up reunited in 1997 and released a live album, Reunion, the following year; they continued to tour occasionally until 2005. Other than various back catalogue reissues and compilation albums, as well as the Mob Rules-era line-up reunited as Heaven & Hell, there was no further activity under the Black Sabbath until 2011 with the release of their final studio album and 19th overall, 13, in 2013, which features all of the original members except Ward. During their farewell tour, the band played their final concert in their home city of Birmingham on 4 February 2017. Occasional partial reunions have happened since, most recently when Osbourne and Iommi performed together at the closing ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Black Sabbath have sold over 70 million records worldwide as of 2013, making them one of the most commercially successful heavy metal bands. Black Sabbath, together with Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, have been referred to as the "unholy trinity of British hard rock and heavy metal in the early to mid-seventies". They were ranked by MTV as the "Greatest Metal Band of All Time" and placed second on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" list. Rolling Stone magazine ranked them number 85 on their "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Black Sabbath were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. They have also won two Grammy Awards for Best Metal Performance, and in 2019 the band were presented a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sabbath
Studio albums
Black Sabbath (1970)
Paranoid (1970)
Master of Reality (1971)
Vol. 4 (1972)
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)
Sabotage (1975)
Technical Ecstasy (1976)
Never Say Die! (1978)
Heaven and Hell (1980)
Mob Rules (1981)
Born Again (1983)
Seventh Star (1986)
The Eternal Idol (1987)
Headless Cross (1989)
Tyr (1990)
Dehumanizer (1992)
Cross Purposes (1994)
Forbidden (1995)
13 (2013)
Blue Suede Shoes
Black Sabbath Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Three get ready and go man go
But don't you step on my blue suede shoes
Do anything but don't you step on my shoes
I know a girl she lives next door
She sleeps in the kitchen with her feet in the hall
I know what I want so why should I care?
The lyrics to Black Sabbath's song Blue Suede Shoes are an interpretation of the classic rock n' roll hit written by Carl Perkins. The first two lines refer to the excitement and anticipation of a show or performance, with the suggestion that the third line should be a warning not to damage the singer's prized possession, the blue suede shoes. The focus on the shoes seems to represent an extension of one's personal identity and a tangible symbol of personal style; thus, damaging the shoes would be akin to damaging the singer's identity.
The next two lines shift to a description of a neighbor/friend who is unusual in her sleeping location, with her feet in the hall while she sleeps in the kitchen. This detail adds a unique and quirky characteristic to the song that sets it apart from more straightforward rock n' roll lyrics. The final two lines of the verse assert the singer's confidence and disregard for others' opinions, highlighting a rebellious and nonconformist spirit that is often associated with rock music.
Overall, the lyrics to Blue Suede Shoes serve as a testament to the importance of style and personal identity in rock n' roll culture, as well as capturing the excitement and energy of a live performance.
Line by Line Meaning
One for the money two for the show
Start the show with a bang - one dollar for the show and two dollars for an even better performance.
Three get ready and go man go
Prepare yourself and get ready to go with enthusiasm.
But don't you step on my blue suede shoes
Don't ruin the one thing that I care about - my blue suede shoes.
Do anything but don't you step on my shoes
Anything else can be forgiven, but not the damage to my prized possession.
I know a girl she lives next door
I am acquainted with a girl who resides in the house next to mine.
She sleeps in the kitchen with her feet in the hall
Describes an odd sleeping arrangement, where the girl is sprawled across the kitchen and the hall.
People say i don't care
Others often accuse me of being indifferent.
I know what I want so why should I care?
I am aware of my desires and don't see any reason to be concerned with what others may think.
Contributed by Tristan I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Роман Харитонов
@ольга к. ...у меня матушка Ольга,бабушка звала дочь Лёля.
..." армянская <??> тема Айомми ": простите --- о ч ё м идёт речь??
... Эванс< читал > переквалифицировался в рентгенологи < про его " пёпл 2" знаю>.Но бьюсь башкой об стенку,не понимаю его:такой голос,а ушёл из музыки...
{ НЕПОСТИЖИМО!!!}.
... Вот в чём дело: у " Пёпла" виртуозная,эстрадно-городская музыка и кто-то даже называл таких " Рок-буржуи "{ в советском журнале,в " Ровеснике" ,тогда много шло материалов несколько критикующих Западную культуру}. А вот "Джетро Талл"< изобретатель сельхозтехники> +"Шабаш " с их " Спящей Деревней "{ из 1го альбома,я уж не говорю про первую композицию!}--- это ассоциативная колдовская,чуть ли не народная,тематика в музтворчестве,причём на Любителя. Исполнять мистику может только истинный и продвинутый,испытывающий Тягу к этому.
Другие превосходнейшие вокалисты,но городские { условно говоря} -- не владеют темой,поэтому-то они просто могут войти исполнять роль в коллектив,а вот идейному Оззи в другой пентет невозможно из-за концептуальной разницы в подходах к материалу.{ ЭТО особая и интересная тема подбора участников групп!}.
...Вы в каком городе живёте,а?!
... Люблю всех трёх рок-бронтозавров,которых НЕ НАДО сталкиваться лбами.
...Вообще { моё мнение} музыку США и Англии можно слушать В С Ю до 76 < ну,до 80> года...
{... так,кое- что написал Вам}...
Рома ,с уважением!
Роман Харитонов
@ольга к. ...на рубеже 70/80 х гг я думал о дальнейшей судьбе " Шабаша ".
И мысленно { да и коллегам по саратовскому клубу } высказывал догадку - гипотезу,что скорее Гиллан будет петь в " Шабаше ",чем Оззи в " Пёпле ".
Вы просто не представляете : когда вышел диск{ есть в фонотеке}"Born again!"<1983 год> ,то моя догадка оправдалась.{ Разумеется ,я не кричу везде о своей музыкальной прозорливости ,хотя если бы мы с Вами тогда переписывались,то Вы,Оля,были бы свидетельницей моего успеха}.
... когда я слушал диск "Stand up!"<1968>, то у меня 2 раза мелькнула мыслишка,что некоторые моменты похожи на первый диск " Шабаша "{ ну прямо деревенская магия там,в музыке!}.
Каково же было моё удивление,когда прочитал,что Айомми играл в ;Джетро Талле!!
... поговорим же о Гиллане в " Шабаше " : очень интересное решение о его роли в этот период.
Я считаю диск УДАЧЫМ!
Какое Ваше мнение о написанном мною?
...бывал в Москве для покупок в 1982-3 гг дисков в " Мелодии "{ на Ленинском проспекте} были интересные встречи!
В Саратове клуб филофонистов из-за перехода музыки в другие формы прекратился.Но мой тёзка ведёт муз.магазин ретро-винила!
У меня есть { если Вы любите " Пёпл"} диск с участием Ника Симпера{1 й басист группы} " Red sea"1972 год.
Филофонист-меломан,Саратовец.
crossroader71
Tony is just outstanding here, he's got all those jazzy blues skills, he plays almost like Ten Years After's Alvin Lee from Undead-era!
Kyle Stewart
Totally unexpected, but so great!
Frank OCTUPONE Rübcke
Well, I saw them at a Rock Festival in Hamburg Germany, Easter 1970. They were great. Almost nobody knew the band. It was of course before paranoid.
Music By CARLOS!
would never imagine black sabbath covering this song haha
Benny Ras
Love it. Great ❤️✌️
Maxim Popov
The Truest Spirit of Rock And Roll 💙
John Miller
Where's the rest? ...I have a feeling they did more than just "Black Sabbath" and "Blue Suede Shoes" ....I think the band were looking to make an AOR hit out of "N.I.B." ...that was a catchy and groovy song. Where's "N.I.B." ?
Scott Wilcox
Gods of heavy metal
kwd kwd
I was told this was done as a "sound check" and sabbath was not happy that this was broadcast as part of the performance.
Ben Johns
Thats correct, it was just to check the sound and cameras