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)
Johnny Blade
Black Sabbath Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People avoid him, they know the street's his own
Cold blade of silver, his eyes they burn so wild
Mean as a tiger, society's own child
Those who try to burn him pay
You don't do that to Johnny Blade
He's the meanest guy around his town
One look and he will cut you down
Johnny Blade, Johnny Blade
Life has no meaning, and Death's his only friend
Will fate surprise him, where will he meet his end?
He feels so bitter, yes he's so full of hate
To die in the gutter, I guess that's Johnny's fate
Rivals all across the land
He kills them with his knife in hand
He's the meanest guy around his town
One look and he will cut you down
Johnny Blade, Johnny Blade
Johnny Blade, Johnny Blade
Well you know that Johnny's a spider
And his web is the city at night
He's a victim of modern frustration
That's the reason he's so ready to fight
He's the one that should be afraid
What will happen to you, Johnny Blade?
Oh he knows his future's decided
And he ain't gonna change it, no way
He was born to die in the gutter
He'll keep fighting 'till the end of his days
Been alone all through his life
His only friend is a switchblade knife
He's the one who should be afraid
What will happen to you, Johnny Blade?
You fool the people
Who's fooling who?
It's time to listen
Who's fool are you?
Black Sabbath's "Johnny Blade" tells the story of a man who is tormented and twisted, walking the streets alone with a cold blade of silver, as people avoid him. Johnny Blade is so full of hate and bitterness, and his only friend is death. The song wonders where fate will surprise him and where he will meet his end, as Johnny Blade rivals all across the land, killing them with his knife in hand. The song ends asking who is fooling who, and it is time to listen.
The lyrics in "Johnny Blade" are indicative of the themes commonly found in heavy metal music, such as isolation, the human condition, and the power of fate. It is an observation of modern society's treatment of outsiders and how their mistreatment can lead to the downward spiral of the individual. The lyrics paint a picture of a man who is trapped in a cycle of violence and aggression, and will never break free from it.
Line by Line Meaning
Tortured and twisted, he walks the streets alone
Johnny Blade is a tortured soul who walks down lonely streets.
People avoid him, they know the street's his own
People steer clear of Johnny Blade since they know he owns these streets.
Cold blade of silver, his eyes they burn so wild
Johnny Blade's eyes blaze with a wild fire, and he brandishes a cold, lethal silver blade.
Mean as a tiger, society's own child
Johnny Blade is society's own outcast and mean as a tiger.
Those who try to burn him pay
Those who attempt to harm Johnny Blade will pay the price.
You don't do that to Johnny Blade
One shouldn't try to mess with Johnny Blade.
He's the meanest guy around his town
Johnny Blade is the most vicious guy in his town.
One look and he will cut you down
A single glance from Johnny Blade and you'll be dead.
Johnny Blade, Johnny Blade
Johnny Blade is his own name, but it also represents his deadly weapon.
Life has no meaning, and Death's his only friend
Death is Johnny Blade's only companion as he finds life meaningless.
Will fate surprise him, where will he meet his end?
Johnny Blade doesn't know where his fate will lead him and how he will die.
He feels so bitter, yes he's so full of hate
Johnny Blade is filled with intense bitterness and hatred.
To die in the gutter, I guess that's Johnny's fate
Johnny Blade's eventual fate is to die in the mud-filled streets where he dwells.
Rivals all across the land
Johnny Blade's violent rivals are scattered throughout the land.
He kills them with his knife in hand
Johnny Blade slaughters his foes with his weapon in hand.
Well you know that Johnny's a spider
Johnny Blade is likened to a spider who spreads his web over the city.
And his web is the city at night
The city at night is where Johnny Blade traps his prey.
He's a victim of modern frustration
Johnny Blade has become a victim of the frustrations of modern urban society.
That's the reason he's so ready to fight
Johnny Blade's pent-up frustrations cause him to be quick as lightning to brawl.
He's the one that should be afraid
Johnny Blade's enemies should fear him, rather than the other way around.
What will happen to you, Johnny Blade?
Johnny Blade does not know what awaits him in the future.
Oh he knows his future's decided
Johnny Blade accepts that his destiny is sealed and already decided.
And he ain't gonna change it, no way
He has no intention of altering his predetermined fate.
He was born to die in the gutter
Johnny Blade's fate is to die in the squalid streets from which he came.
He'll keep fighting 'till the end of his days
Johnny Blade will continue to struggle until the end of his days.
Been alone all through his life
Johnny Blade is a loner who has lived his whole existence in isolation.
His only friend is a switchblade knife
Johnny Blade's sole friend is the deadly knife he keeps with him.
You fool the people
Someone is misleading or duping the populace.
Who's fooling who?
The truth is unknown, or questions are being asked about who is being deceived by whom.
It's time to listen
It's important that somebody pay attention and listen.
Who's fool are you?
Someone is challenging others to reexamine who is influencing or deceiving them.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Anthony Iommi, John Michael Osbourne, Terence Butler, William Ward
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ferenc Zakharides
on Sweet Leaf
black sabbath a legnagyobb kedvenc super music