List of Members

Black Sabbath has gone through a variety of line-up changes.

1968

PHOTO NEEDED.

This line-up originally went by the name Polka Tulk Blues Band and then shortened its name to Polka Tulk.

Ozzy Osbourne: Vocals
Tony Iommi: Guitar
Jimmy Phillips: Guitar
Alan Clarke: Saxophone
Geezer Butler: Bass
Bill Ward: Drums

1968-1977, 1978-1979 Line-Up

This lineup originally went by the name Earth and then changed its name to Black Sabbath.

Due to Osbourne's drinking and drug abuse, he was kicked out by the band in 1979.

Geezer quit soon after, but came back.

This lineup would reunite for one off performances in both 1985 and 2025.

Ozzy Osbourne - Vocalist, Harmonica for "The Wizard"
Tony Iommi - Guitarist, Pianist for "Changes", Back-Up Vocals for "Hard Road", Syntheizers, Flute, Mellotron
Geezer Butler - Bassist, Back-Up Vocals for "Hard Road", Syntheizers
Bill Ward - Drummer, Vocalist for "It's Alright" and "Swinging The Chain"

1977-1978 Line-Up

In 1977, Ozzy walked out on the band when he wanted to start a solo career. It was then that the band got Fleetwood Mac lead singer Dave Walker in to record Never Say Die!. They played with Dave Walker on a BBC session a early version of "Junior's Eyes". It wasn't until the last minute, in 1978, that Ozzy came back and refused to do most of the tracks that weren't written with him.

Bill Ward had to sing for "Swinging The Chain" because Osbourne refused.

Dave Walker - Vocalist
Tony Iommi - Guitarist
Geezer Butler - Bassist
Bill Ward - Drummer

1979-1980 Line-Up

This is the "Dio Era" line-up with Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, after Ozzy's firing from the band the same year, Sharon Arden (who would soon be Osbourne's manager and future wife) recommended Ronnie, who was previously in a band with Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore called Rainbow.

Ronnie James Dio - Vocals
Tony Iommi - Guitarist
Geezer Butler - Bassist
Bill Ward - Drummer
Geoff Nicholls - Keyboard

1980-1982, 1991-1992, 2006-2010 Line-Up

After Heaven and Hell was released, Ward was fired similarly to Osbourne for his alcoholism. Ward was soon replaced with Vinny Appice for Mob Rules. After Live Evil was released, Ronnie and Vinny left the band and went on to form the band Dio. Reportedly, Ronnie came back first, and Vinny came back shortly after.