Few bands have left a legacy as towering as Black Sabbath’s. From the unmistakable riffs of Tony Iommi to Ozzy Osbourne’s haunting vocals, they defined the heavy metal genre. But who influenced their groundbreaking sound? And how did their music inspire generations of artists?
In 1968, when Black Sabbath started, heavy metal rock didn’t yet exist. It took them a few records, but over time, the audience, their peers and the music industry understood that they were something completely new. Their legacy expanded to countless bands, from metal to punk, grunge, stoner rock, and beyond.
What Artists Influenced Black Sabbath?
Black Sabbath’s sound was a melting pot of blues, jazz, psychedelia, and hard rock. Among their key influences were bands like The Who, Jethro Tull, and Led Zeppelin, as well as legends like Django Reinhardt and Janis Joplin.
Let’s break down the threads that wove into their dark, heavy tapestry:
The Who
Tony Iommi, Sabbath’s legendary guitarist, admired The Who’s Pete Townshend, particularly his use of E-flat tuning to create a heavier sound. Black Sabbath would push this technique further, building their signature heaviness. The Who’s influence is especially evident in Sabbath’s Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.
Geezer Butler, the band’s bassist, was also inspired by John Entwistle’s intricate yet powerful bass lines, which helped shape Sabbath’s thunderous rhythm section. Songs like “N.I.B.” reflect this dynamic approach, balancing groove and weight.
Janis Joplin
Ozzy Osbourne found his vocal muse in Joplin’s raw, emotive performances and fearless attitude. Her ability to connect with audiences deeply influenced his vocal style, bringing a raw, haunting edge to tracks like “Black Sabbath” and “War Pigs” and anything you can hear on Sabbath’s classic album, Master of Reality.
Jethro Tull
Tony Iommi’s brief stint with Jethro Tull in 1968 left a lasting impression. While he only performed with them for a short period, he observed their meticulous approach to songwriting and live performance.
Jethro Tull inspired Sabbath to elevate their compositions, weaving complex arrangements into tracks like “Fairies Wear Boots” and “Children of the Grave”. If you like this style of music, then be sure to check out Sabbath’s excellent album, Technical Ecstasy, from 1976.
Django Reinhardt
After a factory accident left Iommi with two severed fingertips, he turned to Django Reinhardt, a belgian jazz virtuoso who overcame similar physical limitations. Iommi adapted his guitar playing to suit his injury, experimenting with lighter strings and creating a sludgy, menacing tone that became a hallmark of Sabbath’s music.
Reinhardt’s influence can be heard in Iommi’s fluid, jazz-like solos on tracks like “Planet Caravan.”
Steppenwolf
The rebellious energy of Steppenwolf’s music was a blueprint for Black Sabbath’s ethos. Their song “Born to Be Wild” introduced the phrase “heavy metal” to the world, encapsulating a sound and spirit that Sabbath would embody and redefine. Tracks like “Paranoid” carry the same raw intensity, blending psychedelic rock with unrelenting power.
Cream
The power trio of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker blended blues with psychedelic rock and jazz, paving the way for Sabbath’s signature heaviness. Same as with The Who, Cream’s use of high-powered amplifiers and riff-driven compositions influenced Black Sabbath to push these innovations even further.
John Mayall
Geezer Butler took cues from John Mayall’s melodic blues style, as well as his socially conscious lyrics. As Sabbath’s main lyricist, Butler addressed themes like war, religion, and environmental concerns, imbuing Sabbath’s music with depth and a touch of the occult.
Jimi Hendrix
Hendrix’s mastery of effects like wah-wah, feedback, and distortion blew Tony Iommi away. Hendrix’s fearless experimentation inspired Iommi to push his own creative boundaries and helped shape the foundation of Sabbath’s iconic sound.
If you want to learn more, be sure to check out Black Sabbath’s history timeline.
What is Black Sabbath’s Legacy?
If Black Sabbath had musical ancestors, they’ve certainly spawned countless offspring. From the early days of metal to today’s diverse rock genres, their fingerprints are everywhere. Here’s a closer look at how Black Sabbath inspired other iconic artists:
Iron Maiden
Steve Harris, Iron Maiden’s founder and bassist, often credits Sabbath as a formative influence. Tracks like “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” echo Sabbath’s penchant for storytelling through music.
On his account, Iron Maiden’s charismatic frontman, Bruce Dickinson, has acknowledged Ozzy’s theatrical vocal style as an inspiration. Iron Maiden’s galloping rhythms and dark themes pay homage to Sabbath classics like “Heaven and Hell.” The band’s live covers of tracks like “N.I.B.” further highlight their reverence.
Judas Priest
Often dubbed the “Metal Gods”, Judas Priest built on the foundation laid by Sabbath. Rob Halford admired Ozzy’s unique vocal tone and emotional depth, which influenced his soaring, operatic style. Sabbath’s willingness to explore taboo subjects paved the way for Priest to delve into themes of rebellion and individuality, as heard in songs like “Breaking the Law.”
Want to hear other Sabbath influenced Judas Priest tracks? Check out Victim of Changes, The Ripper and Beyond the Realms of Death.
Megadeth
Dave Mustaine has often called Paranoid a life-changing album. Sabbath’s influence can be heard in Megadeth’s intricate, riff-heavy compositions, which mirror Iommi’s mastery of combining heaviness with melody.
Megadeth’s tracks like “Symphony of Destruction” and “Peace Sells” carry the dark, apocalyptic themes that Sabbath pioneered, reimagined through the lens of thrash metal.
Soundgarden
Chris Cornell and Soundgarden channeled Sabbath’s heavy, doom-laden sound into the grunge era. Tracks like “Outshined” and “Rusty Cage” exhibit the same brooding atmosphere and complex time signatures that defined Sabbath’s work.
Soundgarden’s affinity for drop tunings and sludgy riffs owes much to Iommi’s pioneering techniques. Cornell’s vocal delivery, blending raw power with vulnerability, mirrors Ozzy’s haunting presence. If you want to learn more, be sure to check out our post about the musical influences of Soundgarden.
The Runaways
Joan Jett and her bandmates broke barriers as one of the first all-female hard rock bands in the late seventies. Their boldness and willingness to challenge norms paralleled Sabbath’s trailblazing ethos, and their covers of Sabbath tracks like Iron Man demonstrate their reverence.
Faith No More
Known for blending metal, funk, and other genres, Faith No More counts Sabbath as a key influence. They’ve covered songs like “War Pigs”, “Falling Off the Edge of the World” o “Sweet Leaf”.
Smashing Pumpkins
Billy Corgan has cited Master of Reality as a major influence, even basing the riff of Zero on Sabbath’s Children of the Grave. Smashing Pumpkins’ versions of Sabbath classics like Snowblind highlight their enduring respect for the metal pioneers.
We have covered Smashing Pumpkins’ influences in this other post.
The Sabbath legacy doesn’t stop there. Artists as varied as Nightwish, System of a Down, Pantera, and they had also a prominent influence on Metallica.