Black Sabbath

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Black Sabbath is a rock band formed in Birmingham, England in 1968. The original members were drummer Bill Ward, bassist/lyricist Geezer Butler, singer Ozzy Osbourne and guitarist/songwriter Tony Iommi. The group settled on the name "Black Sabbath" after writing a song of the same name that was inspired by a 1963 horror film entitled Black Sabbath and starring Boris Karloff. The dark lyrics and sound differed from other pop music of the 1960s, and had a profound impact on the band's future direction. 

Over the years, the band has experienced numerous lineup and musical style changes, with Iommi as the only constant member. Black Sabbath has sold over 70 million records worldwide, and is considered one of the most influential heavy metal rock bands, inspiring groups such as Metallica, Iron Maiden, Van Halen, and many others. In 2015, it was announced that the band would embark on its final tour, "The End," from January 2016 to February 2017, featuring three of the four original members: Iommi, Butler and Osbourne. Ward opted out of the tour, due to health issues and disagreements with Osbourne.