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SHOCKING: Geezer butler - What They Never Told You

Watch Slipknot’s Corey Taylor and Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale sing Black Sabbath covers at Geezer Butler and Paul Rodgers tribute show this week

Taylor sang Paranoid and Hale took on lead vocals for a version of Neon Knights, with Butler playing bass for both performances

Metal Hammer

“They said, ‘You're playing heavy metal.’ I said, ‘Heavy metal… what's that?’” Why Tony Iommi shunned the heavy metal tag during Black Sabbath's early days

The Godfather of Heavy Metal was trying to channel the horror films he and bassist Geezer Butler used to watch – and that, in turn, would give birth to an entire genre

Guitar World

“Those cleaner tones are very characterful and usable, evoking classic tube-driven bass amps”: Ashdown Geezer Butler Pedal of Doom review

Geezer Butler helped invent heavy metal. Here’s a slab of heavy metal bearing his name.

Guitar World

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“There was an advert saying, ‘Ozzy Zig requires gig.’ I said to Bill, ‘I know an Ozzy but it can't be him. He can't sing’”: Tony Iommi looks back at the birth of Black Sabbath – and their “horrible” first jam

The legendary riff lord is the subject of a new multi-part documentary from Gibson TV

Guitar World

"In 2026 I shall have definitely, definitely have my solo album out": Tony Iommi films New Year message, reflects on the "Summer of Sabbath"

The Riff Lord has spoken

Metal Hammer

“The Alamo incident, bat-biting, dove head-biting, snorting ants”: Ozzy Osbourne was at his “wildest” during early days of solo career, says Black Sabbath bandmate Geezer Butler

Butler has penned a moving tribute to the late Prince Of Darkness, who died in July

Metal Hammer

"Who would you rather sleep with, Ozzy or Geezer?": Smuggling, private jets, and expecting the unexpected with the Osbournes

Witnessing the warmth and wit of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne

Metal Hammer

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“I would have liked to have not chopped the ends of my fingers off. It became a burden”: The Devil, the blues and a factory accident – the story of the Black Sabbath song that kicked off heavy metal

Black Sabbath didn’t plan to start a new genre when they debuted in 1970, but their self-titled track is now seen as the place where metal began

Metal Hammer

“I’m not sure why the tour ended so abruptly. I never got a bunch of my gear returned. People don’t get sacked from Sabbath – they just don’t get spoken to again!” Ask Jo Burt about Freddie Mercury, Brian Setzer and The Troggs – just not Black Sabbath

The veteran bassist on his Queen and Led Zeppelin links, love for fretless, fighting with a Music Man EQ, and Tony Iommi’s smile when Geezer Butler’s Ampeg rig made a bass feel like an animal

Guitar World

“This is your chance to own the sound that defined heavy metal”: Reverb and Ashdown are selling bass amps used by Geezer Butler during rehearsals for Black Sabbath’s final show

15 Head Of Doom amp heads will be sold exclusively via Ashdown’s Reverb Shop

Guitar World

“This is your chance to own the sound that defined heavy metal. Don’t wait, once they’re gone, they’re gone”: Ashdown and Reverb are selling Geezer Butler’s Head Of Doom bass amps, signed by the man himself

This Reverb exclusive offers 15 of Butler's signature heads used for rehearsals for Black Sabbath's final show, each coming with a COA from Ashdown MD Dan Gooday

MusicRadar

“I couldn't afford a real bass guitar, so I just tuned the strings down on a Telecaster”: How Geezer Butler went from playing bass on a guitar to the ominous riff that defined one of Black Sabbath’s darkest moments

Geezer Butler’s iconic bassline announces this tune from the classic 1970 LP Paranoid

Guitar World

“As soon as he hit the stage, everything changed.” Farewell to Ozzy Osbourne: Metal's first - and greatest - icon

How heavy metal's original madman became a global icon

Metal Hammer

"It was the four of us against the world." Behind the curtains of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's historic farewell gig

In July, Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne performed their final show together. Weeks later, Ozzy passed away. Metal Hammer caught up with the band ahead of their final farwell

Metal Hammer

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Guitar World

“Tony Iommi didn’t want a song by another guitarist on a Sabbath record.I never saw the money. But hearing Dio perform my song was unforgettable”: Jimi Bell may have lost out to Zakk Wylde in his Ozzy Osbourne audition, but he has no regrets

The drummer turned guitarist remains grateful for what Sharon Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Joan Jett and Randy Rand did for him, as he preps original music from his Deep Purple tribute band

Louder

“I thought he was taking the piss”: The time Ozzy Osbourne planned to beat up Frank Zappa

The story of the unlikely love-in between Frank Zappa and Black Sabbath

Metal Hammer

“Aston Villa is proud to remember Ozzy Osbourne, a music legend”: Watch Aston Villa FC pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne before their first game of the new season

The Prince Of Darkness’ hometown team Aston Villa honour the late singer at Villa Park, site of his final gig

Guitar World

“Metallica is nearly equal to Ozzy in terms of the respect factor – not all the way, but nearly”: When Jason Newsted swapped bands with Robert Trujillo

Why Jason Newsted got the call from Ozzy – and what lay in store for Robert Trujillo, who signed with Newsted’s old band, Metallica

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Metal Hammer

What Ozzy Osbourne thought of Taylor Swift: "I finally found a new artist that is a true superstar."

As Taylor Swift, the world's biggest pop star, announces details of her new album, The Life Of A Showgirl, we recall how she received Ozzy Osbourne's seal of approval

MusicRadar

“They were unfairly dismissed by critics and listeners with ‘good taste’ as mindlessly primitive”: A music professor breaks down the theory behind Black Sabbath's Iron Man

Following Ozzy's passing, we put one of Sabbath's best-loved tracks under the musical microscope

BANG Premier

'Like Ozzy was having fun': Robert Trujillo reflects on Osbourne's funeral

Robert Trujillo believes the late Ozzy Osbourne was "having fun" during his funeral, due to the extrme weather changes throughout the service.

Guitar World

“Geezer broke down into tears. He had a hard time speaking, and then he delivered an amazing eulogy”: Robert Trujillo opens up on his experience of Ozzy Osbourne’s “beautiful” funeral

Osbourne’s private funeral service took place on July 31 at his family home in Buckinghamshire, England

Metal Hammer

"There were a lot of tears." Metallica's Robert Trujillo shares his memories of Ozzy Osbourne's "very, very beautiful" private funeral service

"When Geezer Butler spoke, the sun came out"

What Hi-Fi?

6 test tracks we've been playing in the What Hi-Fi? listening rooms this month

MJ, Nine Inch Nails and, yes, even some Coldplay

Louder

"Thirty-four minutes of pure unadulterated sonic sludge": Black Sabbath tweak the formula on Master Of Reality, invent even more genres

Black Sabbath: now heavier, denser and doomier than before

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