Before adopting the name Black Sabbath in 1969, the band – formed by Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler – went by the name Earth (and, before that, were called The Polka Tulk Blues Band).
In early 1969, while still operating under the moniker “Earth,” the four musicians recorded several demos in Zella Studios in Birmingham. Those demos had never been released, until now.
As Black Sabbath’s farewell show this upcoming Saturday (July 5th) approaches, it has been announced that an album consisting of those early demos will be released.
Titled “Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes,” the project is being overseen by the band’s first manager Jim Simpson.
“Before Black Sabbath, the band were known as Earth – a blues-driven powerhouse already making a name for themselves,” Simpson said. “This new release presents rare early recordings from that era, remastered from long-lost tapes.”
“These recordings clearly demonstrate what fine music they produced right from the very beginning. We recorded these tracks at Zella Studio in Birmingham in 1969, but held back from releasing them as their style was evolving so quickly.”
“Now, some 57 years later, the recordings assume a greater importance, illustrating how these four young men from Birmingham, barely out of their teens, were excellent musicians and a fine band, fully deserving of all the success that was to come their way.”
“Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes” will be available on July 25th.
It should be noted, however, that it seems that the members of Black Sabbath are not involved in the record’s release.
