Above which pub did Black Sabbath rehearse in their early days?

Black Sabbath rehearsed above The Crown pub in Birmingham during the band’s early days.

The Crown stood at the corner of Station Street and Hill Street, close to Birmingham city centre. Its upstairs room, known as Henry’s Blueshouse, became an important venue for the local blues and rock scene. The space gave the young musicians a place to rehearse and perform while they were still developing the sound that would make them famous.

At the time, the group was associated with the name Earth. The band played its first gig as Black Sabbath at The Crown, linking the pub not only with their rehearsals but also with the earliest public use of their definitive name. Local promoter Jim Simpson saw the group perform there and became an important early manager and supporter.

The Crown is sometimes remembered solely as the site of Black Sabbath’s first gig, but its role was broader. Bands including Led Zeppelin, Status Quo, Thin Lizzy and Judas Priest also appeared there, helping make the building a landmark in Birmingham’s musical history.