Which heavy metal band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1968?

The heavy metal band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1968 was Black Sabbath. Guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward began building the group in Aston, Birmingham, with bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne joining the original lineup.

The band did not initially use the name Black Sabbath. They first performed as the Polka Tulk Blues Band, shortened that name to Polka Tulk, and then became Earth. They adopted Black Sabbath in 1969, inspired partly by the title of a 1963 horror film and by the dark atmosphere of their music.

Black Sabbath helped define heavy metal through Iommi’s down-tuned guitar riffs, Butler’s ominous lyrics, Ward’s forceful drumming, and Osbourne’s distinctive voice. Their first album, Black Sabbath, arrived in 1970 and became a landmark of the genre.

A common mix-up is confusing the band’s formation date with the date they adopted their best-known name: the group formed in 1968, but became Black Sabbath in 1969.