Who became Earth's manager after seeing them at Henry's Blueshouse?

Jim Simpson became Earth’s manager after seeing the band at Henry’s Blueshouse.

Earth was the Birmingham blues-rock group formed by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward before they adopted the Black Sabbath name. Simpson had established Henry’s Blueshouse at The Crown Hotel in Birmingham as a weekly club for blues and progressive music.

Earth secured a performance opportunity there after agreeing to waive the usual support-band fee in exchange for free T-shirts. The audience responded positively, and Simpson agreed to manage the group. His involvement helped turn a local club act into an emerging professional band.

Simpson was more than a manager: he was a promoter, musician and record executive who later founded Big Bear Records. He guided Black Sabbath during their formative period and helped them obtain opportunities that led toward their first recordings and major-label breakthrough. The song “Song for Jim,” recorded while the band was still called Earth, referred to him.