Top 5 Black Sabbath Covers

Black Sabbath is considered one of the forefathers of heavy metal; Tony Iommi’s vinyl-tipped right middle and ring fingers are credited with single-handedly (or double-fingeredly) creating the original sound that sparked an entire genre of music.

In respect to the leaders of the new wave of British heavy metal, many groups and artists have covered Black Sabbath’s work. Here’s the best of the best.

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5. “War Pigs” by Cake

An unusual choice, Cake is the only group on this list that isn’t metal. Alternative rock is the shortest way to describe their music, but they are known for covering a wide variety of genres. Their cover of “War Pigs” appears on their 2007 compilation album, B-Sides and Rarities, along with a cover of Frank Sinatra’s “Strangers in the Night.”
The addition of sirens between verses and singer John McCrea’s sprechgesang monotone are a refreshing contrast of Ozzy Osbourne’s high-pitched shrieking. (But no one really gets sick of that.)

4. “Paranoid” by Megadeth

For Megadeth’s cover of “Paranoid,” the thrash band turned up the distortion, doubled the double-kick and inserted Dave Mustaine’s raw vocals. The uptempo, two-and-a-half minute rendition was recorded for the 1994 Sabbath tribute album, Nativity in Black, and was nominated for the Grammy for Best Metal Performance (but lost to Nine Inch Nails). Still, Megadeth’s signature style and Mustaine’s distinct voice make for the best “Paranoid” cover possible.

3. “Sabbra Cadabra” by Metallica

Metallica’s 1998 two-disc cover album, Garage Inc., is made up of metal influences. The Bay Area band couldn’t have recorded the album without a Sabbath song, and they picked “Sabbra Cadabra” and put the Metallica finish on it: James Hetfield’s powerful voice, Kirk Hammett’s high-note solos, Lars Ulrich’s drum-thumping and then-bassist Jason Newsted’s… well, there’s a bassline, if you listen very closely. With that recording, Metallica saluted Sabbath and went on to play onstage with Osbourne at their 2009 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

2. “Hole in the Sky” by Pantera

I’ve watched the dogs of war enjoying their feast, I’ve seen the western world go down in the east “Hole in the Sky” Sabotage (1975)

One of the lesser-known covers, “Hole in the Sky” was released on Pantera’s 2003 greatest hits compilation, The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys’ Vulgar Hits!. The Cowboys from Hell but their southern-metal spin on the 1975 song, with Phil Anselmo’s aggressive vocals growling out the lyrics. Vinnie Paul’s steady, cymbal-accented drumbeat drives the song and Dimebag Darrell’s high-gain lead guitar mimics Iommi note for note. It’s a song you can nod to if you don’t feel like headbanging and still throw up the horns violently.

1. “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” by Anthrax

If anyone could come close to Ozzy Osbourne’s voice, it’s Joey Belladonna of Anthrax. Their cover of “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” for their 1987 EP, I’m the Man, ousts all other imitators (sorry, Bruce Dickinson). The energy in the song illustrates the influence Sabbath had on Anthrax and how they wished to dedicate this cover to their mentors. Scott Ian progresses with the wickedly heavy riff from start to finish, throwing in some solos over a bassline that would make Geezer Butler proud.
To them, it’s not just Sabbath. It’s Sabbath. Bloody. Sabbath.

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Playboy Interviews Through the Decades – Music

Hugh Hefner’s landmark adult men’s magazine Playboy is best known for airbrushed photographs of beautiful, young women that fold out from the middle of each issue.

What is often overlooked by teenage readers (but not by a good number of subscribers) is the Playboy Interview, a monthly article that features lengthy sit-downs with today’s actors, politicians, athletes and celebrities.

In this post are a select few excerpts from interviews with musicians from the past five decades, accompanied by links to the entire articles via Playboy‘s website.

’60s: The Beatles – February 1965
PLAYBOY: No, she pointed at you, George, and said, “There’s a Beatle!” And you others said, “That’s George.” And she said, “No, it’s a Beatle!”
LENNON: And you said, “This way to the bedroom.”
PLAYBOY: No, it was, “Would you like us to introduce you to him?”
LENNON: I like my line better.

’70s: Elton John – January 1976
PLAYBOY: What’s your reaction to other countries you’ve played in?
JOHN: I’m not keen on Italy. Germany is very cold. I think Scandinavia is the nicest place to play.
PLAYBOY: Why Scandinavia?
JOHN: ‘Cause they’re clean. I’d never tour a hot-blooded country, like Spain or Portugal. You can’t get a straight answer from anybody there. I’ve never played live in France. They couldn’t organize a piss-up in a brewery! I’ve had nothing but bad experiences in France. I’ve had to do three taping sessions there and they’ve all been disasters. The French are chic but too arrogant and offhanded.

’80s: Keith Richards – October 1989
PLAYBOY: Your involvement with drugs was well known. Did you ever think you were going past your own point of no return?
RICHARDS: I always felt I had a safe margin. But that’s a matter of knowing yourself—maybe just on a physical level. I come from very tough stock and things that would kill other people don’t kill me. [...] People think drugs are entertainment. But the cats they look up to who died of drugs—and even me, who was supposed to die but didn’t, yet!—we weren’t takin’ drugs just for fun, for recreation. Creation, maybe. It’s all too complicated for me.

’90s: Pete Townshend – February 1994
PLAYBOY: When did you smash your first guitar?
TOWNSHEND: I was 13. John Entwistle and I were rehearsing together in the front room of my house. My grandmother came in shouting, “Turn that bloody racket down!” I said, “I’ll do better than that,” and I got my guitar—this was a good guitar that I had paid for myself with money I earned from a paper route—and smashed it to smithereens. I said, “Now will you f**king get out of my life?” and she stomped out.

’00s: Metallica – April 2001
PLAYBOY: Is Jason [Newsted] even on …And Justice for All?
HETFIELD: His picture is on it [big laugh]. Someone sent me a joke CD, with a sticker on the outside that says, “…And Justice for All—now with bass!”