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Geezer Butler Reflects on Black Sabbath's 'Heaven and Hell' Surprise
Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler has revealed he and his bandmates were stunned by the success of their 1979 album, Heaven and Hell, despite its length and the shift in songwriting dynamics with Ronnie James Dio.
Black Sabbath's legacy continues to rumble on, fuelled by reminiscences from its key players. Bassist Geezer Butler has recently shared some candid thoughts on the band's tumultuous transition and the unexpected triumph of 1979's *Heaven and Hell*, speaking on the "100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal" podcast with Brian Slagel.
The album, marking the arrival of Ronnie James Dio following Ozzy Osbourne's departure, was initially met with considerable skepticism. Butler confessed that writing lyrics for Osbourne had become an increasingly fraught process during the recording of *Never Say Die!*, to the point where drummer Bill Ward ended up singing a track due to Osbourne's disinterest and another became instrumental. The arrival of Dio proved transformative, not just vocally but creatively, with the new singer actively contributing musical ideas.
They believed in it, but getting everyone else to believe was another thing.
"It was great because even down to the... Ozzy couldn't play any instruments, but Ronnie, to be able to express some of the choruses and things, he'd come up with a guitar and play it to Tony [Iommi, SABBATH guitarist], sort of, 'This is how I see the chorus.' And he'd play the chords, so we all knew what to do," Butler explained. The band were genuinely surprised when *Heaven and Hell* became a success despite its near-seven-minute runtime.
The album's reception defied expectations; many predicted doom for Sabbath after Osbourne's exit, but the record proved them wrong. "The whole thing surprised us, 'cause we believed in it, but getting everybody else to believe in it is another thing," Butler said. It seems even the band themselves were unprepared for the widespread acceptance of their new sound and lineup.
The recent passing of Ozzy Osbourne has prompted further reflection on his time with Sabbath, with Butler sharing poignant memories of rehearsals and a final performance together at Villa Park in Birmingham. That show reunited the original lineup, including Osbourne seated in a bat-adorned throne for a five-song set.
