Black Sabbath
Awards & Honours
27
Awards Won
7
Honours
7
Rankings
5
Covers
5
Records
Black Sabbath's list of achievements is a testament to their enduring impact and pioneering spirit. They hold the distinction of being widely credited as the originators of heavy metal, a genre they defined with their very first records. Their album 13 marked a historic return to the top of the charts, becoming their first US No. 1 and their second UK No. 1, an extraordinary feat for a band over four decades into their career. This achievement also earned them a Guinness World Record for the longest gap between No. 1 albums in the UK.The band's influence is frequently recognized by critics and peers; MTV named them the "Greatest Metal Band of All Time," and VH1 placed them second on their "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" list. Inductions into both the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 underscore their permanent place in music history. Their receipt of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 further cemented their status as true innovators whose contributions continue to resonate globally.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
Recognized for their immense contributions to music.
Honorary Doctorates
Awarded to Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler.
International Achievement Award
Celebrating their global musical success.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
Inducted in the Performer category.
UK Music Hall of Fame Induction
Recognized for their lasting influence on British music.
First Heavy Metal Band
Credited as the pioneers of the heavy metal genre.
Longest Gap Between No. 1 Albums in the UK
43 years between Paranoid (1970) and 13 (2013).
Rankings & Lists
500 Greatest Albums of All Time
500 Greatest Albums of All Time
Top 50 Metal Bands of All Time
Greatest Rock Bands of All Time
100 Greatest Artists of All Time
Greatest Metal Band of All Time
100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock
Magazine Covers
Rolling Stone
February 2017
Ozzy & Sabbath: The End
Mojo
July 2013
The Story of Black Sabbath
Classic Rock
June 2013
Sabbath: The Final Album
Rolling Stone
November 1973
The Return of Black Sabbath
NME
May 1970
Black Sabbath: The Most Frightening Band Alive
Records & Feats
First Heavy Metal Band
Widely credited as the pioneers of the heavy metal genre, defining its core sound and aesthetic.
Longest Gap Between No. 1 Albums in the UK
Achieved a 43-year gap between their first UK No. 1 album, Paranoid (1970), and their second, 13 (2013).
First US No. 1 Album
13 became their first album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, 43 years after their debut.
Highest-Grossing Final Tour for a Hard Rock/Metal Band
The End Tour (2016-2017) grossed over $100 million across 81 shows, marking a significant financial success for their farewell.
Most-streamed songs by an early heavy metal band
"Paranoid" has over 600 million streams on Spotify, and "Iron Man" has over 500 million, showcasing enduring digital popularity.