Legendary '70s Rock Band's Rare Recordings Set to Drop for the First Time After 57 Years

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Legendary '70s Rock Band's Rare Recordings Set to Drop for the First Time After 57 Years originally appeared on Parade.

Before they became known as Black Sabbath, the iconic heavy metal band went by the name Earth. In 1969, the group recorded a series of demos that, until now, had never been released.

These early tracks are set to finally see the light of day as Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes.

The remastered collection — featuring original recordings by lead singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward and bassist Geezer Butler — is set for release on July 25.

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The project is being spearheaded by Jim Simpson, the band’s first manager, who reflected on that pivotal time in their early days.

"Before Black Sabbath, the band were known as Earth — a blues-driven powerhouse already making a name for themselves," he said to NME. "This new release presents rare early recordings from that era, remastered from long-lost tapes."

He continued, "These recordings clearly demonstrate what fine music they produced right from the very beginning. We recorded these tracks at Zella Studio in Birmingham in 1969, but held back from releasing them as their style was evolving so quickly."

Now, 57 years later, Simpson says the tracks "assume a greater importance, illustrating how these four young men from Birmingham, barely out of their teens, were excellent musicians and a fine band—fully deserving of all the success that was to come their way."

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Black Sabbath went through a few name changes before landing on the one that made them famous. Formed in 1968 as the Polka Tulk Blues Band, they briefly performed and recorded under Earth in 1969, though those recordings remained shelved until now.

Shortly after, they rebranded as Black Sabbath, the name they'll use once more for what’s being branded as their final concert on Saturday, July 5, in their hometown of Birmingham, England.

The show will reunite the band on stage for the first time since 2005 and will also mark Osbourne’s final solo performance. The stacked lineup includes Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Pantera, Slayer and more.

Osbourne said the show has given him "something to give me a reason to get up in the morning."

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But preparing for it hasn’t come easy. "You wake up the next morning and find that something else has gone wrong," he told The Guardian, reflecting on a decade of persistent health struggles. "You begin to think this is never going to end."

Still, he remains determined. "I’ll be there, and I’ll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up."

Legendary '70s Rock Band's Rare Recordings Set to Drop for the First Time After 57 Years first appeared on Parade on Jul 1, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.