“Tony took all his clothes off and was hitting his guitar strings with the crosses that he wore around his neck.” The chaotic birth of Black Sabbath’s Vol 4, the dark masterpiece that almost destroyed the band
During their gruelling 1972 US tour, Black Sabbath were physically exhausted and heavily drug-dependent, yet managed to create their classic album Vol 4 despite being at breaking point. The band had achieved commercial success with their third album Master of Reality becoming a US Top 10 hit, but the relentless 100-show tour schedule and substance abuse were taking a severe toll on the musicians.
Following their stint at the notorious Edgewater Inn in Seattle, where they engaged in destructive behaviour including dead sharks in bathtubs and thrown through windows, the band faced further crisis when criminal convictions—Ozzy Osbourne's theft charge and Tony Iommi and Bill Ward's drug convictions—resulted in denied entry visas to Japan. This forced cancellation of scheduled shows in Osaka and Australia. Bassist Geezer Butler admitted to complete physical and mental collapse from constant touring, with the situation worsening when drummer Bill Ward was diagnosed with serum hepatitis, leaving the band in genuine peril.
- Black Sabbath recorded Vol 4 whilst exhausted, burnt out and heavily abusing drugs during 1972 tour
- Criminal convictions denied band entry to Japan; scheduled shows cancelled
- Bassist near breakdown; drummer diagnosed with hepatitis pushed band to crisis point