BREAKING:Black Sabbath Demo’s Will Be U…See more
Black Sabbath Reveal First Demos Under New Banner: Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes
In an epic deep-dive into rock history, Black Sabbath’s earliest recordings before they became Black Sabbath are about to be released. Entitled Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes, this album of demos finds the band, then called Earth, at the moment they were developing the sound that would come to characterize heavy metal. The album is out on July 25 on Big Bear Records, shepherded by their first manager, Jim Simpson .
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???? Origins: From Polka Tulk Blues to Earth
Before formally adopting the name Black Sabbath, the legendary quartet—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—dated back to 1968, initially emerging as The Polka Tulk Blues Band. They eventually renamed themselves Earth, shedding sidemen and focusing their ranks to the iconic foursome .
They recorded raw demos at Zella Studios, Birmingham in 1969, catching a moment when bluesy songs were beginning to develop into the heavier, darker sounds for which they’d later become famous .
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Rediscovered After 57 Years
Jim Simpson, then in his 80s, re-discovered the tapes—long thought lost—and had them remastered for official release. “These recordings certainly demonstrate what great music they made right from the beginning,” Simpson said, noting that the band did not release them at the time they were recorded due to the then-extremely rapid evolution of their sound.
He continues, “Now, 57 years on, the recordings gain in importance, demonstrating how these four young Birmingham lads, in their teens, were tremendous players and a tremendous band, well deserving of all the praise that was to come.” 
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What the Tape Contains
Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes is an interesting mix of covers from the classic repertoire and early originals, offering a precious insight into the band’s initial creativity ():
• Blues standards: “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Evenin’,” “Wee Wee Baby”
• Original songs:
• “Song For Jim” (guitar version)
• “Song For Jim” (flute version with Iommi)
• “Untitled”
• “Free Man”
• “Wicked World”
• “Warning” (circa 12 minutes)
The two versions of “Song For Jim,” named after Simpson, include an improvised flute solo—a departure from the band that was about to lay the groundwork for heavy metal .
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No Official Sabbath Involvement, but Lasting Legacy
Although Black Sabbath has not officially endorsed the release, no complaint from the band members. The tapes are being released independently by Simpson’s Big Bear Records, a label renowned for protecting blues and jazz . Supporters have cited Sabbath’s tacit endorsement, especially after the appearance of Earth tracks on the band’s own YouTube channel as teasers .
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Timed to Perfection: Farewell Show & City Honors
The album’s release date overlaps with the group’s goodbye concert, aptly named “Back To The Beginning”, on July 5 at Villa Park, Birmingham. The event is the final time that the original four will ever perform together on stage, and features a star-studded lineup of Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, Tool, and numerous others .
Just a few days ago, they were awarded the Freedom of the City of Birmingham, which is an honor from their birthplace. This recognition honoring them for their global musical impact. Tony Iommi said: “It’s a great thing to get… Birmingham is home, and we love what Birmingham has done for us.” 
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Formats, Pre‑Orders & Collector Appeal
Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes is coming on vinyl, CD, and digital, with remastered audio and deluxe liner notes chronicling the band’s initial travels. Pre-orders started through Rough Trade and other participating retailers ().
For collectors and fans, this release is not just an earful—it’s a time machine to the moment when four Birmingham teenagers began building what would become rock’s darkest and heaviest legacy.
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Why It Matters
This archival release adds a foundation chapter to the Black Sabbath story, documenting their transformation from blues enthusiasts to heavy metal pioneers. It’s historically significant, culturally textured, and musically diverse—whether through covers such as “Blue Suede Shoes” or embryonic heaviness of “Warning.”.
As Simpson so aptly put it, these recordings lit the fire that created a global style—and now, nearly sixty years later, that fire is being lit again for the world.
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Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes comes out July 25. Ideal for heavy-metal historians, Sabbath die-hards, and deep rock archeology collectors
