Episode 53: Black Sabbath: The Tony Martin Era

The Rock and Metal Profs: The History and Philosophy of Rock and Metal

Tony Martin was the 2nd longest tenured vocalist in the history of Black Sabbath. During his run with the band, Martin wrote, sang, toured and performed with the band as they traveled to regions where Sabbath had never ventured prior, including Italy, Greece and the USSR. He sang on 5 studio albums and a live album, producing some of Sabbath's best material and contributing to a musical legacy that will forever endure. Black Sabbath are the progenitors of Heavy Metal -- an entire genre of music! Martin's songwriting expertise took the band in new directions, exploring new themes that challenged what people expected from the band. At the same time, Martin understood that he was a member of Sabbath and that expectations were high -- he was, after all, stepping into the shoes of Ozzy, Dio and Ian Gillan. Martin handled himself masterfully, writing lyrics that embraced Sabbath's traditions while pushing the band into new territory. Court and Matt discuss the criminally under-appreciated Tony Martin era of Sabbath, as well as his recent solo effort "Thorns" on the newest episode of The Rock and Metal Profs.