The Precursors of Metal and Doom: 1960 - 1969

The following are bands that we either know influenced Black Sabbath or that we have good reason to think influenced them. For instance, during the early days of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne asked Toni Iommi if he had heard the just released debut by Led Zeppelin. Iommi responded that yes he had heard it and that is was very heavy. But, he said, "we can be heavier." And indeed they were...

1. Cream: Disraeli Gears (1967)
2. The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced (1967)
3. Blue Cheer: Vincebus Eruptum (1968)
4. Deep Purple: Shades of Deep Purple (1968)
5. Iron Butterfly: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (1968)
6. Steppenwolf: Self-titled debut (1968)
7. Coven: Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls (1969)
8. Jethro Tull: Stand Up (1969)
9. Led Zeppelin: Self-titled debut (1969)
10. Led Zeppelin: II (1969)
11. MC5: Kick out the Jams (1969)
12. High Tide: Sea Shanties (1969)
13. The Stooges: Self-titled debut (1969)
14. Vanilla Fudge: Near the Beginning (1969)