Black Sabbath's 1981 Concert History

Black Sabbath was an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. The band initially performed under the names Polka Tulk Blues Band and later Earth, before adopting the name Black Sabbath in 1969. They became known for lyrical themes influenced by horror and the occult, as well as for the use of down-tuned guitars. Their first three albums, "Black Sabbath" and "Paranoid" (both 1970)...

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Black Sabbath had 48 concerts in 1981

Date Concert Venue Location
Dec 31, 1981
Black Sabbath / MORE
  Setlists
Eventim Apollo London, England, United Kingdom
Show Duplicate for Dec 31, 1981
Dec 21, 1981
Ten Years After / Black Sabbath
  Setlists
International Amphitheatre Chicago, Illinois, United States
Dec 20, 1981
Ten Years After / Alvin Lee And Ten Years After / Black Sabbath
  Setlists
International Amphitheatre Chicago, Illinois, United States
Dec 19, 1981
Ten Years After / Alvin Lee And Ten Years After / Black Sabbath
  Photos
Market Square Arena Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Show Duplicate for Dec 19, 1981
Dec 17, 1981
Ten Years After / Alvin Lee And Ten Years After / Black Sabbath Riverfront Arena Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Dec 16, 1981
Ten Years After / Alvin Lee And Ten Years After / Black Sabbath Nashville Municipal Auditorium Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Dec 15, 1981
Black Sabbath Omni Coliseum Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Dec 13, 1981
Black Sabbath Mobile, Alabama, United States
Dec 12, 1981
Black Sabbath Barton Coliseum Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Dec 10, 1981
Black Sabbath
  Photos
Mid-South Coliseum Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Dec 09, 1981
Black Sabbath / Alvin Lee
  Photos   Setlists
Louisville Gardens Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Dec 08, 1981
Ten Years After / Alvin Lee And Ten Years After / Black Sabbath Richfield Coliseum Richfield Township, Ohio, United States
Dec 06, 1981
Black Sabbath / Alvin Lee Band

"Mob Rules Tour"

Richmond Coliseum Richmond, Virginia, United States
Dec 05, 1981
Black Sabbath
  Setlists
Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Dec 04, 1981
Black Sabbath / Alvin Lee
  Photos   Setlists
The Spectrum Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Dec 03, 1981
Black Sabbath / The Alvin Lee Band

The Mob Rules Tour

  Photos   Setlists
Capital Centre Landover, Maryland, United States
Dec 01, 1981
Black Sabbath

Mob Rules Tour

  Photos
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium Buffalo, New York, United States
Nov 30, 1981
Black Sabbath Columbia, South Carolina, United States
Nov 29, 1981
Black Sabbath
  Photos   Setlists
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Nov 28, 1981
Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath. Alvin Lee. Mick Taylor

  Photos   Setlists
Toledo Sports Arena Toledo, Ohio, United States

Photos from 1981 View All 1981 Photos

Black Sabbath on Nov 29, 1981 [627-small]

Black Sabbath
Nov 29, 1981
 Columbus, Ohio, United States
  Uploaded by DrugsForMyEars

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Black Sabbath on Nov 20, 1981 [161-small]

Black Sabbath
Nov 20, 1981
 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  Uploaded by Richard Rhéaume

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Black Sabbath on Nov 20, 1981 [214-small]

Black Sabbath
Nov 20, 1981
 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  Uploaded by Richard Rhéaume

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Black Sabbath on Dec 10, 1981 [961-small]

Black Sabbath
Dec 10, 1981
 Memphis, Tennessee, United States
  Uploaded by zimtrim

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Black Sabbath / Alvin Lee on Dec 4, 1981 [491-small]

Black Sabbath / Alvin Lee
Dec 4, 1981
 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
  Uploaded by Daideo

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Black Sabbath on Dec 1, 1981 [334-small]

Black Sabbath
Dec 1, 1981
 Buffalo, New York, United States
  Uploaded by DrugsForMyEars

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Black Sabbath / AIIZ on Jan 19, 1981 [095-small]

Black Sabbath / AIIZ
Jan 19, 1981
 London, England, United Kingdom
  Uploaded by Vjbro

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Black Sabbath / AIIZ on Jan 19, 1981 [096-small]

Black Sabbath / AIIZ
Jan 19, 1981
 London, England, United Kingdom
  Uploaded by Vjbro

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Black Sabbath / AIIZ on Jan 19, 1981 [606-small]

Black Sabbath / AIIZ
Jan 19, 1981
 London, England, United Kingdom
  Uploaded by Vjbro

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Black Sabbath on Nov 21, 1981 [353-small]

Black Sabbath
Nov 21, 1981
 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
  Uploaded by zimtrim

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Black Sabbath / Alvin Lee on Dec 9, 1981 [804-small]

Black Sabbath / Alvin Lee
Dec 9, 1981
 Louisville, Kentucky, United States
  Uploaded by Glenn Carter

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Black Sabbath / The Alvin Lee Band on Dec 3, 1981 [232-small]

Black Sabbath / The Alvin Lee Band
Dec 3, 1981
 Landover, Maryland, United States
  Uploaded by Jim Hopkins

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Genres:

Rock
Metal
Hard Rock
Classic Rock
British
Blues Rock
UK
Album Oriented Rock (AOR)
Heavy Metal
English
Alternative Metal
Stoner Rock
Doom Metal
England
Heavy
Traditional Doom Metal
Birmingham
UK Doom Metal
Birmingham Metal
Proto Doom
Heavy Blues
Black Sabbath
Ominous
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Latest Setlist (07/05/2025):

Play YouTube Playlist
  1. Sabbra Cadabra
  2. War Pigs
  3. N.I.B.
  4. Iron Man
  5. Paranoid

View Concert

Concerts Per Year:

2025 3 concerts
2022 2 concerts
2021 3 concerts
2020 1 concert
2019 1 concert
2017 16 concerts
2016 95 concerts
2015 3 concerts
2014 33 concerts
2013 68 concerts
2012 13 concerts
2011 2 concerts
2010 1 concert
2008 14 concerts
2007 77 concerts
2005 47 concerts
2004 29 concerts
2001 37 concerts
2000 1 concert
1999 76 concerts
1998 20 concerts
1997 28 concerts
1996 1 concert
1995 94 concerts
1994 74 concerts
1992 63 concerts
1991 1 concert
1990 53 concerts
1989 63 concerts
1988 1 concert
1987 22 concerts
1986 49 concerts
1985 1 concert
1984 32 concerts
1983 82 concerts
1982 86 concerts
1981 48 concerts
1980 157 concerts
1978 106 concerts
1977 88 concerts
1976 47 concerts
1975 81 concerts
1974 57 concerts
1973 39 concerts
1972 85 concerts
1971 188 concerts
1970 196 concerts
1969 82 concerts
1968 20 concerts
See more attendees:

Comments & Reviews:

Aug 07, 2025

Hey fellow Sabbath fans,

I’m trying to track down more info about an epic moment that happened during Ozzfest on June 24, 1997 at Mile High Stadium in Denver.

During Black Sabbath’s performance of “War Pigs,” right when Ozzy sang “Satan laughing spreads his wings” and threw his arms in the air, a bolt of lightning struck—lighting up the sky and sending the crowd into a frenzy. I remember hearing it was caught on camera and even mentioned in a local newspaper (Rocky Mountain News or Denver Post), but I haven’t been able to find any footage or articles.

If you were there:

Do you remember that moment?

Did you see it happen?

Do you have any photos, video, or clippings from the show?

Was it ever shown on TV or published in the paper?

This moment has become part of Sabbath legend, and I’d love to help preserve it properly. Any memories or leads would be amazing!

Rock on 🤘

Jul 24, 2025

Black Sabbath did not show up for this gig.

Dec 02, 2020

Original line up, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Terry "Gezzer" Butler, Bill Ward

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