Iron Man

About this song

Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" is widely regarded as one of the most famous metal songs of all time. Its signature guitar riff was described by Time Magazine as an alarming, dissonant groan that builds into a primal five-note figure, which lead singer Ozzy Osbourne said evoked a big iron bloke walking about. The song peaked at No. 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1972 and won a Grammy for Best Metal Performance in 2000. Its later association with the Marvel superhero came from its use in the Iron Man film in 2008 and the sequel's trailer two years later, even though the song took no inspiration from the character.

What it's about

The lyrics follow a man who travels into the future and finds the world has fallen into apocalypse. After he is turned to steel by a great magnetic field while trying to warn people in the present, he returns to a world that ignores him and takes revenge by causing the very apocalypse he had warned of.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 13 other songs, like “Iron Gland by Alice in Chains”.
• Covered 16 times, including “Iron Man by Cancer Bats”.
• Written by Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne.
• Produced by Rodger Bain.
• Recorded at Regent Sound Studios and Island Studios (London.