Iron Man (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Iron Man


Cover size =
Caption =
Artist = Black Sabbath
from Album = Paranoid
A-side =
B-side = "Electric Funeral"
Released = October 1971
Format = 45 RPM
Recorded =
Genre = Heavy metal
Length = 3:33 (Single)5:56 (Album)
Label = Vertigo
Warner Bros. (US/Canada)
Writer = Iommi, Osbourne, Butler, Ward
Producer = Rodger Bain
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single = "Paranoid"
This single = "Iron Man"
Next single = "War Pigs"
Misc =
prev = "Planet Caravan"
prev_no = 3
next = "Electric Funeral"
next_no = 5

"Iron Man" is a song by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath from their second studio album "Paranoid" released in 1970. It was later included on their initial greatest hits compilation "We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll" (1976), as well as all subsequent greatest hits compilations. Many musical acts have recorded cover versions of the song, and the song is frequently used and referenced during sporting events and in television shows and films.

Details

The title of the song was conceived by Ozzy Osbourne. Geezer Butler took to writing the lyrics around the title, but was careful not to make it about the comic book character so as to avoid a copyright infringement lawsuit. Thus making the song telling the story of a vengeful villain instead of a superhero. Nonetheless, instrumental sections of the song were used in the 2008 feature film "Iron Man" at the beginning of the credits, and in the television commercials.

Other releases and uses in pop culture

*There have been many re-releases of "Iron Man". It was also a B-side for the 1981 picture disc single "Paranoid".
*Sir Mix-a-Lot sampled "Iron Man" as a rap song in the late '80s on his album "Swass".
*Busta Rhymes used elements of the song in the track "This Means War!!" (featuring Ozzy Osbourne as guest vocalist) on his "" album.
*Swedish band The Cardigans covered the song on their "First Band on the Moon" album.
*Marilyn Manson used the main riff much higher for their song "Sam Son of Man".
*Though the song is not related to the comic book character, it was used (without the lyrics, only the playback) in the closing credits of the 2008 Marvel Studios movie "Iron Man". The song, with lyrics available, is the background music for the first level of the "Iron Man" game.
*In the Futurama episode 'Anthology of Interest I' the distinctive riff from Iron Man is quickly heard when Giant Bender flies to Earth.
*In the movie "School of Rock", Dewey Finn (Jack Black) uses "Iron Man" as the first song to teach his class, in particular to guitarist Zack Mooneyham (Joey Gaydos Jr.).
*"Iron Man" is a playable song in the game "Guitar Hero".
*"Iron Man" shows up in the end of a "George Lopez Show" episode when George requests a mariachi band to play it.
* Bob Rivers wrote the parody "I Am Santa Claus". ["I Am Santa Claus" [http://www.bobrivers.com/player/player.asp?atype=tunes&ID=653 (audio)] ; [http://youtube.com/watch?v=CRW2poUfJ34 (video)] ]
*A remix of the song was used for the soundtrack of Forza Motorsport.
*In 1983, a new tag team in Georgia Championship Wrestling, the Road Warriors, used this song as their entrance music. *The beginning of the song was featured in commercials for the Nissan Titan in 2007.
*In an episode of "The Simpsons", Nelson adlibs the riff as a campaign song for school president. His version goes "I am Iron Man, nah nah nah nah nah nah nah, vote for me!"
*In the Gilmore Girls episode "The Deer Hunters", Drella starts playing "Iron Man" on her harp during a function at the Independence Inn; Lorelai catches her out, telling her "No Black Sabbath, no Steely Dan, no Boston, and no Queen."
*In the King of the Hill episode "A bill is broken" The song's beginning is played during a flashback of Bill at a big foot-ball game.
*The Bad Plus covered the song on their [2004] album "Give" .
*The Butthole Surfers has a song entitled "No,I'm Iron Man" on their album pioughd,alltough it has nothing to do with the song.

Awards & Chart Position

* In 2000, 30 years after the song was first released, it won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.
*"Iron Man" also won spot #310 in "Rolling Stone"'s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
* "Iron Man" was awarded the #1 spot on VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs in 2006. ["VH1 40 Greatest Metal Songs", 1-4 May 2006, "VH1" Channel, reported by [http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/103446/episode_this_list.jhtml VH1.com] ; last accessed 2008-07-15.]
* The song peaked at #52 in 1972.

Personnel

*Ozzy Osbourne - vocals
*Tony Iommi - lead guitar
*Geezer Butler - bass guitar
*Bill Ward - drums

References

ee also