Producer(s) Rodger Bain | ||
Released 13 February 1970 (1970-02-13) Genre Heavy metal, blues rock Length 4:24 album version
4:46 studio outtake Label Vertigo (UK)
Warner Bros. (US) Writer(s) Butler/Iommi/Osbourne/Ward | ||
"The Wizard" is a song by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, taken from their 1970 album Black Sabbath. It is the second track on the record. The song was composed by all four members of the group and was produced by Rodger Bain."The Wizard" was the B side to the title track of the band's second album Paranoid.
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Information
"The Wizard" is about a wizard who uses his magic to encourage people he encounters. In a 2005 interview with Metal Sludge, Black Sabbath bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler said the song's lyrics were influenced by the wizard Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings. It was also believed to be about the band's drug dealer at the time.
Personnel
Covers
The song was covered by Bullring Brummies for the Black Sabbath tribute album Nativity in Black..
The song was covered by Zakk Wylde's band Pride and Glory on the second disc of the reissue of Pride and Glory. Wylde had also been a member of Ozzy Osbourne's solo band at the time.