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About

Genius Annotation

The guitar riff on this song is considered one of the most famous in rock history, and it is what the entire song was written around. And no, it’s not related to the Marvel character, who was created eight years earlier in 1963.

Via Time:

The alarming, dissonant guitar groan that kicks off “Iron Man,” eventually cohering into a primal five-note riff, struck lead singer Ozzy Osbourne as evoking “a big iron bloke walking about.”

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Black Sabbath say about "Iron Man"?
Genius Answer

Ozzy came up with the title “Iron Man” and I wrote it about this guy who’s blasted off into space and he sees the future of the world, which isn’t very good. Then he goes through a magnetic storm on the way back and is turned to iron. He’s trying to warn everyone about the future of the world, but he can’t speak, so everyone is taking the mickey out of him all the time, and he just doesn’t care in the end.

Geezer Butler

Credits
Produced By
Mixing Engineers
Lead Vocals
Production
Phonographic Copyright ℗
Recorded At
Regent Sound Studios and Island Studios (London, England)
Release Date
September 18, 1970
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