War Pigs

Updated: 5/24/2026, 7:21:10 PM Wikipedia source

"War Pigs" is an anti-war protest song by English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. It is the opening track from the band's second studio album, Paranoid (released in 1970).

Infobox

Released

18 September 1970 (1970-09-18)

Recorded

1970

Genre

Heavy metal stoner rock

Length

7:57

Label

Vertigo

Songwriter

Tony Iommi · Ozzy Osbourne · Geezer Butler · Bill Ward

Producer

Rodger Bain

Tables

2014–2025 weekly chart performance for "War Pigs" · Charts

Global 200 (Billboard)

Chart (2014–2025)

Global 200 (Billboard)

Peak position

190

Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)

Chart (2014–2025)

Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)

Peak position

UK Singles (OCC)

Chart (2014–2025)

UK Singles (OCC)

Peak position

UK Indie (OCC)

Chart (2014–2025)

UK Indie (OCC)

Peak position

UK Rock & Metal (OCC)

Chart (2014–2025)

UK Rock & Metal (OCC)

Peak position

US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)

Chart (2014–2025)

US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)

Peak position

Chart (2014–2025)	Peak position
Global 200 (Billboard)	190
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)	16
UK Singles (OCC)	47
UK Indie (OCC)	11
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)	4
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)	15

Certifications for "War Pigs" · Certifications

New Zealand (RMNZ)

Region

New Zealand (RMNZ)

Certification

Platinum

Certified units/sales

30,000‡

United Kingdom (BPI)

Region

United Kingdom (BPI)

Certification

Gold

Certified units/sales

400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Region

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)	Platinum	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)	Gold	400,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

Australian-charts
https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Black+Sabbath&titel=War+Pigs&cat=s
Black Sabbath and Philosophy: Mastering Reality
https://books.google.com/books?id=Ek-yzX-jcU0C&pg=PT202
Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop
https://books.google.com/books?id=9emZAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT7
Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath
https://archive.org/details/ironmanmyjourney00iomm_0
Reunion
"Black Sabbath Bassist Geezer Butler Gets 'Paranoid'"
http://www.noisecreep.com/2010/07/30/black-sabbath-bassist-geezer-butler-gets-paranoid/
"Geezer Butler Discusses Veganism, Religion, Politics, Surveillance, and Life Lessons"
https://web.archive.org/web/20190314044504/https://www.bryanreesman.com/2014/03/27/geezer-butler-discusses-veganism-religion-politics-surveillance-and-life-lessons/
Black Sabbath: Doom Let Loose: An Illustrated History
The Ozzman Cometh liner notes, Epic Records, 11 November 1997.
Black Sabbath: Doom Let Loose: An Illustrated History
Diary of a Madman: Ozzy Osbourne: The Stories Behind the Songs
As noted on the labels of early North American Warner Bros. Records pressings of Paranoid, (catalog no. WS 1887), releas
Boris Schlatter: Ozzy Osbourne: In Zürich feilte Black Sabbath am Urknall des Hardrock In: swissinfo . 24 July 2025. Ret
https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/kultur/ozzy-osbourne-im-hirschen-z%C3%BCrich-feilte-black-sabbath-am-urknall-des-hardrock/89727416
Billboard
https://books.google.com/books?id=NQ0EAAAAMBAJ&q=Black+Sabbath+War+Pigs+jam&pg=PA14
Guitar World
http://www.guitarworld.com/article/100_greatest_guitar_solos_51100?page=0%2C0
"Allmusic (((Paranoid > Overview)))"
https://www.allmusic.com/album/paranoid-mw0000600570
Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres
Kerrang
https://www.kerrang.com/the-20-greatest-black-sabbath-songs-ranked
Louder Sound
https://web.archive.org/web/20220328161454/https://www.loudersound.com/features/black-sabbath-40-greatest-songs/2
Rock – Das Gesamtwerk der größten Rock-Acts im Check: alle Alben, alle Songs. Ein eclipsed-Buch