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War Pigs

Updated: 12/11/2025, 2:07:11 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)
Global 200 (Billboard)
Chart (2014–2025)
Global 200 (Billboard)
Peak position
190
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)
Chart (2014–2025)
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)
Peak position
16
UK Singles (OCC)
UK Singles (OCC)
Chart (2014–2025)
UK Singles (OCC)
Peak position
47
UK Indie (OCC)
UK Indie (OCC)
Chart (2014–2025)
UK Indie (OCC)
Peak position
11
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)
Chart (2014–2025)
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)
Peak position
4
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)
Chart (2014–2025)
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)
Peak position
15
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)
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Region
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Certification
Platinum
Certified units/sales
30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)
United Kingdom (BPI)
Region
United Kingdom (BPI)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
400,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
‡ 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

  1. "Black Sabbath - War Pigs"
    https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Black+Sabbath&titel=War+Pigs&cat=s
  2. Black Sabbath and Philosophy: Mastering Reality
    https://books.google.com/books?id=Ek-yzX-jcU0C&pg=PT202
  3. Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop
    https://books.google.com/books?id=9emZAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT7
  4. Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath
    https://archive.org/details/ironmanmyjourney00iomm_0
  5. Reunion
  6. "Black Sabbath Bassist Geezer Butler Gets 'Paranoid'"
    http://www.noisecreep.com/2010/07/30/black-sabbath-bassist-geezer-butler-gets-paranoid/
  7. "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/
  8. Black Sabbath: Doom Let Loose: An Illustrated History
  9. The Ozzman Cometh liner notes, Epic Records, 11 November 1997.
  10. Black Sabbath: Doom Let Loose: An Illustrated History
  11. Diary of a Madman: Ozzy Osbourne: The Stories Behind the Songs
  12. As noted on the labels of early North American Warner Bros. Records pressings of Paranoid, (catalog no. WS 1887), releas
  13. Boris Schlatter: Ozzy Osbourne: In Zürich feilte Black Sabbath am Urknall des Hardrock [1] In: swissinfo.ch. 24 July 202
    https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/kultur/ozzy-osbourne-im-hirschen-z%C3%BCrich-feilte-black-sabbath-am-urknall-des-hardrock/89727416
  14. Billboard
    https://books.google.com/books?id=NQ0EAAAAMBAJ&q=Black+Sabbath+War+Pigs+jam&pg=PA14
  15. Guitar World
    http://www.guitarworld.com/article/100_greatest_guitar_solos_51100?page=0%2C0
  16. "Allmusic (((Paranoid > Overview)))"
    https://www.allmusic.com/album/paranoid-mw0000600570
  17. Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres
  18. Kerrang
    https://www.kerrang.com/the-20-greatest-black-sabbath-songs-ranked
  19. Louder Sound
    https://web.archive.org/web/20220328161454/https://www.loudersound.com/features/black-sabbath-40-greatest-songs/2
  20. Rock – Das Gesamtwerk der größten Rock-Acts im Check: alle Alben, alle Songs. Ein eclipsed-Buch
  21. The Irish Times
    http://www.irishtimes.com/news/delivering-a-radical-broadside-1.1115256
  22. "Arctic Monkeys – Arabella & War Pigs (Black Sabbath) @ Austin City Limits 2013"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4FysSXLSgQ&t=186
  23. "Vietnam Music Monday: "War Pigs""
    https://www.newseum.org/2015/11/30/vietnam-music-monday-war-pigs/
  24. "Reporting Vietnam@NewseumDC"
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1rcuJswnpVVQpQFQVElmD5
  25. Rolling Stone
    https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-heavy-metal-songs-1234688425/
  26. "Judas Priest Concert Setlists & Tour Dates"
    https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/judas-priest-6bd6bafa.html
  27. Judas Priest - Black Sabbath 'War Pigs' homage
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2Ap8L6B_mA
  28. Judas Priest - War Pigs
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB6jbWoGtlA
  29. YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhiByvCy7BE
  30. WhoSampled
    https://www.whosampled.com/Black-Sabbath/War-Pigs/covered/
  31. Metal Injection
    https://metalinjection.net/news/ozzy-finally-heard-t-pains-war-pigs-cover-why-didnt-you-guys-call-me
  32. TMZ
    https://www.tmz.com/2024/01/11/t-pain-ozzy-osbourne-war-pigs-cover-best/
  33. Revolver
    https://www.revolvermag.com/music/black-sabbaths-geezer-butler-approves-t-pains-war-pigs-cover
  34. Metal Injection
    https://metalinjection.net/new-music/t-pain-covers-black-sabbath-geezer-butler-approves
  35. Laughing Squid
    https://laughingsquid.com/amharic-war-pigs-sax-guitar/
  36. "Black Sabbath Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
    https://www.billboard.com/artist/Black-Sabbath/chart-history/GLO
  37. "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 31, 2025"
    https://sverigetopplistan.se/chart/215/?dspy=2025&dspp=31
  38. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
    https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20250801/7501/
  39. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
    https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-singles-chart/20250801/130/
  40. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
    https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/rock-and-metal-singles-chart/20140329/111/
  41. "Black Sabbath Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
    https://www.billboard.com/artist/Black-Sabbath/chart-history/ARK
  42. "New Zealand single certifications – Black Sabbath – War Pigs"
    https://www.radioscope.co.nz/2024/00/00/single-cert-search/
  43. "British single certifications – Black Sabbath – War Pigs"
    https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/18045-1046-1
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