Black Sabbath's "N.I.B."

[snopes]

Comment: The song NIB by Black Sabbath has historically been explained to
mean "Nativity in Black." Recently however someone has claimed that the
song referred to the drummers gotee. What is the real explanation behind
the acronymn NIB?

[kjbrasda]

I don't think any of the band members had a goatee around the era of NIB

[kjbrasda]

a BS fan sites with pictures
http://members.tripod.com/~geezerbutler/bsbio.html

BS official site, 1970 promo photo, the album N.I.B. is on was released in 1970. More photos from around the same year.

[kjbrasda]

The BS site also lists this in thier band FAQs, but the link from the main site also includes the disclaimer that the FAQs are not verified by the band.

"The irony about 'N.I.B.' is that everyone thinks it means 'Nativity In Black' and it doesn't.
We were all stoned in Hamburg and Bill used to have this really long, pointy beard and
I said, 'Hey, Bill, you look like a pen nib!' So when Geezer said,
'What we going to call this new song?', I said, 'Oh, call it 'N.I.B'" - Ozzy
"And we used to call Bill 'Nib' all the time then - Nibby Ward!" - Tony

[Chris J]

I have a VHS copy of The Black Sabbath Story Volume One (Warner Reprise Video 1991, released on DVD by EMI 2002) in which lyricist and bassist Geezer Butler confirms the "pen nib" account. I won't link to it but it's right around 8 minutes in.

[smackmac]

Originally Posted by kjbrasda

"The irony about 'N.I.B.' is that everyone thinks it means 'Nativity In Black' and it doesn't.
We were all stoned in Hamburg and Bill used to have this really long, pointy beard and
I said, 'Hey, Bill, you look like a pen nib!' So when Geezer said,
'What we going to call this new song?', I said, 'Oh, call it 'N.I.B'" - Ozzy
"And we used to call Bill 'Nib' all the time then - Nibby Ward!" - Tony

I read this in a book on Sabbath. I'll try to find it and put up a link.

N.I.B. is my favorite Sabbath song. However, "Paranoid" was the first song I sang to hours old son, because it was the only song I remembered the words to. Not that anyone cares...

[Troberg]

I'll go off topic a while here.

There is a tribute album named Nativity in Black, with, among others, Type 0 Negative, 1000 Homo DJ's and Sepultura. I usually don't like tribute albums, they tend to be bands with no talent trying to sell on someone else's fame, but this one is different. If you like Black Sabbath, get it. It's excellent!

[cdav1313]

Originally Posted by Troberg

I'll go off topic a while here.

There is a tribute album named Nativity in Black, with, among others, Type 0 Negative, 1000 Homo DJ's and Sepultura. I usually don't like tribute albums, they tend to be bands with no talent trying to sell on someone else's fame, but this one is different. If you like Black Sabbath, get it. It's excellent!

There are actually two "Nativity in Black" Black Sabbath Tribute Albums (Vol. 1 & 2) Both are very good. I'm usually not big on tribute albums especially when most of the bands doing the covering are unknown (and for good reason).

For any Sabbath/Metal fans interested, Vol. 1 highlights:

White Zombie - Children of the Grave
Megadeth - Paranoid
Bullring Brummies (Rob Halford, Geezer, and Bill Ward) - The Wizard
Bruce Dickenson (from Iron Maiden) with Godspeed - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (excellant!)
Faith No More - War Pigs

Vol. 2 Highlights:
Godsmack - Sweet Leaf
Megadeth - Never Say Die (excellant!)
SOAD - Snowblind
Pantera - Electric Funeral
Primus w/Ozzy - N.I.B.
Slayer - Hand of Doom
Busta Rhymes - Iron Man

[smackmac]

Originally Posted by cdav1313

Vol. 2 Highlights:
Godsmack - Sweet Leaf
Megadeth - Never Say Die (excellant!)
SOAD - Snowblind
Pantera - Electric Funeral
Primus w/Ozzy - N.I.B.
Slayer - Hand of Doom
Busta Rhymes - Iron Man

This is the volume I have. It is good.

Back OT, I thought I read that NIB was Bill Ward's nickname, but as I have been thinking about it, I can remember Ozzy actually saying/slurring it. So it was probably on a video compilation or something like "Don't Blame Me", an interview or series of interviews with Ozzy. It's been a while since I've seen it, so I may be wrong.