"If you are a pop band, don't say you're a metal band. Poison and Warrant were about as metal as the Backstreet Boys."
About Geezer Butler
Geezer Butler — Life and Legacy
Geezer Butler, the iconic bassist and lyricist of Black Sabbath, is renowned for his profound impact on heavy metal music and culture. His lyrics often delve into themes of social justice, personal struggle, and existential contemplation, making him a distinctive voice in the genre. Butler famously stated, 'We were the first to write about social issues,' highlighting Black Sabbath's groundbreaking approach to integrating commentary on war, inequality, and the human condition into their music. Through his work, Butler challenges listeners to confront uncomfortable truths, as seen in his exploration of 'the darkness of the human soul.' This perspective not only reflects his own experiences but also resonates with a broader audience grappling with similar issues. His ability to articulate complex emotions and societal critiques has solidified his legacy as a key figure in rock history. Today, Butler's quotes continue to inspire musicians and fans alike, emphasizing the enduring relevance of his insights into the human experience. His contributions have not only shaped the sound of heavy metal but have also paved the way for future artists to address significant themes within their work.
Quote collection
Geezer Butler quotes (page 1 of 2)
25 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Jack Bruce, as soon as I saw him, it changed me. I didn't even know what bass players did until I saw Cream."
"To me, Sabbath was always just a really heavy blues band. That s all we were. We just took those blues roots and made them heavier."
"It doesn't matter who you vote for. It's still the same billionaires that run the world."
"Toward the later days of Sabbath, instead of going in and knocking out what songs we did in rehearsal, we would polish them to death."
"Black Sabbath was written on bass: I just walked into the studio and went, bah, bah, bah, and everybody joined in and we just did it."
"I don't feel a lack of hope. It's just disappointment that after all these years we're still fighting meaningless wars for a handful of people."
"The '80s were the worst period. You had these horrible pop bands growing their hair and calling themselves metal."
"When you see all of these bands citing you as influences, it makes you feel relevant"
"If you polish things too much, it loses the feeling"
"Without a doubt, Ozzy is the craziest person I've ever met. Son of Sam is a close second."
"Ozzy wanted to get us back together. It's been 20 years. We did a couple of songs during his farewell in 1992 and that got the ball rolling."
"I'd sort of dabbled in Black Magic, not practicing it, but I was interested in it. All these horrible things kept happening to me - a lot of my aunts and uncles started dying and I was seeing all these bloody things visiting me during the night."
"The Geezer album, Black Science, had a lot of keyboards and it did not work."
"To do the Ozzfest again would be great. I'd like to finish with a final Sabbath album. You always feel that it is still a challenge."
"I was so frustrated in Sabbath after the last few albums. I just didn't like the musical direction Sabbath was going in"
"I never picked a bass up before Sabbath started"
"What I used to play was rhythm guitar before I saw Jack Bruce. I said, That's what I want to do in life. He was definitely the main influence"
"I've been perfectly happily married for 25 years, and have a nice life. Inane things don't interest me."
"Lately, Ive been listening to some jazz albums. I love the new Pat Metheny album. John Coltrane. I still like good metal, though!"