A piece of heavy metal history is finally coming to light. This is the release of a unique Iron Claw album featuring nothing but Black Sabbath covers — recordings that may well be the earliest Black Sabbath covers ever performed and documented.
The story begins on November 16, 1969, when a young Alex Wilson recorded Black Sabbath live at Rugmans Club in Dumfries, Scotland. Inspired by what they heard, Iron Claw immediately began incorporating Sabbath’s songs into their own set, performing and recording them months before Black Sabbath’s legendary debut and sophomore albums had even been released.
Included are historic versions of “Evil Woman,” “Wicked World,” and “Sleeping Village/Warning,” recorded before the release of Black Sabbath’s debut LP on February 13, 1970. Even more remarkable are Iron Claw’s performances of “Fairies Wear Boots” and “Walpurgis” — the early version of what would later become “War Pigs” — recorded on July 16, 1970, over two months before Paranoid hit the shelves.
These recordings capture a unique moment in time: teenagers from Scotland absorbing the birth of heavy metal in real time and becoming, arguably, the first band in history to publicly cover Black Sabbath. Long before other celebrated versions appeared, Iron Claw were already bringing these songs to the stage, preserving them on tape with raw energy and youthful passion.
For Sabbath fans, collectors, and students of heavy metal history, this is more than an album — it’s a missing chapter from the very origins of the genre.
TRACKS
Side 1: 1. Warpigs (Walpurgis) – 2. Fairies Wear Boots – 3. Wicked World
Side 2: 1. Evil Woman – 2. Sleeping Village / Warning – 3. Black Sabbath
