Black Sabbath’s First Stateside Concert was in New Jersey

Written By Mike Greenblatt
Black-Sabbath-Far-Out-Magazine

Early publicity shot from Vertigo Records 1969 (from Far Out Magazine)

The date was October 30, 1970. Black Sabbath toured the states for the first time and the first gig was in New Jersey at Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) in Gloucester County. After sets by The James Gang, Jethro Tull and Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath rolled in at around 11:30 and proceeded to blow out the power in the gym, throughout the campus and across the entire neighborhood (according to a Rowan U post). Ozzy was 21. Although there is no known footage of that night, check the video below for Sabbath’s “War Pigs” just two months later. We here at The Jersey Sound are saddened by the loss of Ozzy Osbourne. 

Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath's first gig in America was at Glassboro College in Gloucester County.

Advertisement
Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

Next

Biscuit Rouse To Honor Buddy Miles