The Black Sabbath Story - Vol. 1 - 1970-1978 [1991] - Region 0 DVD

Osbourne is irrepressibly present in the archive performance footage collected here, shot at various points between 1970 and 1978. The early stuff is especially interesting, proving beyond doubt that Sabbath--whether they realised it or not--had much more in common with the prototypical punks like The Stooges and the MC5, who were then starting to make waves in America, than they have with the uncountable long-haired and leather-trousered heavy metal bozos who have attempted to fill Sabbath's shoes since.

On the DVD: The Black Sabbath Story is presented in widescreen. Sound is available in Dolby 5.1 Surround or Dolby Digital. The menu of extras is a little confusing to negotiate, but includes further interviews with band members, a gallery of Sabbath albums, and a long re-telling of Sabbath's very early history by former manager Jim Simpson.--Andrew Mueller