Geezer Butler Net Worth

Geezer Butler, the legendary English musician and songwriter, has an estimated net worth of $70 million. Best known as the bassist and primary lyricist for the pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, Butler’s creative genius helped shape the foundation of modern metal music. His dark, philosophical lyrics and heavy, downtuned bass lines became the backbone of Black Sabbath’s revolutionary sound. Over the decades, Butler’s influence has transcended generations, solidifying his place as one of the most important figures in rock and metal history.

Geezer Butler Net Worth	$70 Million
Date of Birth	July 17, 1949
Place of Birth	Birmingham, England
Profession	Musician and Songwriter

Table of Contents

Early Life

Born Terence Michael Joseph Butler on July 17, 1949, in Birmingham, England, Geezer grew up in a working-class Irish Catholic family as one of seven children. Despite financial hardships, his upbringing was filled with warmth and creativity. He attended Holte Grammar School, where his fascination with music began.

As a teenager, Butler learned to play on a battered acoustic guitar with only two strings. His early influences included The Beatles and the blues, but his musical interests soon took a darker turn, inspired by mysticism, literature, and social issues — themes that would later define Black Sabbath’s haunting lyrical tone.

In 1965, he joined his first band, The Ruums, though the group dissolved after a few gigs. Two years later, he teamed up with Ozzy Osbourne to form The Rare Breed, marking the beginning of a musical partnership that would change the landscape of rock forever.

Rise with Black Sabbath

In 1968, Butler and Osbourne joined forces with guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward, forming the band that would soon be known as Black Sabbath. Originally called Polka Tulk Blues Band, then Earth, the group adopted the name Black Sabbath in 1969 — inspired by a horror film of the same name.

With their self-titled debut album Black Sabbath (1970), the band introduced a darker, heavier sound that broke new ground in rock music. Butler’s bass playing and lyricism gave the music depth, exploring themes of war, spirituality, and human struggle.

That same year, the band released “Paranoid”, which topped the UK charts and produced timeless hits such as War Pigs, Iron Man, and Paranoid. Their subsequent albums — Master of Reality (1971), Vol. 4 (1972), and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973) — cemented their reputation as heavy metal pioneers.

Throughout the 1970s, Butler’s writing and musicianship helped define the genre. His downtuned bass and introspective lyrics created the dark, doomy aesthetic that became synonymous with metal.

Departures, Reunions, and Later Success

Black Sabbath went through numerous lineup changes over the decades. After frontman Ozzy Osbourne was dismissed in 1979 due to substance abuse issues, Butler left and rejoined the band several times. Despite the turmoil, he continued to be a vital creative force, contributing to albums such as Heaven and Hell (1980), Born Again (1983), and Dehumanizer (1992).

In the 1990s, Butler reunited with the original lineup to record Reunion (1998), and once again in 2011 for the band’s final studio album, 13 (2013), which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Black Sabbath’s final world tour, The End Tour, concluded in early 2017 with an emotional farewell concert in Birmingham — the city where it all began.

GZR and Other Musical Projects

Beyond Black Sabbath, Butler explored various side projects that showcased his musical versatility. In the mid-1990s, he formed the heavy metal band GZR (also stylized as geezer), releasing albums like Plastic Planet (1995), Black Science (1997), and Ohmwork (2005). These records allowed him to experiment with contemporary metal sounds while staying true to his dark lyrical themes.

In 2006, he co-founded the supergroup Heaven & Hell with Tony Iommi, Ronnie James Dio, and Vinny Appice. The band toured extensively and released The Devil You Know (2009), a critically acclaimed album that honored Dio’s powerful vocals and Sabbath’s heavy roots.

From 2018 to 2019, Butler joined Deadland Ritual, a short-lived hard rock supergroup featuring Franky Perez, Steve Stevens, and Matt Sorum. The band released two singles — Down in Flames and Broken and Bruised — before disbanding.

Collaborations with Ozzy Osbourne

Butler has occasionally collaborated with Ozzy Osbourne outside of Black Sabbath. He played bass on Ozzy’s live EP Just Say Ozzy (1990), the live album Live & Loud (1993), and his studio album Ozzmosis (1995). Their enduring partnership highlights the deep musical chemistry and mutual respect that has defined their relationship for over five decades.

Personal Life

Geezer Butler’s personal life reflects his thoughtful and introspective nature. His first marriage was to Georgina, his high school sweetheart, though they later divorced. He later married Gloria Butler, with whom he shares two sons, Biff and James.

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A passionate advocate for animal rights, Butler became a vegan in the 1990s and is an outspoken supporter of ethical living. He is also a lifelong Aston Villa Football Club fan and enjoys literature and philosophy — interests that often influence his songwriting.

In 2023, Butler released his autobiography, Into the Void: From Birth to Black Sabbath – And Beyond, offering fans a candid look into his life, career, and the evolution of heavy metal.