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Geoff Nicholls

Geoffrey James Nicholls (29 February 1944 – 28 January 2017)[2] was an English guitarist and keyboardist, and longtime member of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath until 2004. Nicholls also played in the NWOBHM band Quartz before joining Black Sabbath. In the 1960s/early 1970s, Geoff played lead guitar for the Birmingham bands The Boll Weevils, The Seed, Johnny Neal and the Starliners, and played keyboards for World of Oz.

Black Sabbath

Nicholls in 1986

Nicholls was originally brought in as a second guitarist when Black Sabbath doubted whether they would even continue under that name. Nicholls then switched to bass when Geezer Butler left briefly, and then became the band's keyboardist upon Butler's return and the decision to keep the Sabbath name. Nicholls' first appearance on a Black Sabbath album was on Heaven and Hell (1980), and he was credited as keyboardist on every Sabbath release from that time until 13 (2013), although he was not an official member until 1986. He remained an official member until 1991, then regained member status from 1993 to 1996. He was an unofficial member once again since the reunion with Ozzy Osbourne in 1997. Although his main role with Sabbath was on the keyboard, Nicholls also played some rhythm guitar on the reunion tours, e.g., during Iommi's solo in "Snowblind" and a few tracks during the Headless Cross (1989) and Forbidden (1995) tours.[3]

Nicholls' touring involvement with the band ended when Adam Wakeman (a member of Ozzy Osbourne's solo band) was chosen to play keyboards during Sabbath's 2004 and 2005 tours as part of Ozzfest, and Scott Warren (Dio) handled keyboard duties on the 2007 Heaven & Hell tour.

Until his death, Nicholls played keyboards with former Black Sabbath singer Tony Martin, in his band Tony Martin's Headless Cross.[4] Nicholls had performed on Martin's first two solo albums Back Where I Belong and Scream, and their support tours.

Death

Nicholls died from lung cancer on 28 January 2017, aged 72, surrounded by his family.[5][6][7][8] "Geoff was a real true friend and supported me all the way for nearly forty years," said Tony Iommi. "I will miss him dearly and he will live in my heart until we meet again."[9]

Albums

Studio albums with Black Sabbath

Live albums

Compilation albums

Singles

Videos

References

  1. ^ "Geoff Nicholls Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  2. ^ Dave Lifton (28 January 2017). "Black Sabbath keyboardist Geoff Nicholls dies". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  3. ^ Elder, Bruce. "Biography: Geoff Nicholls". Allmusic. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  4. ^ Warrell, Richard (23 July 2012). "Tony Martin interview". Born Music Online. Retrieved 9 August 2012.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ Iommi, Tony (28 January 2017). "Former BLACK SABBATH Keyboardist GEOFF NICHOLLS Dies After Battle With Lung Cancer". Blabbermouth. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  6. ^ Peters, Mitchell (28 January 2017). "Geoff Nicholls, Black Sabbath Keyboardist, Dies at 68". Billboard. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  7. ^ Flanagan, Andrew (28 January 2017). "Geoff Nicholls, Longtime Keyboardist For Black Sabbath, Dies Aged 72". npr. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  8. ^ McGeorge, Alistair (28 January 2017). "Black Sabbath's Geoff Nicholls dies aged 68 as Ozzy Osbourne remembers 'great friend'". mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  9. ^ "RIP". Classic Rock #234. April 2017. p. 16.
  10. ^ a b "Black Sabbath Discography". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  11. ^ "Discographie Black Sabbath" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  12. ^ Steffen Hung. "Danish charts portal". danishcharts.dk. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  13. ^ a b "Discography Black Sabbath". The Official Finnish Charts. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  14. ^ a b "Discographie Black Sabbath" (in German). Media Control. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  15. ^ a b "Discography Black Sabbath" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  16. ^ "Discography Black Sabbath" (in Norwegian). VG-lista. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  17. ^ a b "Discography Black Sabbath". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  18. ^ a b "Discography Black Sabbath" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  19. ^ "Discography Black Sabbath" (in German). Swiss Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  20. ^ a b "Billboard charts". Billboard. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  21. ^ a b c d e "RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Black Sabbath". Riaa.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  22. ^ a b c d "Music Canada: Black Sabbath". Music Canada. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
  23. ^ "Discography Black Sabbath". Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  24. ^ "Chart Log UK : New Entries Update : 21.04.2007". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  25. ^ "You searched Albums and Singles for 'Devil And Daughter'". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  26. ^ "You searched Albums and Singles for 'Feels Good To Me'". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  27. ^ "Veckolista DVD Album – Vecka 22, 2002". Sverigetopplistan.se. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
    "Veckolista DVD Album – Vecka 33, 15 augusti 2003". Sverigetopplistan.se. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
    "Veckolista DVD Album – Vecka 35, 29 augusti 2003". Sverigetopplistan.se. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
    "Veckolista DVD Album – Vecka 48, 29 november 2013". Sverigetopplistan.se. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  28. ^ "Musiikkituottajat – Tilastot – Suomen virallinen lista – Musiikki DVD:t". Ifpi.fi. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  29. ^ Steffen Hung. "Austria Top 40 – Musik-DVD Top 10 6 December 2013". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  30. ^ "Ultratop Belgian Charts". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  31. ^ Steffen Hung. "Schweizer Hitparade – Musik-DVD Top 10 8 December 2013". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  32. ^ Steffen Hung (30 November 2013). "Dutch Charts". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  33. ^ "ARIA". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 3 January 2008.

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