Die Young

"Die Young"
Single by Black Sabbath
from the album Heaven and Hell
B-side	Heaven and Hell (live)
Released	December, 1980
Format	7"/12"
Recorded	Studio Ferber, Paris, France
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	4:41
Label	Vertigo/Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward
Producer	Martin Birch
Black Sabbath singles chronology
"Neon Knights" (1980) "Die Young" (1980) "The Mob Rules (1981)
Heaven and Hell track listing "Wishing Well" (5) "Die Young" (6) "Walk Away"" (7) The Dio Years track listing "Heaven and Hell (3) "Die Young" (4) "Lonely Is the Word" (5) Audio sample file info · help

"Die Young" is a single by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath from their 1980 album, Heaven and Hell.

The lyrics were written by Ronnie James Dio, and concern consumerism and the futility of life in the modern era- the song title comes from the expressed desire to 'die young'. The song is notable for its middle section which features keyboard and soft high-register vocals.

It was performed live during almost all Dio era concerts and later on sometimes with Ian Gillan and Tony Martin on vocals. Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi customarily plays a lengthy instrumental introductory passage to the song when performing live with heavy atmospheric keyboard backing, a practice dating back to the Tony Martin era Sabbath. A live rendition can be heard on Live from Radio City Music Hall, recorded in 2007 by Heaven & Hell, a band formed of past members of Black Sabbath from the Mob Rules and Dehumanizer era lineups.

In honour of ex-Vio-Lence manager Debbie Abono and Ronnie James Dio's passing, Machine Head's Robb Flynn recorded and released for free online a cover of Die Young.^[1] Abono managed Flynn and Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel when they were members of the Vio-Lence.^[2]

Track listing

UK 7" single (Vertigo #SAB 3)

A. Die Young

B. Heaven and Hell (live)

Chart positions

Year	Chart	Position
1980	UK Singles Chart	41

References

1. ^ http://www.machinehead1.com/news.html
2. ^ "MACHINE HEAD's ROBB FLYNN Remembers DEBBIE ABONO". BlabberMouth. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=140200.