Rare 1978 Footage Emerges Of Black Sabbath Performing With Former Fleetwood Mac Singer Dave Walker

For decades, it remained one of the most elusive artifacts in heavy metal history—a visual record of the brief, strange moment when Black Sabbath was fronted by Dave Walker. Now, thanks to a recent archival discovery, fans can finally witness the short-lived lineup in action.

Earlier this month, previously unseen video footage surfaced on YouTube via user Brian Schaefer, capturing the Birmingham legends performing on the BBC Midlands program Look! Hear! in January 1978. The clip documents the only known televised appearance of the band featuring Walker, who stepped in to replace Ozzy Osbourne during a tumultuous period for the group.

In the newly restored video, the band performs a snippet of the classic “War Pigs” before launching into an early version of “Junior’s Eyes.” For historians and die-hard fans, the performance of the latter track is particularly fascinating; the lyrics sung by Walker differ significantly from the version that eventually appeared on 1978’s Never Say Die!, as Osbourne would completely rewrite the song upon his return to the band weeks later.

Walker was far from a novice when he joined the metal pioneers in late 1977. Born in Staffordshire, he had already built an impressive resume in the British blues-rock scene. He fronted The Redcaps in the early 60s, recorded three albums with Savoy Brown (Street Corner Talking, Hellbound Train, and Lion’s Share) in the early 70s, and served as the lead vocalist for Fleetwood Mac on their 1973 album, Penguin.

His tenure with Black Sabbath, however, was incredibly brief. Osbourne had quit the band in late 1977 during the strained writing sessions for their eighth studio album, citing burnout and unhappiness with the band’s direction. Walker was brought in by guitarist Tony Iommi—an old friend from their early days in Birmingham—to fill the void. The band began writing material and made the television appearance to promote their new direction.

However, just days before the band was set to enter the studio to record what would become Never Say Die!, Osbourne had a change of heart. The dismissal of Walker was swift and brutal.

In a 2014 interview with Classic Rock, Walker recalled the moment he was let go.

“One day I turned up where they were rehearsing near Evesham and they were having a meeting, after which Bill [Ward] told me, ‘We’re in, you’re out,’” Walker remembered. “No warning. I still don’t even know if Ozzy had agreed to come back then.”

Walker also noted that interpersonal dynamics likely played a role, hinting that friction between his wife and Bill Ward‘s wife may have accelerated his exit.

Following Walker‘s departure, Osbourne returned to complete Never Say Die!, though his second stint would last only until April 1979, when he was fired and replaced by Ronnie James Dio. Osbourne would go on to launch a massive solo career with Blizzard of Ozz in 1980.