[1][2] In 1980, Black Sabbath co-headlined a number of the U.S. shows on their worldwide "Heaven & Hell Tour" with Blue Öyster Cult, at the suggestion of Sandy Pearlman, who was managing both bands at the time.

These shows became known as the "Black and Blue Tour" and were very well attended, often ranking in Billboard magazine's weekly "Top Boxoffice" charts.

[1][3][4] The two bands' October 17, 1980 performances at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Hempstead, New York were filmed and used as part of the December 6, 1980 episode of Don Kirshner's Rock Concert.

[5] The recorded footage was edited together into the concert film Black and Blue, which was released to theaters in 1981 after the conclusion of the tour.

Following its initial release, the film played for some time on the theatrical midnight movie circuit in the United States.