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No Singer? No Problem! Black Sabbath

  • Posted   by Spinner Staff
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Black Sabbath

Old Singer: Ozzy Osbourne
New Singers: Ronnie James Dio, Tony Martin, Ian Gillan, Glenn Hughes, Ray Gillen, David Donato

While none of them exploded – a fate that befell drummers for the fictional Spinal Tap – a half-dozen singers went down in flames trying to replace Ozzy, who split from the Sabs in 1979. Each had his advantages –- Dio looked like a hobbit, Martin sang like one – but Sabbath didn't rise from the catacombs until Ozzy returned to the fold 18 years later.

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pariah

You have to be retarded to say anyone but Ozzy was the best singer for Sabbath. Even the obscure songs with Ozzy are good.....shit Dio????? Fuck that saw Ozzy on the reunion and Dio previously and Sabbath wasn't the same without Ozzy.

October 30 2009 at 12:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Skip

This commentary is quite off base with regard to Sabbath & RJD. The 5 or so albums Sabbath did with RJD were all of a high quality, and distinctive from the Oz man. The tours with RJD, over a period of many years, were also quite successful. Sabbath & RJD represents a different "phase" of the band- perhaps not as successful ($$) as under Ozzy, but their albums still sold quite well, and the fans accepted Ronnie, as shown by the numbers associated with their tours.

October 25 2009 at 7:01 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
rock master1

what do idiots write this stuff? Ronnie James Dio was great for sabbath,do some research man!!!

September 19 2009 at 9:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Maverick

Okay, let's compare the quality of Ozzy and Dio:

Ozzy: sings with riff, big song: Iron Man.

Dio: sings across riff, big song: The Mob Rules.

Guess which one flows and sounds a HELL of a lot better?

September 16 2008 at 10:03 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Gen

Went down in flames? I love Ozzy, don't get me wrong. Sabbath just wasn't Sabbath without him. But to say that Ronnie James Dio helped ruin Sabbath? Dude, come on! Dio has one of the best voices in metal, second only to rob Halford and Bruce Dickinson and not even really second; more like a three-way tie. He invented the "horns" that we all throw up at a concert (called a moloch, I think he said and it is actually the evil eye or warding OFF the evil eye, depending on how you use it) and he is one of the best-loved metal icons EVER. Get off it, man. He may not be a replacement for Ozzy but he wasn't SUPPOSED to be. RJD does his own thing and he does it very well.

August 13 2008 at 10:13 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
gNR

Black sabbaths best cd was born again with Ian Gillen

June 06 2008 at 10:07 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Ham

Exactly guys. Ozzy was great; but Dio and the boys created a different sound; the ultimate metal lineup post 1975.

April 03 2008 at 2:27 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
widbill59

Dio - one of the best voices in metal! The first handful of Sabbath records with Ozzy were excellent, but to say they went down in flames with Ronnie James? Total horsecrap!! They might of sounded different but they rocked just as f'n hard. I don't think half of these boneheads at Spinner know what good music is anyhow. Think I'll go put on The Mob Rules and bang my head for awhile. Later!!!

April 03 2008 at 1:06 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
penguin

dio was and is the best and born again with gillan is great

April 02 2008 at 10:11 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Joe

Absolutely agree. In fact, Black Sabbath's reunion failed to produce a new studio album, because of $hOzzy's lack of ability or committment to the band. Now with Dio Black Sabbath is reborn as Heaven and Hell, had a successful tour last year and is recording a new album. The recording Heaven and Hell: Live at Radio City Music Hall and the collection Black Sabbath: The Dio Years has new material with Dio all metal fans should hear. And keep an eye out for the new album in '08 or early '09. Long live Black Sab ... uh, Heaven and Hell!

April 02 2008 at 9:48 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
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