The Black Sabbath album Tony Iommi called “awful”
Black Sabbath‘s career concluded with a picture-perfect send-off in 2017 at a sold-out hometown arena show in Birmingham. However, their story includes many significant setbacks that derailed them from their desired location.
Following the departure of Ozzy Osbourne in 1979, Black Sabbath managed to procure the talents of Ronnie James Dio, who filled the void that once seemed irreplaceable. Dio was a fine addition to the heavy rock outfit, and at first, it seemed to be a match made in heaven, but the good times didn’t roll forever. In 1982, a power struggle ensued over the mixing of Live Evil, and ultimately, Dio left the band.
While he’d later return to the fold, the rest of the 1980s proved to be a peculiar period in the history of Black Sabbath as they found themselves in the middle of an identity crisis. During this era, the role of their singer was like a conveyor belt. Unlike many who assumed the position, former Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan was fortunate enough to complete a studio album.
Gillan contributed to their 1984 album Born Again, which was supposed to kickstart a bright new chapter in their career. He had a pedigree in the music business that seemed to make a natural fit, but Tony Iommi was never convinced, and the final product only confirmed his fears.
Years later, while assessing the album with Guitar World, the guitarist divulged: “When we first put that line-up together [Ian Gillan, Iommi, Butler, Ward], it was only on paper – done purely by lawyers. Ian is a great singer, but he’s from a completely different background [Deep Purple], and it was difficult for him to come in and sing Sabbath material. To be honest, I didn’t like some of the songs on that album – and the production was awful.”
Iommi isn’t alone in holding negative feelings towards the production of Born Again, which is equally despised by Gillan. Before he heard the final mix, the singer was excited and believed they may have made a magical record, but those hopes dissipated instantly.
During an interview with Spain’s Rock FM, Gillan said of the album: “Look, I was disappointed. I didn’t have the mentality of all the guys in Black Sabbath. I loved it. I had a fantastic year; it was insane. But when we finished the mixes… I still have a cassette at my home of the monitor mixes of Born Again, and it sounds fantastic — just on a cassette. And that’s the last thing I heard in the recording studio. When I heard the album, I went, ‘What is this?’ The bass rumble was a bit too much for me.”
The former Deep Purple frontman compared the final mixes to a scene from Spinal Tap, highlighting how they were “unplayable on the radio”.
He added: “I was disappointed in the final production mix. I don’t know what happened between the studio and the factory, but something happened. So that was a disappointment.”
In another universe, if the production mixes were handled differently, Gillan could have been a long-term part of Black Sabbath’s plans. However, something needed to change following the disaster of Born Again, and Gillan’s head was put on the chopping block.
