Ian Gillan in Black Sabbath

[Ben Fletcher]

So how do the musical historians of ARfm judge Ian Gillan's contribution to Black Sabbath - Born Again the 1983 album that saw hits such as Zero the Hero, Trashed, and Digital Bitch.

Rant and rave is welcome.

[Breezey]

I voted for "I didn't know he did an album with them but then I don't own an anorak" (sorry it didn't say that last bit ;D )

I was going to vote for "Ian who?"... but I do actually know who Black Sabbath are so couldn't really.

So which band was Ian Gillan in .....Pink Floyd?

I'll be useless tomorrow night won't I?

[Lindsay]

Ian Gillan in Black Sabbath was as appealing as a s**t sandwich and Born Again was crap.

Post Ozzy the best vocalist for Sabbath has been Glenn Hughes. He was fantastic on vocals on the Seventh Star album, Seventh Star was meant to be a Tony Iommi solo album, the record company had other ideas though and forced it to be released as Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi. Seventh Star is superb and IMHO the best post Ozzy Sabbath album.

As far as Ozzy era material the best vocalist for Sabbath is OZZY period, nuff said.

[Janette]

Well I put "Ian who, Black who".......... altho I have heard of 'em, and I think I may have seen Ian Gillan live. Has he got something to do with Deep Purple? If so, I saw him when Thunder supported a couple of years ago (I only went for Thunder!) - but TBH they ain't my cuppa char......

That lot ie Black Sabbath, Led Zep, Deep Purple, just don't do it for me - sorry! ;D

[shaggy]

gillan was ok but he could have been better. much better suited though to fronting Purple

[metalhead]

janette said:

That lot ie Black Sabbath, Led Zep, Deep Purple, just don't do it for me - sorry!

I'll second that janette. Just not my thing at all.

Dio - Best vocalist for Black Sabbath by a mile

[shaggy]

i liked Dio and Tony Martin fronted sabbath line ups. Ozzy will always be regarded as the favourite. I grew up listening to all those old school early 70s rock bands cos my big bruvver was into all that (as well as my older male cousins down our street). So rock was always around me as a young impressionable 6yr old.

[Nick from Cheshire]

Only vocalist for Sabbath was Ozzy...accept no substitutes ;D

Gillan`s a good vocalist, but not right for the Sabs

[RalphR]

I agree entirely with Nick, can only be Ozzy.
Shaggy, while were on the subject of Sabbath, guess who Tony I supports

["Rock On!" with Shane Carlson]

I once interviewed Ian Gillan the rock radio show I used to present years ago...he was one of the nicest guys you could wish to meet!

[Ben Fletcher]

Agreed, I interviewed him (and Roger Glover..and later Ian Paice ) and he was a very pleasant chap. You could tell he has and continues to be well looked after just by looking at the people running around after him but he was a friendly guy and above all answered all my questions. I still can't get over the fact that I met, shook hands and conversed with the guy!

I know there are some who post on this board that might think differently of Ian Gillan however.....

[Boatman]

I saw Sabbath when Ozzy was still with them at a gig in Birmingham, circa Never Say Die, it was an amazing experience!

The last Sabbath album I bought was Tyr which I enjoyed at the time.

I found that the Ozzy solo stuff was closer to the heart of the Sabbath I enjoyed. In fairness though any legendary band that has such a unique vocalist is always going to struggle to keep the old fans with them and the band evolves and moves on.
So I didn't really notice when Ian Gillan joined them as I wasn't paying attention and voted accordingly.

That said, I have no problem with Ian as a vocalist.

I enjoyed a selection of Deep Purple, Led Zep and Ozzy era-Sabbath tracks. Like a lot of bands, I found these groups used to have a few outstanding tracks on each album but I didn't always enjoy every track on every album.