Favorite Black Sabbath Singer

[DarkSide247]

Who's your favorite singer that worked with Black Sabbath? Mine is Ian Gillian, with Ozzy obviously close behind.

[afterstasis]

ozzy just barely beats out dio for me.

[Mystlyfe77]

As much as Dio, Gillan, and Halford (he filled in for like 3 days) rock, Ozzy has to get the nod. Sabbath just never sounded right without him.

[Rockbandfan23467]

Had to give The Voice of Rock a vote.

[WhiffleBallTony]

Ozzy. Sabbath ain't Sabbath without him.

[back_blows]

Ozzy's gloomy vocals fit Sabbath so well.

[Lord_Mhoram]

Dio then Glenn Hughes then Ozzy.

[TheMeatball]

Ozzy by a landslide. Not because he's a better singer (he's far behind in that ranking), but because Sabbath put out much better albums during their initial run with Ozzy singing.

[pbsfinest2000]

got to go with ozzy, i can watch live in paris over and over and over again.

[next jimmy page]

gillan

then ozzy

[ActionJackson]

The best music, by far, was made during the Ozzy era. In terms of actual singing ability, Gillan takes it easily (with Dio in second).

[Rockbandfan23467]

Someone make poll without Dio or Ozzy. I voted Glen for sympathy, and he's also The Voice of Rock.

[duckbutt86]

If I'm picking favorite vocalist off this list, than it's Dio. But if I'm picking for the vocalist within the context of Sabbath, it'd be Ozzy than Dio.

[TheCrimsonSaint]

Dio in first. Then everyone else. Then Ozzy.

[thedoorsdk]

Not only do I think that Dio is a better singer than Ozzy, I think Heaven and Hell is superior to every other Sabbath album.

[My name is Fez]

As much as Dio, Gillan, and Halford (he filled in for like 3 days) rock, Ozzy has to get the nod. Sabbath just never sounded right without him.

QFT. Ozzy made Sabbath what it is for me.

Dio wasn't bad at all though.

[The_Little_Buster]

Not only do I think that Dio is a better singer than Ozzy, I think Heaven and Hell is superior to every other Sabbath album.

To be fair put it into context though with the other albums, if they didn't exist Heaven and Hell would be a rather generic (albeit well crafted) album compared to other albums at the time as well as bands to come (then again without the earlier Sabbath albums you could argue there wouldn't be metal at all period).

[thedoorsdk]

I'm not denying the sheer genius of the early Black Sabbath stuff. I'm a HUGE Sabbath fan. I just think Tony Iommi really got to stretch out both as a songwriter and as a guitar player once Dio joined the band. Sabbath could only go so far with Ozzy, so it was a wise decision to move on.
As far as the Ozzy-era goes, I think Vol. 4, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, and Sabotage are the best; before that they were a little too simplistic and unpolished, after that they lost their drive. A change of pace was needed, which was what Dio brought to the group.
When I first listened to Heaven and Hell, I thought it was just another 80's metal album. But after repeated listens and complete absorption I've come to appreciate the layers of guitars and just how well-written the songs are; no more jagged, awkward transitions and rhymes like in the Ozzy days. Everything flows naturally and feels much more musical.

[AxlVanHagar]

I'm not denying the sheer genius of the early Black Sabbath stuff. I'm a HUGE Sabbath fan. I just think Tony Iommi really got to stretch out both as a songwriter and as a guitar player once Dio joined the band. Sabbath could only go so far with Ozzy, so it was a wise decision to move on.
.


My feelings exactly. Well said.

[Ultimatum]

Dio.

The man's 68 and sounds like he's still at his peak.