Another Day, Another Sabbath

1980 was the year in which the legendary Black Sabbath brought Ronnie James Dio into the fold, replacing Ozzy on vocals, and released the pivotal album, Heaven and Hell. I loved that record to death, playing it far more than any other Sabbath I may have had laying around at the time. In fact, Heaven and Hell was the first Sab album I ever owned. It certainly left an impression upon me, for I still rank Heaven and Hell as my favourite disc by the band. 

Even though the follow-up album Mob Rules didn't grab me quite the same way, it was still a powerful dose of quality metal. Songs like Turn Up the Night, Voodoo, Sign of the Southern Cross, and of course, the title track, were in constant rotation on my music player. The song Mob Rules even appeared in the animated film Heavy Metal. It's placement in the movie was perfect, augmenting a bloody battle that involved warriors armed with laser weapons, bows and arrows, and riding winged beasts. A jolly good time!

In 2007, Black Sabbath with Dio at the helm re-named themselves Heaven and Hell, then came to town to entertain me and my crew from work. It was quite the treat since I never thought I'd see the day when these guys would re-assemble and tour again. The boys rocked the house down, ploughing through all the greatest Dio-Sab collaborations from their three albums together (which included 1992's Dehumanizer, also a strong offering). Another favourite metal act of mine, Megadeth, opened that show with efficient, snarling flair, gnashing through a selection of their "hits". I could have watched Mega-Dave perform all night long, but he was really there to warm up the crowd for Sab.... er, Heaven and Hell.

There were other incarnations of Black Sabbath, one notable line-up presenting Ian Gillan from Deep Purple at the mic stand. He only stuck around for one album, 1983's Born Again, but it was a unique musical feast (which met with mixed reviews), boasting grinding, dark anthems like Trashed, Zero the Hero, Digital Bitch, and Disturbing the Priest. After Gillan departed, the vocals spot was a revolving door for several years, until Dio popped back in for the '92 album, and then in '97 the indestructible Ozzy re-joined his old comrades for another kick at the can.

As for Ronnie James Dio, he passed away on May 4, 2010. His musical legacy will live on, however, through all of his impressive recordings. And he will forever be remembered as the man who brought the "devil's horns" hand sign to heavy metal (and rock'n'roll in general). The hand sign has a variety of meanings in different cultures, but Dio knew of the Italian context, in which the sign is meant to ward off bad luck or evil. Most suitable in the metal music genre.

Rest in peace, Ronnie