Gillan: Why I'm joining Sabbath By Chris Welch, Kerrang #40 A CLAP of thunder boomed over Soho when Black Sabbath called a press conference to announce the arrival in the ranks of a new singer - Ian Gillan. The thunderstorm typified the dark clouds of mystery which tend to hang over Sabbatarian activities, but this time most of the reporters marching into the Le Beat Route Club in Greek Street already knew that Gillan was the man set to replace American malcontent Ronnie James Dio. It was a 'new era' time in the history of the band, and in marched Ian, clutching a plate of sausage rolls, Tony Iommi looking magnificent in his huge black moustache and flashing eyes, and Geezer Butler, pondering the significance of it all. There was no sign of Bill Ward - but he is back in the band following the great purge of the Americans, Ronnie and drummer Vinnie Appice. The trio sat looking rather uncomfortable at the tables and microphone, while management, record company and press agents prayed that the assembled press would tear themselves away from the halves of lager and chicken legs and actually ask a few intelligent questions. "Ask them if Villa have been promoted," suggested one wag. "How's your voice, Ian?" called another. Eventually Ian sensed this would get us nowhere and plunged into an explanatory address. "What's happening is that I'm singing with the band and Bill Ward is officially back. We've been rehearsing for two weeks and we're all very excited. We've been writing a song a day and the plan is to go into the studios and then play some festivals in Britain but we can't say when." "Would that be in August - say around Bank Holiday?" asked the wag. Laughter and nods, from which we deduced they probably will be playing the Reading Festival. They will also be touring America and hope to get their new album out in September. "The idea is to get out on the road and do the business," said Ian, beaming from beneath his famous headband and mass of curls. "You can tell Geezer is very excited about it," he added as Geezer sat sphinx-like, observing proceedings. But Geezer became much more animated when I talked to him after the formalities at the microphone were over. What happened between Sabbath and Ronnie Dio? "He was a pretty moody person, " explained Geezer. "He also had a powerful personality and he was trying to take over the band. We've been together so long we are used to people being on each other's wavelengths. We've had our problems in the past but they have only been caused by changes in musical direction. We were very easy going with Ronnie and it was his last chance to make it big through us. But Ronnie and Vinnie began to working on a solo LP together - and we didn't know about it! It was while we were mixing our live album." Relations grew strained and, in the meantime, the original Sabbath boys kept in touch with their old drummer, Bill Ward, now living in L. A. "Bill had a small band that did clubs and bars. He'd been ill for a long time and got hepatitis back in 1976. Because of our hectic schedule he couldn't rest and it took it's toll. Then his mother and his father both died in the same year and Bill was going through a helluva time which we didn't really understand. In the end he had to go, but now he's had a rest and wants to play. It's a new era for the band and we're really looking forward to it. We've always been a touring band. It's in our blood. We have to do it. It's so funny, I used to think I would have packed it all in by the age of 25, but here I am at 33, still doing it!" Would Sabbath fans accept Ian Gillan out front? "that remains to be seen but we think he will fit in really well. Black Sabbath material really suits his voice. We've been jamming together and he blends in very well. We want to do an LP first for the band to establish itself. Ian comes from the same sort of musical background as us and we get on fine. Ronnie was doing too many things behind our backs." Did he turn up the vocal track on the Sabbath album while they were out of the studio? "Yeah," said Geezer. "We've always had a very heavy sound and we couldn't have the vocals drowning out the drums, bass and guitar! Ronnie denies he did it but, in fact, the engineer told us about it. When you are in the studio mixing all day you can't tell what's happening after a while. Ronnie does have a strong personality, but he overdid it in the end. You can't work that way. You have to get on with people. Ozzy slagged us to death after he left us but when we saw him after two years he came to the hotel at 4 am and we had a really good time and all the bad feelings was forgotten. It's sad when these upsets happen. We were genuinely pleased when Ozzy did so well in America." "I was doing the ironing when I hit my head on a beam!" Will Ian be happy singing old Sabbath material? "I'll do some obviously, and we've already tried out 'Paranoid'. When I was coming up with Deep Purple, Sabbath were coming up at the same time, so I'm from the same era really and we have the same musical influences." What happened to his last band and what was the current condition of his voice? (It was stated that Ian had to pack up singing, and the Gillan band, because of severe vocal trouble). "I had these nodes on ny vocal cords, but it's ok now" he said, not wishing to dwell too much on the subject. That band did 11 LP's and 19 tours and you have to keep fresh. When you've reached a peak with something I think is's a good idea to make a change. "Sabbath have been through a lot of musical changes too, basically its a rock/blues band. Don't call it Heavy Metal! The thing is we've all come through the same clubs and pubs, we have to have the same sense of humour - it's gonna be a great crack! I'm looking forward to a productive and exciting three years ahead."
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