Home News Classic Rock News 39 Years Ago: Black Sabbath’s ‘Mob Rules’

39 Years Ago: Black Sabbath’s ‘Mob Rules’

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Against all odds, Black Sabbath survived the departure of original frontman Ozzy Osbourne and rose from the grave to create the heralded 1980 album Heaven and Hell with new vocalist Ronnie James Dio. The next year, they proved that lightning could strike twice, and this time they did it without drummer Bill Ward, who struggled from severe substance problems and was replaced by Vinny Appice in the middle of the Heaven and Hell tour. At first, the transition was a major challenge, but gradually the band acclimated to their new drummer.

“I was so used to playing with Bill, it was hard for me,” guitarist Tony Iommi told me in 2009. “I would look at Vinny’s kit and it was a quarter of the size of Bill’s kit. It just looked absolutely ridiculous. He had this little baby kid of drums. And I just went, ‘Fucking hell.’ But Vinny plays really well and I was amazed that he managed to pull it off.”

Read More: 39 Years Ago: Black Sabbath Release ‘Mob Rules’ |