Tony Iommi, the legendary guitarist and driving force behind BLACK SABBATH, has once again confirmed his intention to remix the band’s polarizing 1983 album, "Born Again." Speaking in a recent interview with Planet Rock’s Ian Danter, Iommi revealed that the master tapes for the album, which were long thought lost, have been recovered and transferred, paving the way for a potential future release with an updated sound.
The "Born Again" album holds a unique, albeit controversial, place in the BLACK SABBATH discography. It marked the sole studio outing for the band with legendary DEEP PURPLE vocalist Ian Gillan and was the final BLACK SABBATH studio album to feature drummer Bill Ward. Released in August 1983, the album arrived at a pivotal moment for the band, seeking to forge a new path after the departures of key members.
The Lost Tapes and the Path to Remixing
Iommi elaborated on the arduous journey to secure the necessary audio elements for the remix. "Yes, there is a plan," he stated, confirming the ongoing efforts. "To be honest, we couldn’t find those tapes for a long time. They disappeared. And I don’t know who located them at the end, whether it was Ralph [Baker], my manager, or who found them. But they were in some record company storage. And anyway, we’ve gotten them back and they were transferred. So they are ready to start work on."
The recovery of these tapes represents a significant hurdle overcome, a sentiment echoed by Iommi’s previous comments on the matter. In May 2024, during an appearance on SiriusXM’s "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk," Iommi had detailed the search: "Well, eventually we got the tapes, but we couldn’t find them for years. We didn’t know where they were. And [my manager] located somebody, and they were in a record [company’s], in their archives tucked away somewhere in one of the record companies… And so eventually we got them, and then we’ve had them, or [we are] having them transferred, ’cause obviously it’s tape. And so we’re having them transferred so we can have a look at that."
Addressing Fan Concerns and the Album’s Sonic Legacy
Despite the passage of four decades, the "Born Again" album continues to spark discussion among fans and critics alike. While some have grown accustomed to its distinctive, and often criticized, production, Iommi acknowledges the potential for dissent among the fanbase. "So many people have got used to" the album’s original sound, he remarked, including its "production flaws." He added, "Some of them liked it. And I’m sure if I do a remix on it, it’ll be, ‘Oh, no. It’s not as good as it was before.’"
However, Iommi remains resolute in his desire to rectify what he perceives as fundamental sonic issues. He explained that the discrepancy between the album’s sound in the studio during its creation and its final released version was stark. "When we actually did it and we heard it in a studio, it was great," he recalled. "And then we went on tour, and the next thing, it’s in the charts here, and we heard it. We thought, ‘God, it’s really muffly. What happened?’ Somewhere in the process along the way, something happened." This sentiment has been a recurring theme in discussions about the album’s production.
Ian Gillan’s Perspective: A "Spinal Tap" Echo
Ian Gillan himself has been an outspoken critic of the original mix. In May 2025, he shared his views with Igor Miranda of Rolling Stone Brasil, drawing a parallel to the iconic mockumentary "This Is Spinal Tap." "I think the songs [on the album] are great," Gillan stated. "I just thought it was ridiculous – the mix was outrageous… All you could hear – if you ever saw the movie ‘[This Is] Spinal Tap,’ then that’s the story of ‘Born Again.’ The bass level was so high, they couldn’t play it on the radio. So they’re gonna remix it."
Gillan’s frustrations with the final product were palpable, even leading to a dramatic gesture. In a November 2022 interview with Spain’s RockFM, he admitted, "I didn’t break it. I threw it out the window of my car." He further explained his disappointment: "I was disappointed. I didn’t have the mentality of all the guys in BLACK SABBATH. I loved it. I had a fantastic year; it was insane. But when we finished the mixes… I still have a cassette at my home of the monitor mixes of ‘Born Again,’ and it sounds fantastic – just on a cassette. And that’s the last thing I heard in the recording studio. When I heard the album, I went, ‘What is this?’ The bass rumble was a bit too much for me."
The "Born Again" Era: A Curious Chapter in BLACK SABBATH History
The genesis of "Born Again" was rooted in a period of transition for BLACK SABBATH. Following the departure of Ronnie James Dio and Vinny Appice, the band found themselves in search of a new vocalist. This search led them to Ian Gillan, a move that was both surprising and intriguing to the heavy metal landscape. The subsequent album and tour became a subject of much fascination, contributing to the lore that would later inspire elements of "This Is Spinal Tap."
The album’s creation itself was an unconventional process. Recording commenced in May 1983 at the Manor Studios in Oxfordshire. Produced by BLACK SABBATH and co-producer Robin Black, the album represented a departure from the band’s signature dark and brooding themes. Gillan’s influence brought a lighter, more narrative-driven approach to the songwriting. Tracks like "Trashed," inspired by a drunken joyride in Bill Ward’s car that resulted in a wrecked vehicle, and "Disturbing The Priest," a response to a local vicar’s complaint about the studio’s noise levels, exemplify this shift.
Chronology of the "Born Again" Project and Remix Efforts
- August 1983: BLACK SABBATH releases "Born Again," featuring Ian Gillan on vocals and Bill Ward on drums. The album garners mixed reviews but achieves commercial success, reaching No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart and charting in the US Top 40.
- Post-Release: Band members, including Tony Iommi and Ian Gillan, express dissatisfaction with the final mix of the album, citing issues such as overly prominent bass and a generally "muffled" sound compared to studio monitors.
- Early 2000s – 2010s: The master tapes for "Born Again" are believed to be lost, hindering any potential remixing efforts.
- November 2022: Ian Gillan discusses his disappointment with the original mix in an interview with RockFM, humorously recalling throwing a copy of the album out of his car window.
- May 2024: Tony Iommi reveals in an interview with SiriusXM’s "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that the lost master tapes have been located in record company archives and are being transferred.
- May 2025: Ian Gillan reiterates his hope for a remix, drawing parallels to "This Is Spinal Tap" and highlighting the album’s sonic shortcomings.
- Recent Interview (Planet Rock): Tony Iommi confirms the tapes are recovered and transferred, stating that work on the remix can now begin.
Broader Implications and Fan Reception
The planned remix of "Born Again" could offer a new perspective on an album that, despite its sonic criticisms, contains a wealth of strong material and represents a unique collaboration. For many fans, this remix represents an opportunity to finally hear the songs as they might have been intended, stripped of the production issues that have plagued the original release.
The "Born Again" album, while never achieving RIAA certification in the U.S., was the highest-charting BLACK SABBATH album in the United Kingdom since "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" at the time of its initial release. Its enduring presence in the band’s catalog, coupled with the rediscovery of other less-heralded periods like the Tony Martin era, suggests a growing appreciation for the diverse sonic explorations of BLACK SABBATH.
Iommi acknowledged this phenomenon: "A lot of SABBATH fans have rediscovered ‘Born Again’ in the four decades since it was originally released… It’s the same as the Tony Martin-era BLACK SABBATH stuff as well. People didn’t know of it at the time, and then it’s word of mouth that gets around and the Internet, and they get interested and eventually, they [go], ‘Oh, yeah, it’s good.’ And that’s what’s happened with ‘Born Again’ a little bit."
The potential for a remixed "Born Again" also speaks to the ongoing relevance and legacy of BLACK SABBATH. Even decades after their active recording career, the band’s catalog continues to be a source of interest and discussion, with fans eager to revisit and re-evaluate their seminal works. The success of the 2011 two-CD reissue, which included a live performance from the Reading Festival, further underscores this enduring appeal.
While the exact timeline for the remix’s release remains unconfirmed, the recovery of the master tapes and Tony Iommi’s renewed commitment signal a promising development for fans of this often-misunderstood chapter of BLACK SABBATH’s storied history. The project aims to address long-standing production grievances and present the powerful songs of "Born Again" with the sonic clarity they arguably deserve.
