BLACK SABBATH legend TONY IOMMI has confirmed that plans to remix the band’s controversial 1983 album Born Again are still moving forward! The legendary guitarist has revealed that the long-lost original recording tapes have finally been recovered and transferred, meaning work can potentially begin on restoring the album’s sound. And with both Iommi and former BLACK SABBATH vocalist IAN GILLAN having expressed frustration over the record’s notoriously muddy production, fans could finally get to hear the album as the musicians originally intended!
Get ready, BLACK SABBATH fans, because one of the most unusual and controversial albums in heavy metal history could be getting a long-overdue sonic makeover! 🎸💀🔥
More than four decades after its original release, Born Again remains one of the most fascinating records in BLACK SABBATH’s extraordinary catalogue.
Released in 1983, it brought together three members of the band’s classic lineup with DEEP PURPLE frontman Ian Gillan, creating one of the most unexpected collaborations in heavy metal history.
The album featured crushing guitar riffs, dark atmospheres and Gillan’s unmistakable vocals.
But despite the quality of the music, there was one enormous problem.
The finished album sounded nothing like the version the musicians remembered hearing in the recording studio.
Its muffled production, overpowering low frequencies and unusual mix became the subject of criticism almost immediately.
Now, Tony Iommi is determined to revisit the recordings and see whether modern mixing technology can finally do the songs justice.
And importantly, the original tapes are no longer missing!
🎸 TONY IOMMI – “We’re Definitely Gonna Give It A Go!”
Speaking during a new interview with Planet Rock presenter Ian Danter, Iommi was asked whether he still intended to revisit Born Again.
The legendary guitarist confirmed that the idea remains very much alive.
“Yes, there is a plan.”
Iommi explained that one of the biggest obstacles had been locating the album’s original multitrack recordings.
For years, nobody seemed to know where the tapes had ended up.
The situation prevented the musicians from attempting a proper remix.
However, the missing recordings were eventually discovered in record company storage.
According to Iommi, he isn’t entirely certain who located them, although his manager Ralph Baker may have been involved.
The important news is that the recordings have now been recovered.
Even better, the material has been transferred from the original tapes, allowing the project to move towards its next stage.
And Iommi has made it clear that he still wants to proceed.
“We’re definitely gonna give it a go.”
For fans who have spent decades hoping to hear a clearer version of Born Again, that is encouraging news.
However, the remix has not yet been confirmed as completed, and no official release date has been announced.
💀 The Original ‘BORN AGAIN’ Master Tapes Were Missing For Years!
One of the most remarkable aspects of the story is the mystery surrounding the original recordings.
When Born Again was recorded in 1983, the musicians worked with analogue tape technology.
Unlike modern digital recording sessions, where individual tracks can be stored and copied relatively easily, older recordings relied on physical reels of magnetic tape.
Those tapes contain the separate musical performances needed to create a new mix.
Without them, a producer cannot simply go back and independently adjust every guitar, drum, bass and vocal part.
That was the problem facing Iommi.
Although remastered versions of Born Again had been released over the years, the missing original recordings prevented a complete remix.
For a long time, it appeared that the opportunity might have been lost.
But the tapes were eventually located in a record company’s archives.
They have since been transferred, preserving the material and making it possible to examine the recordings using modern equipment.
It’s an important development.
For the first time in years, the musicians have the essential recording material needed to attempt a genuine remix.
And for an album whose original production has divided listeners for more than four decades, that could make an enormous difference.
🔥 “GOD, IT’S REALLY MUFFLY!” – IOMMI Recalls Hearing The Finished Album
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Born Again is that BLACK SABBATH were reportedly happy with its sound during the recording sessions.
According to Iommi, the album sounded powerful and impressive when the musicians listened to it in the studio.
The band subsequently left to begin touring.
But when they finally heard the commercially released version, their reaction was very different.
Iommi recalled:
“God, it’s really muffly. What happened?”
The guitarist has explained that something appears to have changed between the studio sessions and the finished record reaching shops.
Exactly where the problem occurred remains unclear.
It may have involved the mixing, mastering or manufacturing stages.
Whatever happened, the result was considerably different from what the musicians expected.
The guitars lacked some of their original clarity.
The low frequencies sounded unusually dominant.
And several instrumental details became difficult to distinguish.
For a band whose sound relied so heavily on the power of Tony Iommi’s guitar riffs, that was particularly frustrating.
The guitarist has repeatedly expressed his disappointment that an album containing strong compositions was compromised by its sound.
And now he wants to find out whether those problems can finally be corrected.
🎤 IAN GILLAN Wasn’t Happy With The Album’s Sound Either!
Tony Iommi isn’t the only musician who has criticised the original production.
Ian Gillan, who recorded Born Again during his brief period with BLACK SABBATH, has also spoken openly about his disappointment.
During an interview in May 2025, the DEEP PURPLE vocalist described the original mix as excessive and poorly balanced.
He argued that the bass frequencies were so dominant that they overwhelmed other elements of the recordings.
Gillan even compared the situation to the legendary heavy metal comedy This Is Spinal Tap.
The singer has previously recalled being so disappointed with the finished record that he threw a copy out of his car window!
However, his criticism was directed at the production rather than the music itself.
Gillan has consistently maintained that Born Again contains excellent songs.
In fact, he has expressed considerable affection for the experience of writing and recording with Iommi.
For the vocalist, the proposed remix represents an opportunity for listeners to appreciate those compositions without the distractions caused by the original sound.
And with both musicians supporting the idea, there is clearly enthusiasm for revisiting this unusual chapter in BLACK SABBATH history.
🤘 BLACK SABBATH’s ‘BORN AGAIN’ – One Of Heavy Metal’s Strangest Collaborations!
To understand why Born Again remains such an interesting album, we need to travel back to 1983.
BLACK SABBATH had already experienced significant lineup changes.
Original vocalist Ozzy Osbourne had departed in 1979, with Ronnie James Dio subsequently joining the group.
Dio helped revitalise the band through the albums Heaven And Hell and Mob Rules.
However, following disputes surrounding the live album Live Evil, Dio and drummer Vinny Appice departed.
BLACK SABBATH suddenly found themselves searching for another vocalist.
And the musician they eventually recruited was hardly an obvious choice.
Ian Gillan was best known as the powerful voice of DEEP PURPLE.
His performances on songs such as Highway Star, Smoke On The Water, Child In Time and Space Truckin’ had already established him as one of hard rock’s greatest singers.
But joining BLACK SABBATH was something entirely different.
The two bands had distinctive musical identities.
DEEP PURPLE were renowned for energetic hard rock, organ-driven arrangements and Gillan’s soaring vocals.
BLACK SABBATH had developed a darker, heavier sound built around Iommi’s ominous guitar riffs.
Bringing those styles together was an unusual experiment.
And the result was unlike anything either band had previously recorded.
🍻 IAN GILLAN Joined BLACK SABBATH After A Night Of Drinking!
One of the funniest stories surrounding the Born Again era involves the circumstances in which Gillan joined the band.
According to the singer, the arrangement began during a night of drinking with Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler.
The musicians were enjoying themselves in an Oxford pub when the conversation apparently turned towards the possibility of working together.
By the following morning, Gillan had little recollection of agreeing to anything.
However, his manager contacted him with some rather surprising news.
Apparently, he had agreed to become BLACK SABBATH’s new singer!
Gillan has recalled being taken aback by the revelation.
Nevertheless, the musicians decided to proceed with the arrangement.
The plan was relatively straightforward.
Record an album.
Complete a tour.
And see what happened.
The result was Born Again, an album that remains one of the most unusual collaborations in British rock history.
🥁 The Last BLACK SABBATH Studio Album Featuring BILL WARD
Another important aspect of Born Again is its lineup.
Although Ozzy Osbourne was absent, three members of BLACK SABBATH’s founding lineup participated in the recording.
🎸 BLACK SABBATH – ‘BORN AGAIN’ Recording Lineup
Musician
Role
Tony Iommi
Guitar
Ian Gillan
Lead vocals
Geezer Butler
Bass guitar
Bill Ward
Drums
Geoff Nicholls
Keyboards
The album was recorded at The Manor Studio in Oxfordshire, with production handled by BLACK SABBATH and Robin Black.
Significantly, Born Again became the last BLACK SABBATH studio album recorded with founding drummer Bill Ward.
Although Ward would subsequently reunite with the band for selected performances, he did not record another full studio album with BLACK SABBATH.
His drumming is therefore an important part of the record’s historical significance.
And for listeners hoping to hear the album remixed, the possibility of bringing greater clarity to his performances is particularly exciting.
A successful remix could reveal details of Ward’s playing that have remained obscured by the original production for decades.
💿 ‘BORN AGAIN’ – The Songs That Deserve Another Listen
Despite its controversial production, Born Again contains several compositions that have developed devoted followings among BLACK SABBATH fans.
🔥 ‘Trashed’
The opening track is one of the album’s most energetic recordings.
Featuring Iommi’s aggressive guitar work and Gillan’s unmistakable vocal delivery, Trashed immediately demonstrates the unusual chemistry between the musicians.
The song was inspired by a real incident involving Gillan driving Bill Ward’s car around the grounds of the recording studio after drinking.
It remains one of the most outrageous stories associated with the album.
💀 ‘Disturbing The Priest’
One of the album’s darkest recordings, Disturbing The Priest combines ominous guitar arrangements with Gillan’s extraordinary vocal range.
The song’s title reportedly emerged after the band’s recording sessions disturbed a nearby religious service.
Its unsettling atmosphere makes it one of the record’s most recognisable compositions.
🎸 ‘Zero The Hero’
For many fans, Zero The Hero represents one of the strongest songs on the album.
Built around a crushing Iommi guitar riff, the composition delivers the heavy, ominous atmosphere associated with classic BLACK SABBATH.
Its powerful rhythm and unusual vocal arrangements demonstrate how effectively Gillan’s style could complement the band’s darker sound.
🖤 ‘Born Again’
The album’s title track takes a slower, more atmospheric approach.
Its haunting melodies and dark guitar arrangements demonstrate the emotional depth of the recordings.
For listeners who appreciate BLACK SABBATH’s more experimental material, it remains an important part of the album.
⚡ ‘Digital Bitch’
A comparatively direct hard-rock composition, Digital Bitch demonstrates the group’s ability to incorporate faster tempos and energetic arrangements.
Alongside the heavier material, it contributes to the album’s distinctive character.
For Iommi, the issue has never been that the songs weren’t good enough.
It’s that the finished production failed to represent them properly.
🎭 The Infamous ‘BORN AGAIN’ Album Cover!
Of course, no discussion of Born Again would be complete without mentioning its extraordinary artwork.
The album features one of the most controversial covers in BLACK SABBATH’s catalogue.
Created by designer Steve ‘Krusher’ Joule, the image depicts a bright red demonic baby with yellow claws, fangs and an unsettling expression.
It is instantly recognisable.
And more than four decades later, it remains one of heavy metal’s strangest album covers.
The artwork has divided fans almost as much as the music’s production.
Some consider it a cult classic.
Others regard it as one of the band’s most bizarre creative decisions.
But whatever your opinion, there’s no denying its visual impact.
The image perfectly captures the unusual atmosphere surrounding the Gillan era.
And if a deluxe reissue eventually accompanies the proposed remix, it will be interesting to see how that distinctive artwork is presented.
🏟️ The ‘BORN AGAIN’ Tour Became Heavy Metal Folklore!
The 1983 BLACK SABBATH tour has become almost as famous for its backstage stories as for the performances themselves.
Following Bill Ward’s withdrawal from touring, the band recruited Bev Bevan, known for his work with ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA, to handle live drumming duties.
Gillan found himself performing both the new Born Again material and established BLACK SABBATH classics.
But there was another complication.
The stage production was extraordinarily ambitious.
At one point, the band planned to incorporate a recreation of Stonehenge into their concerts.
Unfortunately, the enormous scenery proved too large for several venues.
The resulting logistical problems became a legendary part of BLACK SABBATH history.
The situation was so absurd that it has frequently been compared with the fictional heavy metal band portrayed in This Is Spinal Tap.
That film famously featured its own Stonehenge stage-production disaster, although with the opposite problem of an unexpectedly tiny monument.
For Gillan, the BLACK SABBATH tour represented a wild and memorable experience.
However, the arrangement was never intended to become a permanent musical partnership.
After completing his time with the band, he returned to DEEP PURPLE.
📈 ‘BORN AGAIN’ Was A Commercial Success Despite Its Sound!
Despite the controversy surrounding its production, Born Again achieved impressive commercial results.
Released in September 1983 in the UK, the record reached Number Four on the UK Albums Chart.
It also entered the American Top 40.
That was a significant achievement for a band undergoing another major lineup change.
The album demonstrated that BLACK SABBATH still possessed considerable commercial appeal, even without Ozzy Osbourne or Ronnie James Dio.
However, critical reaction was mixed.
Some reviewers struggled with the unusual combination of Gillan’s vocal style and BLACK SABBATH’s darker musical identity.
Others criticised the record’s production.
Over time, though, the album gradually developed a dedicated following.
Today, many longtime fans consider Born Again an underrated part of BLACK SABBATH’s history.
And a potential remix could encourage even more listeners to revisit it.
🎚️ What’s The Difference Between A Remix And A Remaster?
For fans wondering why Iommi is so interested in recovering the original tapes, there’s an important distinction between remixing and remastering.
Remix
Remaster
Uses the original individual recorded tracks where available
Typically works from an existing stereo mix
Can adjust the balance between instruments and vocals
Adjusts the overall sound of an existing mix
Can change how prominently the drums, bass and guitars appear
Cannot independently rebalance every instrument
Can produce a noticeably different listening experience
Usually preserves the basic original mix
That distinction is particularly important for Born Again.
The album has already received remastered editions, including a deluxe release in 2011.
However, remastering alone cannot fully correct problems within the original instrument balance.
A genuine remix could potentially allow Iommi and the production team to revisit individual recordings and make adjustments.
The guitars could become clearer.
Bill Ward’s drums might gain additional definition.
Gillan’s vocals could sit differently within the arrangements.
And the overpowering low frequencies could potentially be better controlled.
Of course, none of those changes have been officially confirmed.
The project remains at the planning stage.
But the recovery of the original recordings makes those possibilities far more realistic.
🖤 IOMMI Knows Some Fans Might Prefer The Original!
Interestingly, Iommi is fully aware that remixing Born Again could create another controversy.
After all, the album’s muddy production has become part of its identity.
For more than 40 years, listeners have grown accustomed to its distinctive sound.
Some fans even appreciate its unusually dark and murky atmosphere.
Iommi acknowledged that a new mix might not satisfy everyone.
He expects that some listeners will inevitably argue that the original version sounded better.
And that’s a fair possibility.
Music is deeply personal.
The way an album sounds when someone first discovers it can become an essential part of their relationship with the songs.
Even changes intended to improve clarity can sometimes alter the atmosphere listeners remember.
But Iommi believes the material deserves another chance.
His goal is not necessarily to erase the original version.
It is to explore whether the songs can finally be presented closer to how the musicians remember them sounding in the studio.
For longtime fans, having both versions available would provide an interesting opportunity to compare the recordings.
🎸 TONY IOMMI Continues Working On New Music
The renewed discussion surrounding Born Again comes during another busy period for Tony Iommi.
The legendary guitarist has recently been promoting his solo album From The Dark, released on 23 October 2026.
The project features collaborations with established musicians, including QUEEN guitarist Brian May.
For fans of Iommi’s unmistakable guitar style, the album represents another opportunity to hear new material from one of heavy metal’s founding figures.
And despite his extraordinary career, Iommi continues to maintain an interest in revisiting the BLACK SABBATH catalogue.
The proposed Born Again remix is one example of that commitment.
He has also overseen archival projects celebrating other periods in the band’s history, helping introduce previously overlooked recordings to new audiences.
For collectors and longtime BLACK SABBATH supporters, the possibility of another carefully prepared reissue is particularly exciting.
💀 BLACK SABBATH’s Legacy Continues Following OZZY OSBOURNE’s Death
The latest news also arrives during an emotional period for BLACK SABBATH fans.
On 5 July 2025, the band’s original lineup reunited for one final performance at Birmingham’s Villa Park.
The historic Back To The Beginning concert brought together some of heavy metal’s biggest names to celebrate BLACK SABBATH’s extraordinary influence.
Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward performed together for the final time.
Just 17 days later, Ozzy died at the age of 76.
His passing brought an emotional conclusion to one of the most important chapters in rock history.
However, BLACK SABBATH’s recorded legacy continues to influence generations of musicians.
And projects such as the proposed Born Again remix demonstrate that there is still considerable interest in exploring the band’s extraordinary catalogue.
Although Born Again did not feature Ozzy, it remains an important part of the group’s story.
It documents a period when BLACK SABBATH were willing to experiment with a radically different vocal identity.
And the music created during that brief collaboration deserves recognition.
📅 When Will The ‘BORN AGAIN’ Remix Be Released?
At present, there is no confirmed release date for a remixed edition of Born Again.
Tony Iommi has confirmed that the original tapes have been recovered and transferred.
He has also made clear that he intends to attempt the remix.
However, the project has not yet been announced as completed.
There is no confirmed tracklist for a proposed reissue, no official artwork announcement and no information about potential bonus material.
Fans should therefore be cautious about assuming that a new edition will arrive during 2027.
The encouraging news is that the biggest technical obstacle – locating the original recordings – appears to have been resolved.
What happens next will depend on the remixing process and whether Iommi believes the results are worthwhile.
🤘 THE RIFF REPORT VERDICT – ‘BORN AGAIN’ Deserves Another Chance To Shine!
Tony Iommi confirming that plans to remix Born Again remain alive is fantastic news for fans of BLACK SABBATH’s more unusual recordings.
The 1983 album has always occupied a fascinating position in the band’s history.
It brought together three founding members of BLACK SABBATH with one of DEEP PURPLE’s greatest vocalists.
It delivered crushing guitar riffs, unusual musical arrangements and some genuinely memorable songs.
It reached Number Four in the UK charts.
And it gave heavy metal one of its most unforgettable album covers!
But the production has remained controversial for more than four decades.
Both Tony Iommi and Ian Gillan have repeatedly expressed disappointment with the finished sound.
And with the original recordings missing for years, the possibility of correcting those problems once seemed remote.
Now, the tapes have been recovered.
The material has been transferred.
And Iommi is determined to see what can be achieved.
There are no guarantees that a new mix will satisfy every listener.
Some fans will undoubtedly prefer the original album’s dark and murky atmosphere.
But that is part of the excitement.
A carefully prepared remix could reveal musical details that have remained buried for decades.
And for a record featuring Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Ian Gillan, that possibility is certainly worth exploring.
Forty-three years after its original release, BLACK SABBATH’s most unusual album could finally get the sound its creators wanted.
ONE LEGENDARY BAND. ONE CONTROVERSIAL ALBUM. LONG-LOST RECORDING TAPES. AND A SECOND CHANCE TO HEAR HEAVY METAL HISTORY!
BLACK SABBATH – ‘BORN AGAIN’ MAY FINALLY BE BORN AGAIN! 🎸💀🔥🤘
THE RIFF REPORT BLOG – MUSIC JOURNALISM WITH BOOTS AT THE BARRICADE!
