Tony Iommi still trying to fix Born Again 40 years later

I mean, I’m excited and all, but come on, Tony, it’s been, like, forever since you first mentioned this idea. In a recent interview with Planet Rock’s Ian Danter, Tony Iommi once again spoke about his plans to remix BLACK SABBATH’s infamous “Born Again” album. I’m starting to think he’s just trolling us at this point.

So, for those who don’t know (but let’s be real, you’re all metalheads here), “Born Again” was the only album SABBATH recorded with lead vocalist Ian Gillan, best known for his work with DEEP PURPLE. It was also the last of SABBATH’s studio albums to feature drummer Bill Ward. The album was released in August 1983 and, despite its commercial success, it’s always been a bit of a black sheep in the SABBATH discography.

Now, Iommi says that he’s still considering releasing a remixed version of “Born Again” because, apparently, the original sound just isn’t good enough. I mean, I’ve heard the album, and yeah, it’s not their best work, but it’s still SABBATH, right? According to Iommi, “so many people have got used to” the “Born Again” sound, with all of its production flaws. Some people even like it, he says. But, of course, if he does a remix, there will be fans who complain that it’s not as good as the original. Because, you know, that’s just what fans do.

The Remix Saga Continues

Iommi claims that the tapes for the album had disappeared, but they were eventually found in some record company storage. And now, they’re ready to start work on the remix. Because, you know, the world was just missing a remixed version of “Born Again”. Iommi also says that he’s heard parts of the album where he thinks, “Oh, that should have been louder,” or “This should have been more prominent.” So, I guess we can expect a whole new level of audio quality from this remix.

But, let’s be real, the real question here is: do we really need a remixed version of “Born Again”? I mean, the album has its fans, and it’s still a part of SABBATH’s history, but is it really worth all the fuss? Apparently, Iommi thinks so, because he’s been talking about this remix for years now. In a May 2025 interview with Rolling Stone Brasil, Ian Gillan said that he thought the songs on the album were great, but the mix was “outrageous”. He even threw the album out of his car window when he first heard it. Talk about a dramatic reaction.

A Look Back at the Original Album

“Born Again” was recorded in May 1983 at the Manor Studios in Oxfordshire, and it was produced by BLACK SABBATH and co-producer Robin Black. The album was a bit of a departure from SABBATH’s usual style, with Gillan’s vocals and songwriting bringing a new perspective to the band’s sound. The album opener, “Trashed”, was inspired by Gillan’s wild times with Bill Ward, and “Disturbing The Priest” was the result of a door in the studio being left open during playback, disturbing a local vicar’s choir practice. Yeah, it’s a bit of a weird story, but hey, that’s rock ‘n’ roll, right?

In the end, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what Iommi comes up with. Maybe the remix will be amazing, and we’ll all be like, “Wow, this is the best thing since sliced bread.” Or maybe it’ll be a total disaster, and we’ll all be like, “What was Tony thinking?” Either way, it’ll be entertaining to watch. So, stay tuned, folks, the “Born Again” remix saga continues… 🤘

Chord F. Discord

Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”

Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.

Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.