For Ozrocker: Ozzy vs Dio

[Debrody]

Who was the better frontman, singer?
Lets stir up the pot! 

Let me start:
Stage appearance: Dio was always a "metal singer", and never looked like a homeless guy like Ozzy in the early '80s. His performance was still energic and elegant even in the Heaven and Hell tour in the 2000s. Also Ozzy's grab the mic with two hands and jump all the way though the concert move was and is...  ehm...  funny : )
Voice: i prefer Dio as he had a more colorful voice imo.
Music: i dont like the Ozzy-era Sabbath, was too simple and musically it gave only a very little while the Blizzard of Ozz, the Diary of a Madman and the bark at the Moon were something genial. Oddly enough, both Ozzy and the Sabbath started to "live" withouth each other. In the other hand Dio really gave himself in the Sabbath, then when they split out, his music started to repeat itself soon enough.

So, my vote is on Dio 

[Pigslilspaz]

This question is too hard to answer. I love Sabbath with both of them too much. 

[ozrocker]

<S> Debrody Sir,

Ozzy, Ozzy.  Dio was a great metal singer of course. But, Ozzy is King
Ozzy was rough in 1978 when Van Halen opened for Sabbath at the Philly Spectrum (VH's 1st tour).
Sabbath fired him. Career looked over till Sharon made her Dad take a chance, then OZZY was born

Dio was a 2nd string QB for Sabbath, as were many others, to include Deep Purple's ex lead Ian Gillan.
Heavan and Hell & Mob Rules had success, as did Live Evil.
None of the subsequent Sabbath's, Rainbow's, Dio's could match Ozzy's
popularity or success. A lot accredited to Randy Rhoads (rightly so), and Jake E. Lee and of course Zack.
Don't get me wrong. As I stated Dio was a great rocker. He did do some acting as well, I believe.
With that, he could have starred in a Travelocity commercial, played a Hobbit on LOTR, etc.
(He was quite short).

No doubt, Ozzy will be remembered longer and radio play of his songs will go on much longer than Dio's.
He's had much more impact on the industry than DIO could have ever had.

                                                                                                                                     Oz

[Debrody]

But was his solo career really his own, or mostly Randy's talent? Heard he couldnt get what Mr Crowley's lyrics was about... or maybe he was just flying high again?
I mean, the change in his musical style was so huge between 78-80, from a super-simple, orthodox stuff to something that still sounds fresh.

[Stampf]

This question is too hard to answer. I love Sabbath with both of them too much. 

My feelings too. 

When you look at Sabs last album with Oz, 'Never say Die' and compare it to VanHalen's first album, released same year...it was clear Sab's music was behind the times.  I think the split was good for all concerned.  Dio brought new life to Sab, and I loved the stuff with him.  I think 'Heaven and Hell' is one of the best albums of all time.  I still love to listen to the old anthems with Oz though.  Nothing like a blast of 'Sweatleaf' or 'Symptom of The Universe' to get the old metal blood flowing.

 

[DEECONX]

I'm one of those oddball guys in that one of my favorite Sabbath singer was....Tony Martin.


Don't get me wrong, I love Ozzy and Dio up there, but something about Martin's voice. TYR is one of my favorite albums. 

[jd]

If your asking who was(is) the better singer its deffinately Dio. Having seen Ozzy at least a dozen times Im here to tell you Ozzy hasnt hit the mark since the 80's. Dio on the other hand had an operatic CONTROL of his instument that Ozzy could never achieve. Theres room to haggle better songs, but Mob Rules showed that Ozzy is unneccessary.

<S> Slipstrm \m/

[Debrody]

Don't get me wrong, I love Ozzy and Dio up there, but something about Martin's voice. TYR is one of my favorite albums. 

Do you see a vision...  of a perfect place... does it make you laugh? Put a smile on your face?

[Devil 505]

Dio was a better vocalist in general, but Ozzy with Black Sabbath was better band. Period. Every Sabbath album except "Technicial Extacy" and "Never Say Die" were near perfect. Dio brought life into a dieing band, but the songs to me were hit or miss in my opinion, much like Dio's other projects. Ozzy's solo band was great, but again, it lags far behind classic Sabbath. Over the course of Black Sabbath's first six albums, they made more great songs than Ozzy, Dio, or Heaven and Hell put together.

[ink]

I think Dio is technically the better singer.......

but I vote for ozzy with Sabbath.....I like the early Sabbath way more then anything with Dio....

except Dehumanizer I love that Album as much as the early stuff.


but the best Metal singer of all time is Eric A. Knutson.....a close second being Bruce Dickinson.

[Debrody]

Bruce Dickinson is for the mainstream hipsters            Rudán Joe for the win!

Seriously, musically speaking, i couldnt find too much interesting in the "classic" sabbath. Ozzy's early solo work, yes, Sabbath with Dio, yes, Tony Martin era Sabbath, yes.
Im talking about the technical and harmonical complexity, or the directions where the given melody is headed. True, my ear has grown up on folk music, classic rock/metal and classical music.

[Stampf]

Bruce Dickinson is for the mainstream hipsters            Rudán Joe for the win!

Seriously, musically speaking, i couldnt find too much interesting in the "classic" sabbath. Ozzy's early solo work, yes, Sabbath with Dio, yes, Tony Martin era Sabbath, yes.
Im talking about the technical and harmonical complexity, or the directions where the given melody is headed. True, my ear has grown up on folk music, classic rock/metal and classical music.

You owe it to yourself to dig a bit deeper man.  Early Sab...my god...The stuff Geezer Butler was writing on the bass was phenomenal.  Also a big Iron Maiden fan here.  Of course I play bass myself...so those two bands are at the top of my list.

[branch37]

Dio hands down.  This is my personal opinion.  He was just a better quality singer than Ozzy.  And I agree with whoever said Ozzy's "grab the mic and jump" move is funny.  He looks almost stupid doing it now. 

[SmokinLoon]

You guys and your debates.  Can't we all just get along?   

I'm one of those guys who sees the best of the situation when and where it occurs in music.  I'm a huge Van Halen fan and I think I'm one of a handful of VH fans that truly does not side either way in the DLR vs Sam (vs Gary) debate.  I truly enjoy the music regardless if it is DLR, Sammy, or Gary singing.  Each era has its ups, downs, and moments.  Each era has a lot to offer and if a person is so dead set for/against another they truly miss out.  That is my opinion. The same goes for Black Sabbath, AC/DC, or any of the other hard hitting bands that lost a major player (Def Leppard's Pete Willis and Ozzy's Randy Rhodes comes to mind), when the page is turned I say stay tuned and keep your ears open to the next page.

As far as the Ozzy vs Dio debate, I think it is similar to the DLR vs Sammy purse fight.  One singer is known for his stage shows and antics and the other provides a deeper vocal sound.  Like I said above, I enjoy it all.  I cant see Ozzy doing "Heaven and Hell" very well, and I thought no one could replace Ozzy's stoned out vocals on "War Pigs".  *beers up*   Scream and holler!  ROCK ON!!!        \,,/,      ,\,,/         

[branch37]

I am the same with Van Halen.  I truly cant pick between Roth and Hagar.  They are both great singers.